As thousands of people gathered at vigils around the Bay Area in recent days to mourn the 49 people who were fatally shot at a gay Orlando, Florida nightclub early Sunday, organizers of San Francisco's LGBT Pride celebration prepared to argue in court that they shouldn't have to add security measures like metal detectors to the Civic Center festival.
Whatever happens at this year's Pride, set for June 25-26, last weekend's massacre at Pulse nightclub, which also left 53 injured, has emboldened many in San Francisco.
"The hate that's out there saddens me," Sal Navarrette, 48, a gay man, said at a candlelight vigil Sunday night in the Castro. However, he said, "I don't want people who hate to make me fearful. I want them to know they're uniting us."
Authorities have identified the gunman in Sunday's rampage as Omar Mir Seddique Mateen, 29, of Fort Pierce, Florida. Orlando police say he started shooting around 2 a.m. He was killed about three hours later as he exchanged gunfire with officers.
The incident, which occurred on the nightclub's Latin night, remains under investigation, and Mateen's motives aren't clear. The attack is being viewed as an anti-gay hate crime, but media reports say Mateen had visited the club and exchanged messages with men on gay hookup apps.
Mateen's actions are also being viewed as domestic terrorism. Authorities have said that Mateen, an American citizen, pledged allegiance to the Islamic State when he made a 911 call from inside Pulse.
Another incident Sunday has also raised concerns as people celebrate LGBT Pride Month.
In Los Angeles, James Wesley Howell, 20, of Indiana, faces charges including unlawful possession of an assault weapon after being arrested Sunday morning.
According to the Los Angeles Times , a police lieutenant said Howell "told investigators that he was going to the [LA] Pride festival," but the official said Howell "did not make additional statements about his intentions."
SF Pride in court Thursday
Thursday (June 16), a San Francisco Superior Court judge may hear arguments over whether this year's Pride festival should be called off unless the San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration Committee implements several security changes that San Francisco Police Department officials have recommended, including using metal detectors and bag checks to screen the hundreds of thousands of people who're expected to attend the celebration.
On Wednesday a judge issued a tentative ruling denying the injunction.
In May, three men injured in shootings at the festival in recent years filed lawsuits against SF Pride, claiming lax security resulted in their injuries. The men are asking for an injunction against the celebration unless the metal detectors and other changes are made. The parade would be allowed to continue.
Ryan Lapine is an attorney representing plaintiffs Freddy Atton, who was shot at the 2015 party, and brothers Mahlik and Monte Smith, who were injured as they fled a shooting at the 2013 festival.
In a brief he filed Monday, Lapine said, "In light of Orlando and attempts on LA Pride, the [SF Pride] Committee should employ each of the SFPD's demands. Instead, it argues that because ... it would be inconvenient to keep gunmen out of its event, the court should sanction business as usual with no screening for weapons and no gate security. Atton �" and his counsel �" beg of this court to stop the violence."
Lapine told the Bay Area Reporter Monday that "Pride shouldn't shut down," but the celebration should "utilize the minimal security steps the SFPD has been demanding since 2013."
He also referred to court documents in which SF Pride's attorneys say, "Transforming the celebration into a ticketed event with metal detectors, patdowns, and bag checks fundamentally changes the nature of the event as an open and public celebration of the LGBT community and LGBT rights, and it would violate the core values of San Francisco Pride."
"My question is, what core values are they protecting in refusing to screen for handguns at their event?" Lapine said. "... They can allow everyone to attend, and attend safely while screening for weapons, and they're choosing not to. It blows my mind."
In response to the B.A.R.'s requests for comment, SF Pride spokesman Sam Singer said in an email, "We cannot comment on any current litigation. Pride works closely with law enforcement and city agencies and have had many meetings over the past several months regarding public safety and planning for the parade and celebration, as recently as this week. Pride is coordinating efforts with SFPD, and SFPD is working with local, state and federal law enforcement partners as well as other city agencies to plan for Pride. SFPD has indicated that there will be an increase in police presence at this year's event. ... More details regarding security will be made available as we get closer to the event."
Sergeant Michael Andraychak, a San Francisco police spokesman, said in a news release Sunday, "While there are no known threats" to the city, there will be more police in the city's Castro, LGBT venues, and other places to ensure safety.
