New London — If Wednesday’s forum was any indication, gun reform legislation advocates have gained allies in the local LGBT community in the wake of the massacre in Orlando.

“This may be a moment for this particular issue to pass the tipping point,” said the Rev. Carolyn Patierno from the All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church. “It does have one particular community very fired up in a way that we have not been previously.”

Patierno, representing the faith community, joined a varied group of panelists in a forum hosted collectively by OutCT, the city and members of the local faith community.

It was billed as a follow-up to a vigil organized during a meeting at All Souls just a day after the shooting in Orlando.

That June 14 vigil attracted more than 300 people to downtown New London.

OutCT President Constance Kristofik said Wednesday’s event, attended by about 60 people, was meant to help spur social action steps, connect the diverse groups in attendance and work collectively toward providing a safe community.

Guests included New London Police Capt. Brian Wright, New London Human Resources Director Jeanne Milstein, Connecticut Against Gun Violence Executive Director Ron Pinciero and Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities attorney Alix Simonetti.

Wright discussed ways residents can stay safe and changes in domestic violence laws. Milstein offered to connect individuals to local resources. Simonetti outlined state laws pertaining to protections against discrimination.

Much of the discussion focused on guns.

Pinciero said he thinks there has been a political shift toward stricter gun laws that started after the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School, then sputtered, but was taken to another level after the shootings in Orlando.

Connecticut has some of the strictest gun laws in the nation, but laws passed in the state — such as bans on assault-style rifles and high-capacity magazines — have yet to become national laws, he said.

“This time it was an intersection of a number of groups being affected at the same time — groups that we were not organically allied with before,” Pinciero said. “I feel that happening now.”

He said the groups include the LGBT, Latino and Muslim communities.

A nearly 15-hour filibuster to pressure GOP colleagues to allow votes on gun control measures by U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and a recent sit-in by House Democrats also have helped push the issue to the forefront.

Patierno promised a continued discussion and future forums on how community members can continue to build relationships to prevent violence.

For resident Linda Heller, the night’s forum was a stepping stone to something larger.

“In a way, I think was an opening. I came here after the vigil to see what we could do that was concrete,” she said.

She said she was heartened to see the diversity of New London represented.

“If anything, these are not groups that usually work together. People have learned something and now we need to take action,” Heller said.

 g.smith@theday.com