Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Orlando shooting: Watch London Gay Men's Chorus sing 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' at Old Compton Street vigil

Omar Mateen killed 49 people and injured many more at Pulse gay club on Sunday morning

Jess Denham
Tuesday 14 June 2016 14:57 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Monday night saw hundreds of supporters of the LGBT community hold a moving vigil on Old Compton Street for victims of the Orlando shooting.

Among them were the London Gay Men’s Chorus, who performed a beautiful a cappella rendition of Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” to a silenced crowd.

The London street, home to many of the capital’s most famous gay clubs, was packed with more than 600 people waving rainbow flags, laying flowers, holding candles and, later, singing uplifting songs of hope and love.


The outpouring of public support followed the worst mass shooting in US history in the early hours of Sunday morning, when homophobic gunman Omar Mateen killed 49 people and injured many more at Pulse gay club in Orlando, Florida.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn were in attendance at the vigil, which saw 49 rainbow-coloured balloons released into the sky - one for each victim. It was then that the London Gay Men’s Chorus began to sing, followed by a defiant chant of: “We’re here, we’re queer, we will not live in fear”.

Vigils took place in a host of other locations around the UK and the world, with many global landmarks lighting up in the rainbow colours of the LGBT ‘freedom flag’.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in