Equality Florida Statement and Updates on Mass Shooting at Pulse Nightclub

Equality Florida statement on mass shooting at Orlando gay club:

We are reeling from the tragic news that a gunman opened fire on the 2am capacity crowd at Pulse leaving 50 people dead and over 50 injured according to preliminary reports.

We are heartbroken and angry that senseless violence has once again destroyed lives in our state and in our country.

Gay clubs hold a significant place in LGBTQ history. They were often the only safe gathering place and this horrific act strikes directly at our sense of safety. June commemorates our community standing up to anti-LGBTQ violence at the Stonewall Inn, the nightclub that has become the first LGBTQ site recognized as a national monument.

We have received a steady stream of emails and messages from those seeking to help or to make sense of the senseless. We make no assumptions on motive. We will await the details in tears of sadness and anger. We stand in solidarity and keep our thoughts on all whose lives have been lost or altered forever in this tragedy.

Plans are underway for the following. More details to come.
COUNSELING AVAILABLE:

* The GLBT Community Center of Central Florida is referring folks to First Unitarian Church, 1901 east Robinson street, Orlando, FL 32803 for grief counseling.

*For anyone needing support today, you may call the Zebra Coalition hotline at (407) 228-1446 to speak to a counselor.

* From the UCF LGBT student services director: There is counseling available to UCF students today from 12pm-5pm, in the student union room 313. Our LGBT student hang out space, Pride Commons, will reopen Monday through Friday from 9am-5pm, with group counseling available from 1pm-2pm daily

* Muslim Counselors: Naseema 786-473-6017 & Sakina Issa 407-484-2724

* Kids/teens counselor Austin Hill: 941-468-7062

Check on Friends & Family

The City of Orlando has established a hotline to check on missing family members: 407-246-4357. Family members can also go to the Hampton Inn at 43 Columbia Street to be reunited with loved ones.

Eye-Witness Information

Law enforcement officials are looking for information and encouraging anyone who was at Pulse Saturday night to please contact them: 800-CALL-FBI.

BLOOD DRIVES:

OneBlood, the local blood bank in Orlando, are currently asking folks to wait until later this week to donate because of the overwhelming numbers of people who responded to their first call for blood donations. To find a donation center or Big Red Bus near you visit www.oneblood.org or call 1.888.9Donate.

VIGIL(S):

Equality Florida is pleased to report that the Mayor and City of Orlando have authorized a vigil at the Plaza at the Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center for tonight, June 13th, at 7:00pm ET.

Equality Florida has been working closely with the city and federal government to ensure this will be a safe event for those who come out to mourn the victims of the horrific mass shooting at Pulse Nightclub. We are thankful for the hard work of law enforcement and Orlando’s Mayor Buddy Dyer in helping to make sure this event is safe and secure.

Event: #OneOrlando Vigil
Location: Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center
455 S. Magnolia Avenue, Orlando, FL 32801
Seneff Arts Plaza
(Lawn between Arts Center & City Hall)
Lawn is between Orange Ave. & Magnolia.
Date/Time: Monday, June 13th at 7:00pm ET

Partner Organizations: Human Rights Campaign, GLBT Community Center of Central Florida, MBA Orlando, Come Out With Pride, Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida, and the Anti-Defamation League. (List of partner organizations in formation) We are also thankful to be joined by an interfaith coalition of faith leaders from diverse denominations. Facebook Event Page: www.facebook.com/events/234719866914077/

We are asking the community to come together to remember and honor the victims, families, and friends affected by this national tragedy. Let’s show the world that we are #OneOrlando.

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Additional Vigils across the state: 

• Palm Beach – Vigil on Monday, June 13th at 8:00pm at Cultural Plaza, Lake Worth, FL. More details here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1186080424756185/

• Tampa – Vigil on Monday, June 13th at 7pm at the parking lot across the street from Southern Nights (1430 E. 7th Ave Tampa, FL 33605). Click here for more details

• Lakeland – Vigil on Monday, June 13th at 7:30pm at Lake Mirror. Click here for more details

• Gainesville – Vigil at 7pm on Monday, June 13th at City Hall. Hosted by PCCNCF, United Church of Gainesville, Equality Florida, Human Rights Council of North Central Florida, and Stonewall Democrats of Alachua County. In case of inclement weather, the vigil will take place at United Church of Gainesville, 1624 NW 5th Ave., Gainesville, FL 32603

• Miami – Vigil at 7:45pm on Monday, June 13th at Community Center, 6360 NE 4th Court, Miami, 33138, 305-571-9601,

• Ft. Lauderdale – Vigil at 8:00pm on Monday, June 13th at All Saints Episcopal Church, 333 Tarpon Dr., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301, 954-467-6496

• Pensacola – Vigil on Monday, June 13th at 6:00pm at Seville Square Park. More details here: facebook.com/events/1000996783347263/

• Venice – Vigil on Monday, June 13th at 7:30pm at SunCoast Cathedral MCC, 3276 E Venice Avenue, https://www.suncoastcathedralmcc.org/, https://www.facebook.com/SunCoastMCC/

• Sarasota – Vigil on Monday, June 13 at 8pm at Five Points Park hosted by the Harvey Milk Festival. More Detials here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1724608684477095/

• Tallahassee – Vigil on Monday, June 13th at 6:30pm ET at the steps of the Florida State Capitol. Details here: facebook.com/events/1063260577099583/

• The Villages – Gathering being held on Monday, June 13th at 6:00pm at Bonifay County Club, 1033 Pinellas Pl, The VIllages

• Ft. Myers – Vivil on Saturday, June 18th at 7:00 pm at Centennial Park at the “Uncommon Friends” Fountain in Downtown Fort Myers

GO FUND ME:

* A GoFundMe account has been set up to help raise funds for the victims and families of the horrific Orlando Pulse Nightclub Shooting: https://www.gofundme.com/PulseVictimsFund

Travel for Loved Ones:

JetBlue is officially assisting with flights for those in need. Click here for more details

“Like many of you, we continue to watch reports of the Orlando nightclub shooting with great sadness. Our thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones. This weekend’s events are felt by all of our 19,000 crewmembers, many of whom live in, work from and travel through Orlando – one of our focus cities – at Orlando International Airport, our Orlando Support Center and JetBlue University. We want to do our part to help the victims of this tragedy as well support the Orlando community through this difficult time.”

Equality Florida thanks JetBlue for their fast response and generous support.

Accessing Victim Relief Fund

We are working with the National Center for Victims of Crime, which deployed funds in both the Chattanooga and Aurora shootings, to distribute the contribution from our Pulse Victim Fund (http://nationalcompassionfund.org/faq/).

This organization offers support to communities affected by mass casualty events in the form of the National Compassion Fund, and ensure that every penny donated will be correctly and quickly dispersed to the victims and families.

We ask all victims to call this hotline to begin this process:
VictimConnect Resource Center
855-4-Victim (855-484-2846)
http://victimconnect.org/