In the aftermath of the deadly shooting at the Pulse Nightclub on July 12th, 2016, then US House Representative Ron DeSantis visited the memorial of those 49 people who lost their lives to the senseless gun violence of a disgruntled security guard. Florida State Rep Carlos Guillermo Smith, the state’s first openly gay Latino lawmaker said of the visit,” [he] appeared to be extending an olive branch to the LGBTQ+ community. An olive branch which he has since rescinded, stomped on and destroyed.”

DeSantis commemorated the fifth anniversary of the attack at Pulse by vetoing $150,000 in state funds that would have provided counseling for the Pulse survivors and nixing another $750,000 to create housing programs for unhoused LGBTQIA+ youth.[i] The governor signed several bills that expand on his “Don’t Say Gay’ legislation, including Senate Bill 254, banning gender affirming care; House Bill 1521, restricting the bathrooms transgender people can use, and House Bill 1423, restricting drag shows.

These invective pieces of legislation have had a ripple effect across the nation, with at least 417 anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced in state legislatures across the US since the start of this year. More than two-thirds of all the healthcare related bills introduced this year are aimed at blocking trans youth from accessing gender-affirming care.

While DeSantis and many legislators like him across the nation are attacking and restricting our community with vitriolic speech and fear, we as the LGBTQ+ community and our allies, as we always have, revolt against hate with love.

With connection.

With building community by holding vigil for the lives lost that day seven years ago, by protecting the lives of those who survived, and fighting for the rights of every member of our queer community.

Here are some ways to commemorate Pulse Remembrance Day and honor those who lost their lives by standing up for those who are threatened now: 

·       Read Orlando Weekly’s profiles of the 49 people who were killed on June 12th, 2016.

·       Learn more about the legislation that threatens our community: ACLU Legislative Map

·       Visit the OnePulse Foundation’s official events page

·       Contact your legislators: HRC – No Attacks on Our Communities

[i] LGBTQ Floridians once hoped DeSantis could be an ally. Not anymore | CNN Politics

About Cascade AIDS Project

CAP is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1985 as a grassroots response to the AIDS crisis. As the oldest and largest community-based HIV services provider in Oregon and southwest Washington, we seek to support and empower all people with or affected by HIV, reduce stigma, and provide the LGBTQ+ community with compassionate healthcare. We do so by helping to ensure the health and well-being of our program participants each year through health, housing, and other social services. When the need for affordable, accessible, and culturally affirming primary care services was identified as a community need, we responded by opening Prism Health in 2017.  More information can be found at www.capnw.org.