GAY GROUPS DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM SHOOTING

Over 40 LGBTI groups in the US have distanced themselves from the shooting of a security guard at the headquarters of an anti-gay organisation.

On Wednesday morning, a man, identified as Floyd Lee Corkins II, began arguing with a security guard in the lobby of the Family Research Council offices in Washington DC.

The Family Research Council is a conservative lobby group opposed to same-sex marriage as well as abortion rights. Corkins (28) is reported to have criticised the organisation before allegedly opening fire and wounding the security guard.

The security guard was shot in the arm and was conscious when he was taken to hospital.

Although his motives are still unknown, Corkins is believed to have worked as a volunteer at a local LGBTI community centre. There are reports that he was carrying food and promotional material from Chick-fil-A, a fast food chain recently in the news for its opposition to same-sex marriage.

LGBTI organisation condemned the shooting in a joint statement. “We were saddened to hear news of the shooting this morning at the offices of the Family Research Council. Our hearts go out to the shooting victim, his family, and his co-workers,” said the groups.

“The motivation and circumstances behind today’s tragedy are still unknown, but regardless of what emerges as the reason for this shooting, we utterly reject and condemn such violence. We wish for a swift and complete recovery for the victim of this terrible incident,” they added.

Conservative anti-gay organisations were quick to lay the blame for the attack at the feet of the groups.

“Today’s attack is the clearest sign we’ve seen that labelling pro-marriage groups as `hateful’ must end,” Brian Brown, the president of the National Organization for Marriage, another group campaigning against same-sex marriage, said in a statement.