California Reacts With Sorrow to Orlando Shootings

From San Francisco to West Hollywood and San Diego, California residents reacted with shock, sorrow and, as the day wore on, anger to the deaths of 50 people in a mass shooting at a gay nightclub early Sunday morning in Orlando.

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The massacre has fallen on the same day that 150,000 people turned out for the 46th Annual Pride Parade in West Hollywood. A total of 400,000 people are expected at the three day event. Today’s parade along Santa Monica Boulevard began with a moment of silence for the Florida victims.

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"Forty-six years ago, members of the LGBTQ community came out in cities across the country in response to the Stonewall Riots," according to a statement from the board of directors of Christopher Street West, which sponsors the event. "Today, we are heartbroken that so many of our brothers, sisters and allies were lost in this tragic attack. As we remember them today at our moment of silence, we must continue to show our pride, not just today but every day.

"Our brave founders made this happen to show the world who we are. We will be loud. We will be proud and we will celebrate in honor of all those lost. Today's parade and festival will continue on as originally scheduled. We will also be holding a rally on our main stage this afternoon."

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Early arrivals for today's Pride Weekend were seen in tears.

"I think there is grief, it's a very mournful feeling that we're all in," one woman told Los Angeles TV station KTLA.

"But I think that for me (the mass murder) is more of a reason to stand out here to say, 'I am gender queer and these are my people.

"We are people, I think if anything it's just another reason to come out here to celebrate who we are just like anyone else.

Also See: Vigil Planned Tonight In San Francisco For Orlando Mass-Shooting Victims

In Northern California, a vigil was held Sunday evening at Harvey Milk Plaza in San Francisco to honor the victims of the Orlando shooting.

It's an emotional scene in San Francisco's Harvey Milk Plaza where hundreds have gathered for a vigil. #Orlando pic.twitter.com/0dhFqQ5ssF
— Natalie DiBlasio (@ndiblasio) June 13, 2016

San Francisco police said in a statement that they know of no threat to residents and visitors in San Francisco.

But more officers than usual will be at places where people congregate such as shopping centers and the Eureka Valley/Dolores Heights neighborhood and venues where lesbians, gays, bisexual and transgender people get together.

"San Francisco stands in solidarity with the community of Orlando and the nation in the aftermath of this terrible day," Mayor Ed Lee said in the statement.

"This is a stark reminder that violence still threatens our LGBT community. Senseless acts of violence against innocents, fueled by hate and easy access to deadly firearms, have become all-too frequent. We must continue to work each day to reduce gun violence and ensure every community is safe."

San Francisco’s two-day Pride Celebration and Parade is scheduled to take place on June 25 - 26. .

--City News Service contributed to this report; Image by laverrue via Flickr