A pair of high-profile LGBT allies spoke out last night against the horrific massacre at a gay club in Orlando, Florida ... taking the podiums at vigils on both coasts for honor the dead and motivate change.
A clearly emotional Lady Gaga, who has long spoken up for the gay community, appeared at an event in Los Angeles on Monday night to speak passionately about the tragedy and remember the lives lost.
"I know that you all have been feeling a tremendous range of emotions since we've all heard about this horrible, hateful attack on Orlando and on your and our community," she said. "As we have now witnessed the largest mass shooting in American history, I can't help but feel that this level of hatred, like all prejudicial crimes, is an attack on humanity itself. This is an attack on everyone."
"Tonight I gather humbly with you as a human being in peace, in sincerity, in commitment, in solidarity, to take a real moment and mourn the tragic loss of these innocent, beautiful people," she said of the 49 killed at Pulse early Sunday morning.
"Let's all today pledge an allegiance of love to them and to their families who are suffering so deeply. They are sons and daughters. They're fathers and mothers. They are all our brothers and our sisters," she said through tears. "But, tonight I will not allow my anger and outrage over this attack to overshadow our need to honor those who are grieving truly for their lost ones, lost members of the LGBT community."
"I hope you know that myself and so many are your allies. Not only me, but everyone here. We represent the compassion and the loyalty of millions of people around the world that believe in you. You are not alone, you are not alone."
"Tomorrow I hope that we all race thoughtfully and loudly towards solutions," she added. "But tonight, and right now, Orlando, we are united with you. And we are here to remember."
She then read off the full list of names.
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In NYC, in front of the famed Stonewall Inn, Nick Jonas also spoke out in tribute to the victims.
"I'm so humbled and I think more than anything I just want to speak from the heart and say I woke up yesterday to the news like all of you and my heart broke," he said to the energetic crowd. "I grew up here in NYC, New Jersey, performing on Broadway shows, surrounded by some of my closest friends from the LGBT community. My father, a minister from New Jersey, shaped my view that love is love, and we are all equal."
"No matter who you are and where you're from or where you're going in your life, you have the right to love and be loved," he continued. "So yesterday, thinking about the families of the victims and the lives lost, I just thought that could be my friend, that could be my people and all I thought was, I feel such pain and sadness for the victims and the families. What's so powerful is how brave this group is here today and how brave all the LGBT community is and I'm humbled and honored to be able to say that we are powerful and we can make a change."
"I'm no politician, I have a humble and small voice, but if we all raise our small voices we can do a lot of good," he added, in conclusion. "Enough is enough and I think we're headed in the right direction. Thank you so much for letting me speak and please know you are not alone. New York is so strong and we ain't scared of anybody."
These two are hardly the only ones speaking up in the wake of the tragic event. Late night hosts Jimmy Fallon, Conan O'Brien, Trevor Noah, Stephen Colbert and Samantha Bee all addressed the shooting on their shows last night ... and Anderson Cooper couldn't help but cry as he read off the names of all the victims on CNN.
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