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How LGBT bars, nightclubs became sacred spaces
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Jun 15, 2016
Listen 10:43
How LGBT bars, nightclubs became sacred spaces
When Omar Mateen opened fire inside Pulse in Orlando, Florida, it wasn't just an attack on a night club; It was an attack on a sacred space.
The Abbey in West Hollywood, CA.
The Abbey in West Hollywood, CA.
(
Photo by Jen Lund via Flickr Creative Commons
)

When Omar Mateen opened fire inside Pulse in Orlando, Florida, it wasn't just an attack on a night club; It was an attack on a sacred space.

New details continue to emerge following the shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando. It's been reported the FBI is looking into the wife of Omar Mateen, who suspected he might carry out an attack, but she did not alert authorities.

Mateen also may have been struggling with his own sexuality. There have been reports that Mateen frequented Pulse nightclub before the shooting. There are other claims that he used apps for gay dating.

Details are also coming to light about what unfolded inside the club. Many victims described playing dead, not knowing if the person next to them was dead or alive.

Gay clubs and bars hold meaning to people in the LGBT community. They're a place to gather, be safe, and be yourself.

So when Mateen opened fire inside Pulse, it wasn't just an attack on a night club; It was an attack on a sacred space.

is an advisor for the Lavender Effect, an organization that collects the history of the LGBT rights movement. He joined Take Two to explain more about how LGBT spaces have evolved overtime.

To listen to the full interview, click on the blue audio player above.