DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) – The worst mass shooting in American history is shining a spotlight on the LGBTQ community.
The killer reportedly professed his allegiance to ISIS before killing 49 people at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida early Sunday morning.
For many in the region like local Dr. Greg Semon, the shooting hits close to him. Semon trained at the Orlando Regional Medical Center for two years before returning to Dayton in 2015. During that time he got close to the medical staff at the hospital, who are now dealing with the aftermath of the terror attack.
“I was just in a complete state of shock and disbelief. This is the kind of things we train for. We do disaster preparation and we do disaster drills for scenarios just like and we never want to put that kind of plan in place,” said Semon, Miami Valley Hospital trauma doctor.
For RJ McKay, a Dayton LGBT Center board member the response from some on social media has added an extra layer of hurt.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re gay, straight, Italian, or African American. We’re all Americans at the end of the day.and the fact that Americans were killed, but people are saying it’s good the LGBT community has fewer members, that’s such an atrocity,” said McKay.
McKay believes the country has gotten more divided and needs to learn to celebrate our differences.
“To anybody who knows someone that is gay or lesbian or bisexual or transgender just pause and think what your life would be like without that person, because there is 50 cases like that in Orlando right now,” said McKay.
For Semon worst-case scenario training in the medial field is becoming more consistent. He says it’s a sign of the times we’re in.
“Nationwide these disaster management plans are being mandated and put into place,” said McKay.
The LGBTQ community plans to hold a vigil for the Orlando victims at Courthouse Square on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.