Colorado Springs Commemorates First Anniversary of Club Q Mass Shooting

As the city takes strides towards inclusivity, LGBTQ+ advocates stress the need for continued progress.

Colorado Springs marks the first anniversary of the mass shooting at Club Q, an LGBTQ+ nightclub, where five people were killed and 17 others were wounded.
Since the attack, the city has taken steps to become more inclusive and welcoming, including the election of its first Black mayor, Yemi Mobolade, and the upcoming opening of a new LGBTQ+ resource center.
Club Q, which has been closed since the attack, plans to build a memorial and reopen at a new location under the rebrand The Q.
Despite these changes, some LGBTQ+ advocates say more work needs to be done, citing ongoing fear in the community and political opposition to queer rights.
The shooter, Anderson Lee Aldrich, who has not publicly revealed a motivation for the attack, pleaded guilty in June to five counts of murder and 46 counts of attempted murder for each person who was at the club during the attack, and was given five consecutive life sentences.