Honor them with Action: NASTAD Remembers the Pulse 49

Today marks four years since the tragedy at Pulse nightclub, when hate and violence took 49 lives during Latin night at the popular gathering place for young LGBTQ people of color in Orlando, Florida.

As NASTAD remembers the Pulse shooting, and lifts up the souls lost, there is still so much work to be done to stop the ongoing violence and discrimination LGBTQ+ Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) face today. As mentioned in NASTAD’s recent statement on Black Lives Matter, the organization recognizes that we will not end the HIV and hepatitis epidemics and related syndemics without dismantling the systems of oppression that fuel racial disparities in access and outcomes. We also won’t end these epidemics without addressing the discrimination and violence experienced by members of the LGBTQ+ community. Violence and discrimination are public health issues.

As NASTAD commits to honoring the lives of the 49 with action, the organization will actively work to dismantle systems of racism, discrimination, prejudice, health inequity, homophobia, transphobia, and stigma. We will continue to focus our work on addressing social determinants of health and centering our effort around marginalized communities that live in the intersections of oppression.   

This week Equality Florida, launched its Honor Them With Action initiative, a national campaign to increase voter registration and get out the vote.

Additionally, this week, The Contigo Fund, announced the “All Black Lives Matter Fund,” dedicating funding to Black-led LGBTQ+ initiatives in Central Florida.

NASTAD honors the 49 lives lost on June 12, 2016 at Pulse:

Stanley Almodovar III, 23 years old Amanda Alvear, 25 years old Oscar A Aracena-Montero, 26 years old Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33 years old Antonio Davon Brown, 29 years old Darryl Roman Burt II, 29 years old Angel L. Candelario-Padro, 28 years old Juan Chavez Martinez, 25 years old Luis Daniel Conde, 39 years old Cory James Connell, 21 years old Tevin Eugene Crosby, 25 years old Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32 years old Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, 31 years old Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25 years old Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26 years old Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22 years old Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22 years old Paul Terrell Henry, 41 years old Frank Hernandez, 27 years old Miguel Angel Honorato, 30 years old Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40 years old Jason Benjamin Josaphat, 19 years old Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30 years old Anthony Luis Laureano Disla, 25 years old Christopher “Drew” Andrew Leinonen, 32 years old Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21 years old Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, 49 years old Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25 years old KJ Morris, 37 years old Akyra Monet Murray, 18 years old Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20 years old Geraldo A. Ortiz-Jimenez, 25 years old Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36 years old Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32 years old Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35 years old Enrique L. Rios, Jr., 25 years old Jean C. Nives Rodriguez, 27 years old Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35 years old Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, 24 years old Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan, 24 years old Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34 years old Shane Evan Tomlinson, 33 years old Martin Benitez Torres, 33 years old Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, 24 years old Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, 37 years old Luis S. Vielma, 22 years old Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez, 50 years old Luis Daniel Lestat Wilson-Leon, 37 years old Jerald “Jerry” Arthur Wright, 31 years old