'Now we know the fight is not over': Toronto LGBT community, friends honour Orlando victims in silent vigil

A mass shooting that killed more than 50 people inside a gay nightclub in Orlando has prompted a "visceral" response fromToronto's LGBT community, as Pride Month organizers immediately began planning a silent vigil for those affected by the tragedy.

• 50 dead in worst U.S. mass shooting at Florida gay nightclub
• Witnesses take to social media to describe what they saw

"Every year when pride is around the corner there's always people asking us, 'So, do you still need pride?' Today, sadly, we really didn't need that demonstration, but now we know why we need pride,"Pride Toronto executive director MathieuChanteloistold CBC News.

As people awoke Sunday to stories of the gunfire, others connected on social media to spread word of how Toronto would honour those killed or injured at the Pulse nightclub, a director with the 519, anLGBTadvocacy agency said.

"I think our community isresponding very viscerally to the horror of what has happened and the fact that our community members were targeted," John Farrell said. "Our community responded immediately with outpourings of support for the victims and a vigilant call to stamp out these incidents of violence."

'Because of Orlando'

The candlelight vigiltookplace at Barbara Hall Park on Church Street Sunday, where other Pride events had been planned for the weekend.

Premier KathleenWynneand Mayor John Tory were among those attendance, withWynneamong the first to speak.

"Someoneasked me the other day, 'Why Pride?'" she told the crowd."Well, because of Orlando... That's why Pride."

Earlier Sunday, the mayor tweeted that inhonour of the victims, theCity of Toronto sign wouldalso be illuminated in rainbow colours to honour the shooting victims.

Farrell said he doesn't expect the shooting to stopany of the events planned for Toronto's Pride, but iscertain organizers will take a look at the safeguards in place.

"I'm not scared in Toronto even though I have seen it happen in Toronto, people getting attacked,"JoelMisner,whose own parents live in Nebraska, told CBC News.

'It is sick'

"My thoughts are it is sick," Toronto resident David Long told CBC News. "And I heard what the Texas [official] said about it, which is also sick."

Just hours afterSunday's shooting RepublicanTexas Lt. Gov Dan Patrick tweeted a biblical excerpt, which many on Twitter criticized as insensitive.

Do not be deceived. God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.- Lt. Gov Dan Patrick quoting fromGalatians 6:7 in a tweet Sunday, later deleted

The post was later deleted and Patrick's office put up a statement shortly afterward reiterating his outrage at the mass shooting.

"Regarding this morning's scripture posting on social media, be assured that the post was not done in response to last night's tragedy," the statement said. "The post was designed and scheduled last Thursday."

For Chantelois, the attacks highlight that the struggle for LGBT rights has a long way to go.

"Now we know the fight is not over,Chanteloissaid. "Transphobiais huge right now. We need to fight for ourtransfriends. There's still tons of bullying happening in schools. Now we get killed in our own clubs."

"These people were just looking for love ordancing and now they're all dead."

"Thank god we're here and not there," Long said.