(Photo courtesy the City or Orlando)
As our community came together in the hours, days, weeks and months after the Pulse tragedy, we vowed to be here for the survivors, victims’ families, first responders, healthcare professionals and everyone directly impacted by the darkest day in our city’s history.
Five years have passed, but time hasn’t altered our commitment to remembering the 49 angels taken on June 12, 2016, and supporting those with seen and unseen wounds. That’s why our Orlando United Assistance Center, under the management of the LGBT+ Center Orlando, is still providing critical, personalized services, including mental health counseling, peer support spaces and assistance with health resources.
The tragedy disproportionally impacted Orlando’s LGBTQ+, Latinx, Black and other communities of color. Our response had to be compassionate, culturally competent and needed the leadership and support of many partners. I often say that collaboration is what our community does best and that has certainly been evident since the tragedy. Organizations like the One Orlando Alliance developed to become a unified platform for more than 40 LGBTQ+-serving organizations in our region.
Other groups, like the Contigo Fund, QLatinx and Bros In Convo, are helping advocate for LGBTQ+ residents of color. Our community is so grateful for the role that these organizations and others have played in rebuilding safe spaces for some of the most impacted communities from the tragedy. They’ve also helped our city over the last year and a half during the pandemic, working to ensure the safety of residents and assisting our neighbors in need.
Individual leaders have also emerged, including survivors like Angelica Jones and Brandon Wolf. They have brought to the forefront some of the most pressing issues impacting our country, state and community, including equal rights for LGBTQ+ residents and eliminating racial discrimination in our country. I commend them for their commitment to fighting for justice for all.
That brings me back to our current moment in time. So many residents, including members of the LGBTQ+ community, have advocated for an end to systemic racism nationally and in Central Florida. Their voices have been heard at City Hall and I want you to know that the City of Orlando is committed to continuing the work to ensure that every person who calls our city home feels equally valued, is equally protected and has equitable access to opportunities to help them not only get by, but thrive.
This starts with public safety and we’ve launched a Community Response Team, where we’ve joined Aspire Health Partners to have trained mental health professionals respond to some non-violent 911 calls that don’t need a law enforcement response. Team members are focused on de-escalation and connecting those in need to treatment and support. We’re also expanding our youth programs, which have impacted thousands of children in Parramore, to additional neighborhoods so more young residents will have access to academic support and mentorship initiatives.
This is just a start and our efforts are far from done. Just like our work following the Pulse tragedy has carried on and we’ve continued to be there for those impacted by that hateful act, we must keep honoring the survivors and the 49 angels with action to make Orlando more welcoming and more equitable.
Five years later, so much has changed. At the same time, just as I was immediately after the tragedy, I remain so proud of our community. Thank you for continuing to show the world what love and compassion look like.
