Orlando shooting: Bill Shorten throws support behind LGBTI community at Melbourne vigil

Opposition leader Bill Shorten has shown his support of the LGBTI community at a vigil at Melbourne’s Federation Square last night.

Shorten paid tribute to the 49 victims of the Pulse nightclub massacre in Florida, as the square was blanketed in rainbow.

“There will be people in our LGBTI community who will feel a little less secure and a little less safe after Orlando,” Mr Shorten said.

“They need to see their leaders standing with them. They need to know homophobia has no place in Australian life of Australian attitudes, full stop.”

The crowd of more than one thousand people held tea-lights, candles and rainbow flags as they sung a rendition of Somewhere over the Rainbow with the LGBTI choir to honour the fallen.

Other politicians in attendance included local Greens MP Adam Bandt, Premier Daniel Andrews and gender and sexuality commissioner Ro Allen.

A multi-faith service at St Paul’s Anglican cathedral followed the service.