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Area Bars Planning Orlando Tribute Saturday Night

Chenspec
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Wikimedia Commons

Below Zero Lounge and at least nine other LGBTQ bars in Greater Cincinnati are planning a tribute to the Orlando victims Saturday night.

"This Saturday night at two o'clock, or closing time of the establishments, we're all going to light 49 candles in honor of the victims in Orlando," says Below Zero owner Nigel Cotterill.

The event is being called "Can't Stop Dancing."

"We just want to continue living our lives and continue dancing, not just go back in the closet. Because if that happens, that's exactly what the terrorists got."

Cotterill says the event isn't limited to local LGBTQ bars. He welcomes everyone to participate and says the event is already spreading beyond the region to venues in Tennessee, Louisville, and West Virginia.

"When (people) are doing this, I think they'll get a moment to reflect and think about that it could have been anywhere that the shooting could have happened. Just by chance, we don't know the details, obviously it was a GLBT bar, but it could have been any bar in town."

Senior Editor and reporter at WVXU with more than 20 years experience in public radio; formerly news and public affairs producer with WMUB. Would really like to meet your dog.