Local LGBTQ feeling effects of Orlando attack

State Sen. Jennifer Shilling and state rep. Jill Billings visited center

Not everything surround the Orlando mass shooting has been bad.

Jessica Polacek, Co-director of the 7 Rivers LGBTQ Connection Center, says it’s struck a cord with people she serves.

Two vigils at the LGBTQ Action Center in La Crosse have been held in support of the victims. The connection even recently met with Wisconsin Sen. Jennifer Shilling and Representative Jill Billings to discuss the massacre and all that surrounds it locally – action within state legislature, social climate, how to reach out to people to change and misconceptions.

“We’ve seen more activity occur in this past week, more offers of support for us as a center and more people coming in, calling in,” Polacek said. “We have suffered diff types of oppression, discrimination, hatred and things like this before and we cont to do so. Having experienced things like that, makes a bond stronger than, sometimes even, flesh and blood family.” 

Of course, shock an awe of 49 people murdered and 53 more injured from the shooting plays a role, too.

“A lot of people have expressed fear over it, because of the sheer spectrum of this event,” Polacek said. “You can’t believe someone would go and commit extermination like (that).”

Polacek says that since the LGBTQ community have been victimized in the past, they connect with the attacks personally, even though they weren’t victims.