"The San Francisco Police Department has been meeting with SF Pride organizers for months to discuss safety and security for Pride weekend," Andraychak said. "There are additional meetings scheduled in the weeks leading up to the event. The department is working with our state and federal law enforcement partners and our number one priority for Pride is planning for safety and security at the event."
He added that people are reminded, "If you see something, say something!"
Support for celebration
Gay San Francisco Supervisor Scott Wiener, who called for Sunday's vigil in the Castro, said Monday, "Of course we need to work hard to improve safety overall, not just at Pride, but at all our festivals."
However, Wiener said, "The idea that we would shut down Pride or require security measures that would effectively shut down Pride makes no sense. When it comes to violence, the last thing we should be doing is curling up into a ball and not celebrating our community. Pride's played such a critical role in our community. ... After Orlando, we need to be out in the streets fighting and embracing our community and showing our love."
Wiener planned to talk Wednesday with the city's police, LGBT bar owners, and others about safety preparations for upcoming Pride celebrations, which includes concerts, parties, and other events.
Like Wiener, District Attorney George Gascón also said it's important for people to celebrate Pride.
Enhanced security measures should be explored, but it would be "a horrible mistake to shut down Pride," he told the B.A.R.
There should be "a bigger Pride this year than we've ever had," and people should send the message that "we will stand together against hate, against intolerance, and against gun violence," said Gascón, who appeared at a news conference Monday where state legislators discussed tightening gun laws.
SF Pride released a statement Sunday that said the "act of terrorism and hate against the LGBTQ community" in Orlando has left "a giant hole in our hearts."
But the organization called on people to remain steadfast.
"Our democracy is built upon the right of freedom of assembly, freedom of belief, and freedom of speech," SF Pride's statement said, adding, "We must remain strong and vigilant in the face of such hatred. ... We are unbowed and unbroken by this attack, and will continue on in the memory of those who lost their lives for simply expressing their true selves."
Mayor Ed Lee issued a similar statement saying, "Profound tragedies and acts of hate again leave us heartbroken, even numb and speechless. But we resolve today, more than ever, that love, strength and unity will always triumph over hate, fear and violence. San Francisco grieves with the people of Orlando, the LGBT community and the nation today."
At Sunday's vigil in the Castro, where thousands of people gathered, Brandy Jane Rose, a 22-year-old transwoman, said, "I cannot not give a shit anymore. I'm done with nihilism, it's time to be here. The fight is not over. You cannot back down. You cannot let them win."
Metropolitan Community Church-San Francisco noted that Sister Roma of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence told the crowd, "This turnout right here, right now in the Castro, this is what our community is about. And it will take more than one gunman or a million gunmen to take our community down. This is who we are. We are a community of love."
In Oakland about 500 people gathered for a candlelight vigil last Sunday in the wake of the Orlando tragedy.
"I felt compelled to be here tonight," said Bishop Yvette Flunder, a lesbian and senior bishop at City of Refuge United Church of Christ. "Killing the messenger only makes the message great. Make your voice loud."
David-Elijah Nahmod contributed to this report.
Orlando victims
Stanley Almodovar II, 23
Amanda Alvear, 25
Oscar Aracena-Montero, 26
Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33
Antonio Davon Brown, 29
Darryl R. Burt II, 29
Jonathan Camuy, 24
Angel Luis Candelario-Padro, 28
Omar Capo, 20
Simon Carrillo, 31
Luis Daniel Conde, 39
Cory James Connell, 21
Tevin Eugene Crosby, 25
Anthony Luis Laureano Disla, 25
Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32
Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25
Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26
Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22
Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22
Paul Terrell Henry, 41
Frankie Hernandez, 27
Miguel Angel Honorato, 30
Jimmy De Jesus, 50
Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40
Jason Benjamin Josaphat, 19
Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30
Christopher Leinonen, 32
Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21
Juan Chavez Martinez, 25
Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, 49
Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25
Kimberly Morris, 37
Akyra Murray, 18
Geraldo Ortiz-Jimenez, 25
Joel Rayon Paniagua, 31
Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35
Enrique L. Rios, 25
Eric Ivan Ortiz Rivera, 36
Jean Carlos Nieves Rodriguez, 27
Xavier Emmanuel Serrano, 35
Christopher Sanfeliz, 24
Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan, 24
Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34
Shane Evan Tomlinson, 33
Martin Benitez Torres, 33
Juan Rivera Velazquez, 37
Luis Vielma, 22
Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37
Jerald Arthur Wright, 31