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