House LGBT Caucus Commemorates the Third Anniversary of the Tragic Pulse Shooting
420 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20003
Date: June 12, 2019 Contact: Aliya Bean, (202) 225-2305
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
House LGBT Caucus Commemorates the Third Anniversary of the Tragic Pulse Shooting
Washington D.C. – The Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus today released the following statement in remembrance of the victims of the horrific shooting on June 12, 2016 at the historic Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida, in which 49 people were murdered—most of whom were LGBTQ and Latinx.
LGBTQ people—particularly transgender women and transgender people of color—face disproportionately high rates of violence. In 2018, advocates tracked at least 26 deaths of transgender people in the U.S. due to fatal violence, the majority of whom were Black transgender women. 2019 has already seen at least eight transgender people killed by violent means.
"The memory of the horrific Pulse nightclub attack is painful for the LGBTQ community, Orlando, and the families and friends of the 49 innocent people we lost that day," said LGBT Equality Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18). "But the sad truth is that Pulse wasn't an isolated incident – anti-LGBTQ violence happens every day. As we remember and honor their lives on this difficult anniversary, we've got to recommit to standing together against hatred and discrimination. The best way to honor them is with action."
"The Pulse tragedy shook my central Florida community to its core and forever changed us," said LGBT Equality Caucus Member Rep. Stephanie Murphy (FL-07). "It's important we remember the love that the 49 victims and their loved ones brought into this world, which will always be stronger than the hate that stole their lives on that day. Today we honor their memories, continue to be inspired by their legacies, and recognize the positive contributions the LGBTQ community offers to the world."
The 49 people who died in the shooting are Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34; Stanley Almodovar III, 23; Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20; Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22; Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36; Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22; Luis S. Vielma, 22; Kimberly Morris, 37; Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30; Darryl Roman Burt II, 29; Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32; Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21; Anthony Luis Laureanodisla, 25; Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35; Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez, 50; Amanda Alvear, 25; Martin Benitez Torres, 33; Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37; Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26; Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35; Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25; Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, 31; Oscar A. Aracena-Montero, 26; Enrique L. Rios Jr., 25; Miguel Angel Honorato, 30; Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40; Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32; Jason Benjamin Josaphat, 19; Cory James Connell, 21; Luis Daniel Conde, 39; Shane Evan Tomlinson, 33; Juan Chevez-Martinez, 25; Jerald Arthur Wright, 31; Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25; Tevin Eugene Crosby, 25; Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, 24; Jean C. Nives Rodriguez, 27; Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33; Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, 49; Yilmary Rodriguez Sulivan, 24; Christopher Andrew Leinonen, 32; Angel L. Candelario-Padro, 28; Frank Hernandez, 27; Paul Terrell Henry, 41; Antonio Davon Brown, 29; Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, 24; Akyra Monet Murray, 18; and Geraldo A. Ortiz-Jimenez, 25.
Please contact Aliya Bean at 202-225-2305 or aliya.bean@mail.house.gov with press inquiries.
Founded in 2008, the mission of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus is to promote lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) equality. The Caucus, which is led by the eight openly LGBT members of Congress, is strongly committed to achieving the full enjoyment of human rights for LGBT people in the U.S. and around the world.