“It’s a special gathering place for anyone who needed community and anyone who needed that safe place,” she said. Federal prosecutors focused on proving that the attack at Club Q — a sanctuary for LGBTQ+ people in the mostly conservative city — was premeditated and fuelled by bias. Aldrich, appearing in an orange prison uniform with head shaved and wrists handcuffed, declined to speak at the sentencing. Ahead of the hearing, Ms Gamblin said a true member of the LGBTQ+ community would know about the discrimination and the mental health challenges they face and wouldn’t attack its members in such a sanctuary. Aldrich visited the club at least eight times before the attack, including stopping by an hour and a half before the shooting, according to prosecutors.

Source: Irish Examiner June 19, 2024 15:18 UTC