We are horrified by the news of the shooting over the weekend at Club Q, an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs. Once again, bigotry and hated combined with easy access to military grade weapons (authorities report that the attacker used an AR-15 style rifle) has resulted in the deaths of five innocent people, injuries to a dozen more, and lasting trauma for an entire community. We deplore the culture of mass shootings that has normalized this type of terrible violence in our society. Tragically, the United States continues to lead the developed world in the heart-breaking statistic of homicide by firearm.
We reaffirm our dedication to LGBTQ+ inclusion in our Stephen Wise Temple and Schools community and beyond and long for the day when no one will be ostracized, hated, or targeted on account of gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, religion, or creed.
May the families of the victims be comforted, may those injured know refuah shleima (complete healing), and may incidents like this, through our work and action, soon become a distant memory.
—The Clergy of Stephen Wise Temple and Schools
