Gay right advocates chastise Rubio's speaking to pastors

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The owner of a nightclub where 49 people were killed in a shooting massacre and the sister of one of the victims are joining gay-rights advocates in denouncing the appearances of Donald Trump and Marco Rubio at a pastors' conference that they say has a lineup of notoriously anti-gay speakers.

Celia Ruiz's brother Juan Guerrero was killed during the June 12 mass shooting that left 49 people dead. She joined Pulse nightclub owner Barbara Poma and others Thursday at a protest in Orlando's tourist district where the American Renewal Project meeting is being held.

The GOP presidential candidate was to speak at the conference Thursday. The Republican U.S. senator is scheduled to speak on Friday, the massacre's two-month anniversary.

Rubio said in a statement that the meeting isn't anti-gay; it's a celebration of faith.

MIKE SCHNEIDER, Associated Press

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Copyright 2016 The Gayly - 8/11/2016 @ 2:16 p.m. CDT