Duluth Flame Manager Reacts To Mass Shooting At Colorado Gay Bar

DULUTH, Minn. — The Flame Nightclub is a popular downtown Duluth bar that is known for being a safe place for everyone, especially the LGBTQ+ community.

For the last eight years, Nicole has been a bartender and is now the general manager at the nightclub. As you might expect, her reaction to the killings at the gay nightclub in Colorado Springs is sorrow.

“My initial reaction is sadness. Sadness for the community but also sadness for the greater queer community as a whole. That feels very targeted,” said Nicole.

Nicole is also an executive board member of the Duluth-Superior Pride Committee. She says having a safe place where everyone can gather is very important.

“I feel safe at the Flame. I love the Flame. I trust the Flame. I trust my security staff at the Flame. We have an excellent security force that scans everyone with a metal detector at the doors,” said Nicole.

The Colorado Springs killings happened early Sunday morning, which was Transgender Day of Remembrance — a day that’s been set aside since 1999. Its purpose is to remember people who are trans who have been killed simply because of who they are.

Nicole is hopeful that everyone can be safe from gun violence in the future but is well aware of the dangers the LGBTQ+ community still faces.

“Safety in the broader sense and trying to predict whether or not this is going to continue to be a problem for the communities feels like such a dangerous thing to do. But I also think it’s important that we’re realistic about the threats that are targeting the community and people as a whole,” explained Nicole.