Local radio station helping LGBT community heal
The healing process from the Orlando terror attack is being felt here in Austin. Local radio station, Pride Radio FM 97.5, which is promoted as The Pulse of LGBT Austin, has joined the recovery effort.
Programing Director and radio host Micki Gamez began Monday planning the music block for her shows.
"We can still celebrate Pride, but we can still do it in a softer tone."
Gamez hopes her broadcast mic can help the Austin’s LGBT community return to a sense of normalcy after the attack in Orlando.
"The theme today isn't necessarily business as usual, but the theme is to be tender, tender, listen to people letting people know we are here for them if they need someone to talk to and to be real, just allow yourself to grieve and be real,” said Gamez.
In the warehouse district, home to two of Austin’s most popular gay bars, regular morning supply deliveries were being made. It looked like a typical Monday morning but something was different. At Rain, the banners outside were lowered to honor those who were hurt and killed.
A unity vigil was held Sunday evening. It provided a glimpse into how difficulty the healing process may be, and how long of a journey it may take.
The vigil began with a rally at the State Capitol, where earlier Governor Greg Abbott ordered flags to be lowered. Austin Mayor Steve Adler was among those who spoke.
"Let’s choose unity over division lets choose confidence over fear, lets chose lightness over darkness, and lets choose love over hate,” said Mayor Adler.
The evening was marred by a small group of hecklers and there was also a controversial tweet that angered LGBT supporters. Lt. Governor Dan Patrick’s Twitter account quoted a Bible passage from Galatians. The verse, Gal 6:7, is a warning against immoral living.
“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” NIV.
The passage caused a quick backlash. The head of the Texas Democratic Party called on Patrick to apologize.
"Unfortunately, Texans in mourning for our families in Florida woke up to an embarrassment from their lieutenant governor. Lt.Gov Dan Patrick, please apologize immediately. Make this right. We are better than this,” stated Gilberto Hinojosa
On his Facebook page, Patrick didn’t issue an apology but he did explain that the tweet was not in response to the Orlando attack.
"Our scripture was not posted in re-action to the shooting,” wrote the Lt. Governor who also stated he was currently out of the country on a remote island.
Patrick claimed the post was part of an automatic program that was initiated on Thursday. He suggested the attacks against him were motivated by political hate.
"I took it down to stop the hateful comments and the misinformation being spread of God's message to all of us- straight or gay."
The political controversy, spinning out of the tragedy, comes as no surprise to some.
"I have often felt that Hope and Despair chase each other, throughout history and it never stops,” said LGBT supporter Duncan Cormie.
Cormie told FOX 7 it isn’t hard to see how the tragedy in Orlando has intensified divisive debates over Gun Rights and Islamic terrorists.
"I don’t know if this will make things better or worse, anytime soon, I don’t think this is the last blood shed we've seen in America, and clearly not in the world,” said Cormie who added he currently feels both Hope and Despair.