In many cities, vigils were planned at LGBT community centers and other gathering spots to commemorate the victims in Orlando. 'Nightclubs have always been sacred spaces for queer people, places to gather and glitter away from the judging glares of society, where we could love and be loved for who we are and how we want to be,' wrote Paul Raushenbush, a clergyman and popular gay writer, expressing his heartbreak in a lengthy, emotional post on Facebook in which he recalled going out dancing while at seminary in New York. Orlando nightclub mass shooting victims 49 photos
Sunday's attack struck a place that has long been thought of as a safe haven for the community - the gay nightclub.
Robert Matencio, who works as a host at Neighbours, said the club responded to the arson attack by adding extra security guards during large special events, and training employees in crowd control.
