'It's heartbreaking': Norfolk Area Pride talks about Club Q

NORFOLK, Neb. -- On Saturday night, a gunman entered Club Q, an LGBTQ+ night bar in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The suspect, 22-year-old Anderson Lee Aldrich, allegedly murdered five people and wounded 17 others before being apprehended. The tragedy has had a profound effect on the LGBTQ+ community across the world, including northeast Nebraska.

News Channel Nebraska met with Norfolk Area Pride to discuss what effect Club Q's mass shooting can have locally.

"It's heartbreaking and it creates fear," said Jen Ippensen, vice president of Norfolk Area Pride. "I started thinking right away about what kind of support is needed in our local community."

Chelsea Schutter, a board member for Area Pride, said that support comes in not a show of fear, but determination. Schutter said it's important to keep moving forward.

"I don't know that the amount of fear, from my perspective, has increased," Schutter said. "I think what I'm seeing in terms of reaction from the community is an increased sense of purpose for the work that we need to continue to keep doing."

The work of Norfolk Area Pride takes the form of events held each year by the non-profit. They range from small game nights to large festivals and educational events. The latter of which aims to create acceptance and understanding in Norfolk.

"One of the primary objectives is to help people gain understanding," Ippensen said. "There's a lot of misinformation which can lead to fear and anger and a lot of things that result in negative consequences. The more we can help inform the local community...the better we can create a society for all of us."

"We hear you when you voice your support, we also hear you when you don't," Schutter said. "Right now especially is the time to be reaching out to the people in your life and tell them that you support them and you love them."