New York showed solidarity with Orlando Monday night with a vigil at the historic Stonewall Inn following the horrific events of this past weekend's mass shooting at Pulse, a gay nightclub celebrating Latin night. Nick Jonas spoke to the crowd at the vigil.
Jonas began addressing the crowd telling them his "heart broke" after hearing the news about Orlando and noting that he grew up in New York City and New Jersey with friends from the "LGBT community." He continued, "My father, a minister from New Jersey, shaped my view that love is love and we are all equal. And that no matter who you are, where you're from, or where you're going in your life you have the right to love and be loved."
He ended his speech by saying "you are not alone" and "New York is so strong and we ain't scared of anybody."
Jonas addressed critics who've accused him of being ambiguous about his sexuality to help his career and bait the gay community. Identifying as a "heterosexual male," Jonas told Complex:
The Stonewall Inn vigil saw ramped up security, which New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio noted by saying, "In the coming days, you will see expanded police presence. Many key sites around the city, again particularly at sites of importance to the LGBT community."
New York City councilwoman Rosie Mendez, a part of the LGBTQIA community, also spoke at the vigil: "We cannot be silent, because the memories of our 50 LGBT brothers and sisters demand that we speak out. It demands that we organize so that no other individual can perpetuate such a heinous crime in the future."
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