The rainbow-colored crosswalk in midtown Phoenix held a soft glow at twilight in rememberance of the lives cut short by gunfire days earlier at a southern Arizona gay bar.
The evening of Sept. 3, luminarias lined the sidewalks along and near the intersection of 7th and Glenrosa avenues in the Melrose District. The paper bag lanterns with votive candles illuminated this busy corner of queer nightlife to honor Cameron Davis Capara, 33, and Vincent Anthony Siqueiros, 42.
Both were gunned down the early morning of Aug. 31, outside the Venture-N bar in Tucson. The gunman, Ousman Ceesay, 44, died at a hospital from a self-inflicted gunshot wound following what Tucson police called a bias crime. Ceesay was motivated by hate toward the LGBTQ+ community,
according to police. A list with other community-affiliated establishments was found on the shooter, police added.
Community members and allies from Phoenix stood adjacent to the colorful 7th Avenue crosswalk and outside Arizona's solitary lesbian watering hole, Boycott Bar, and shared thoughts on how to light a path ahead. Restaurateur Mark Howard highlighted the Melrose's District's historically inclusive culture.
"We want it to continue that way. The only way is forward. We're not retreating. We don't stay home," said Howard, who is co-owner of Royale Kitchen + Cocktails. "They don't win that way. We win with love. We win with moving forward."
Boycott and Royale Kitchen are a brisk walk from each other. They are among multiple LGBTQ-friendly businesses situated on "the gay mile" that stretches 7th Avenue between Indian School and Camelback roads.
"For our brothers and sisters in Tucson, we come together for you," said Audrey Corley, owner of Boycott and nearby Title 9 Sports Grill. "No more hate. It has to stop. It stops here. Hopefully, we become a better community as one."
A candidate for the open Phoenix City Council District 4 seat, which includes Melrose, Michael Mazzocco spoke of the significance of bars, like Venture-N, within LGBTQ+ culture.
"This is where we came out. This is our first experience with friendship, with love. It's where we find our tribe. It's our safe space," Mazzocco said.
There have been 54 anti-LGBTQ+ incidents since June 1, 2022, in Arizona, with 11 of those in Phoenix, according to the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation’s (GLAAD) hate and extremism-tracking ALERT Desk.
Phoenix police told The Republic on Sept. 1, that there would be additional patrolling around LGBTQ-friendly businesses and other gathering sites. A political staffer at the event told The Republic that police informed organizers that officers would be patrolling the area.
Ed Hermes, who is also running for District 4, told The Arizona Republic that the carnage at Venture-N was likely intended to instill fear against supporters of LGBTQ+ rights.
"We need to do more in our city to protect vulnerable (commmunity) places," said Hermes, who is currently a member of the Osborn School District Governing Board. He added that if elected, he would "convene the businesses and reallly put support and resources behind them."
Many of those present walked into Boycott once the speakers were done. As the last few shimmers of sunlight quickly faded, a rowdy quartet of barhoppers departed Boycott. They moved west on the rainbow crosswalk, among two in Phoenix.
The distinctive pedestian crosswalks, designed to affirm LGBTQ+ identity, are within a shriking group after the U.S. Department of Transportation ordered the removal of rainbow crosswalks in 2025. Orlando's Pulse gay nightclub, where 49 people were killed by a shooter in 2016, had its rainbow crosswalk painted over by state officials.
"Everybody has to go out and vote," said Laura Pastor, the current District 4 councilmember and Phoenix Union School District Ward 4 candidate. "If you're not registered, please register and get people registered, because that's how we get rid of hate in our federal government."
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix's Melrose District lights path after AZ gay bar shooting
