Prism Community Collective, an LGBTQ+ resource center in downtown Colorado Springs, is extending its hours on Tuesday and Wednesday as the community remembers the two-year mark of the Club Q mass shooting.
On Nov. 19, 2022, a gunman killed five people and injured dozens of others after opening fire inside the LGBTQ+ nightclub. Those killed included Daniel Aston, Kelly Loving, Ashley Paugh, Derrick Rump, and Raymond Green Vance.
The resource center, which opened five months ago, was created in direct response to the deadly shooting. The center acts as a hub to connect people to mental health resources while hosting peer support groups and community events.
“People feel safe here because we provide an affirming space, a safe space, and anybody is welcome to come into this space and know that they are going to be greeted and treated with the utmost respect,” said Program and Outreach Manager John Arcediano.
Arcediano is a Club Q shooting survivor and helped establish the Prism Community Collective after recognizing the need for more LGBTQ+ spaces in Colorado Springs.