50 candles will be lit, and 50 names will be read out at the vigil planned at the Smithers Secondary School. It’s to remember the lives lost in the shooting that has sent shock waves through the LGTBQ community and the world after the mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando.
The teacher sponsor for the Gender Sexuality Alliance Perry Rath had the idea for the vigil.
“Students in the LGTBQ community have always felt vulnerable, so this makes it even more impactful,” says Rath.
Rath says the vigil idea has grown to include the entire community.
“At first, we were going to do a small vigil for ourselves, but then we thought, let’s open it up to the entire community and the larger schools so everyone can be invited.”
He says the LGBTQ community has been hit hard with the tragedy, but it also has ramifications for society as a whole.
The vigil will start tomorrow at 11:15 a.m. at the school running for about half an hour. All are invited.