Gone But Never Forgotten

By Tammi Wallace
Co-Founder, President & CEO

On this day in 2016, a shooter walked into the PULSE nightclub in Orlando, FL and gunned down 49 people and wounded 53 others. It is never lost on me that, during the year that the Chamber launched, one of the worst tragedies for the LGBTQ+ community happened on June 12, 2016.

I’ll never forget exactly where I was that day on vacation with my wife and her family. As we were trying to enjoy this time together, this tragedy was unfolding in the alerts on my phone. It was unfathomable that this was happening.

49 people killed. 49 people killed. 49 people killed. 49 people killed. 49 people killed. 49 people killed. 49 people killed. 49 people killed. 49 people killed. 49 people killed. 49 people killed. 49 people killed. 49 people killed. 49 people killed. 49 people killed. 49 people killed. 49 people killed. 49 people killed. 49 people killed. 49 people killed. 49 people killed.

I repeat this over and over in my mind every year.

These are 49 people that will never celebrate Pride Month and so much more and their families and friends are left with only their memories because of a senseless act of hatred and violence against the LGBTQ+ community. 53 others had their lives irrevocably changed that fateful night and bear the scars both physically and mentally because of the violence that occurred when people were out at a bar and simply having fun.

As a community, we bear the scars of this tragedy and the continued attacks on the LGBTQ+ community and especially trans violence.

Today, we reflect on the 49 lives lost in the Orlando PULSE nightclub. They are gone but never forgotten. Our thoughts are with the families who lost loved ones during that tragic day and the 53 people who were wounded in this senseless act of hatred and violence against the LGBTQ+ community.

We stand with our colleagues at The Pride Chamber in Orlando and send our thoughts across the miles. #OrlandoStrong