Portland, OR | June 9th, 2017 - A year ago today, the Pulse nightclub massacre in Orlando shook the LGBTQ+ community to its core and left us devastated, angry, and bewildered. Each of us was affected by this tragic action in our own way. Most of us read or watched the news of the horrifying events and thought about how it related to our lives. Others, like our own William McKell, a Bilingual HIV Prevention Specialist at CAP, were more personally affected by the tragedy:

Where Pulse Nightclub was always a lively, enjoyable time for me, Latin Nights were especially so. I distinctly remember the first time I went to Latin Nights at Pulse Orlando and saw two men dancing salsa together in a crowd of people to “Lloraras” by Oscar de Leon. Their movements were so coordinated and in sync—to think about it still gives me chills to this day. The friends and memories I made at Pulse as a young college student would eventually help me realize my identities as a Latino and gay man. To later discover that I had lost a friend and several acquaintances on that tragic night of June 2016 would strike fear into my core sense of self. Although I want to be able to move on, I cannot help but think about this as a brutal attack on both LGBTQ and Latino communities. We must not forget the importance of representing our culture in a way that honors the memories of those people who simply wanted to dance without fear or judgment. I cannot forget the names or faces of the people who lost their lives while dancing to merengue, bachata, and salsa. I am forever grateful to my friend Drew Leinonen for the life that he led by example, and hope to cherish his memory as I work to proudly represent Latinos wherever they might be. No one can stop the Pulse. ~ William

As we come together as a community to celebrate Pride, its important that we never forget our friends, lovers, sisters, and brothers whose lives were lost that terrible night. I for one believe that the most profound way to honor their loss is through acts of service to our community. Last week, I had the honor of participating in the AIDS LifeCycle as a volunteer co-captain for the medical team supporting 2,200 riders as they traveled 545 miles down the coast of California. I will alway cherish the memory of working to support my community while being surrounded by the most incredibly vibrant, alive, and jubilant people from all walks of life.

I encourage you to find ways to honor those lives lost in Orlando through action in our own community. CAP is joining a nationwide effort to honor the lives of the 49 victims. The focus of this effort is to take actions that create a safer environment for LGBTQ+ communities. Use the hashtag #HonorThemWithAction to highlight your own actions and to encourage others to act. Both the Q Center and Basic Rights Oregon have a number of events that you participate in including a blood drive and a community discussion on gun safety.

Please take a moment to remember those who lost their lives and then honor them with action, today and every day going forward.

Yours in peace and solidarity,

Tyler TerMeer, Executive Director