New London — The massacre that ended with 49 people dead at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., has Muslims, members of other faiths, and the LGBT community standing together in solidarity.

About two dozen people gathered at All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church here Monday to plan a vigil that they want to be a powerful and visible public message that emphasizes unity.

“That’s one of the real wonderful things about New London is that we in our community have always been able to stand together as diverse people and as diverse people of faith to stand up for what’s right and to loudly condemn acts of hatred and acts of terrorism no matter who perpetrates them and no matter who they are perpetrated against,” said former New London Mayor Daryl Justin Finizio.

Finizio said the gay community is reeling from the news of the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. There was some comfort in knowing that representatives from a diverse group of faith traditions — Christian, Jewish and Muslim — came together so quickly.

The vigil is scheduled to take place starting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in downtown New London. June is LGBT Pride month.

Local activist Ron Ward said he was encouraged by the immediate outpouring of support for the gay community with emails and phone calls being exchanged on Sunday shortly after people became aware of the shooting.

“The LGBT community has been marginalized all along and the taking of someone’s life is the ultimate act to say you don’t count,” Ward said. “By all of us coming together — faith communities and civic groups — sends the message that everyone matters.”

Out CT President Constance Kristofik, who is also the executive director of New London Landmarks, said it is helpful for her to meet with members of the community to help “process this.”

“I need to be with other people,” Kristofik said. “It affects everyone in the community. We just need to come together and grieve and make sense of it all.”

The list of involved organizations was still growing as of Monday, but the Rev. Carolyn Patierno of All Souls said major sponsors will include Out CT, the Greater New London Clergy Association and the Connecticut Chapter of Council on American-Islamic Relations.

Mongi Dhaouadi, executive director of CAIR-CT, said his involvement in the planning for Tuesday’s vigil was important for him “as a Muslim person who represents a civil rights organization … but also as a resident of New London.”

“My family is here. My kids go to school here. It’s very important to me to reach out to my local community,” Dhaouadi said.

Authorities say Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old American-born Muslim, was carrying a Sig Sauer MCX rifle and a handgun when he opened fire at the crowded Pulse Orlando club early Sunday. Authorities initially reported Mateen had used an AR-15 style rifle but have since clarified.

He was killed in a gun battle with police after killing 49 people. He had called 911 to pledge loyalty to the Islamic State. Mateen’s father, an Afghan immigrant, suggested an anti-gay motive as demonstrated by his anger when he saw two men kissing in Miami.

Mateen’s ex-wife attributed the violence to mental illness, saying he was bipolar and abusive toward her, according to the Associated Press.

Dhaouadi said it will be important to have Muslims represented at Tuesday’s event.

“A community comes together in a time like this,” he said. “This was difficult for us to process. The reason for that was not only was this a Muslim who just walked in and killed 50 innocent people and injured more but also he did it to a community that historically stood with us.”

Dhaouadi said the LGBT community has spoken on behalf of Muslims and defended the Muslim community against Islamophobia.

“The LGBT community has been one of our strongest allies across the U.S. So for us to see a Muslim does this to them really hurts, hurts deeply,” he said.

Dhaouadi said he hopes an event like this will send a strong message “this kind of hate, this kind of terrible action is not going to define us.”

“The Muslim community, the LGBT community and the rest of the New London will be standing together. We will not be divided,” he said.

In a written statement, New London Mayor Michael Passero said the city mourns with the families and friends of lost loved ones in Orlando.

"It is my hope that our community's efforts — and the efforts of communities across the country — will increase awareness, compassion and tolerance, so that such a tragedy never happens again," Passero said.

g.smith@theday.com

Editor's note: The type of gun used in the killing was updated based on new reports from multiple sources that include the Washington Post.