NEWSMAKERS
NEWSMAKERS
‘Orange’ star: Shootings stole every gay person’s security
NEW YORK
A feeling of safety was stripped from every gay person with last weekend’s massacre at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla.
That’s the sentiment of Lea DeLaria, who plays Big Boo in the Netflix series “Orange is the New Black.”
“When you are a queer individual, as I am, and you want to go someplace where you feel safe, you go to the local bar, you go to the gay bar,” DeLaria said Thursday.
The safe feeling from such a gathering place “was stolen from every LBGT person in the world on Sunday morning,” she said.
But DeLaria is seeing something hopeful come out of the tragedy: a renewed sense across the nation of gay people as fellow human beings, as evidenced by apologies from politicians for past homophobic statements and the rush by volunteers to help victims of the shootings and their loved ones.
Hundreds in line for slain singer’s services
MEDFORD, N.J.
Hundreds of friends and fans stood in line and thousands more were expected Friday at a memorial service for “The Voice” singer Christina Grimmie.
The 22-year-old was shot to death last week as she signed autographs after a show in Orlando, Fla. Her assailant fatally shot himself.
Authorities said Grimmie was gunned down by Kevin Loibl the night of June 10 as she signed autographs after the Orlando show. A motive for the shooting has not been determined. Authorities said she had no personal connection to Loibl, who fatally shot himself after being tackled by her brother.
Associated Press