Premium Content:

Pulse Nightclub site designated a national memorial

Five years after a gunman killed 49 people, and wounded 53 others in a mass shooting at The Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida; the US Congress have voted in favour of making the site a national memorial.

- Advertisement -

The Congress passed the motion unanimously, and the house has already passed it’s version of the bill last month. The measure will now go to President Joe Biden who is expected to sign it into law.

The legislation was introduced by Republican Senator Rick Scott, who was Florida’s Governor at the time of the massacre. Speaking to the bill he recalled that speaking to parents who lost children in the attack, and attending their funerals was the hardest thing he’d ever had to do.

The mass shooting was the deadliest in US history until the 2017 shooting in Las Vegas that saw 60 people killed and over 400 injured.

On June 12th the gay club was hosting a Latin night when a 29-year-old gunman entered the venue and began shooting people. The situation developed into a stand off between police and the offender as he held people hostage in the night club.  After several hours police entered the building and the gunman was killed in an exchange of fire.

The owners of the venue have outlined their plans to build an LGBTIQ museum and memorial on the site. They have formed a foundation to raise funds for the project, and singer Ricky Martin signed on as their national spokesperson. The project was originally slated to be completed in 2020, but has been delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

OIP Staff


Do you need some support?

If you are struggling with anxiety or depression, support and counselling are available from:

QLife: 1800 184 527 / qlife.org.au (Webchat 3pm – midnight)
QLife are a counselling and referral service for LGBTQIA+ people.

DISCHARGED: 9364 6909 / waamh.org.au / wearedischarged@gmail.com
Discharged is a trans-led support service with peer support groups for trans and gender diverse folks.

Lifeline: 13 11 14 / lifeline.org.au

Beyondblue: 1300 22 4636 / www.beyondblue.org.au


You can support our work by subscribing to our Patreon
or contributing to our GoFundMe campaign.

Latest

Dolly Parton’s musical comedy ‘Here You Come Again’ is coming to Perth

A joyous new musical comedy featuring the hits of the legendary Dolly Parton is coming to Perth audiences this August.

WA documentary ‘POINTE’ tells powerful story of healing through dance

A new documentary from Dawn Jackson tells the captivating, shocking story of acclaimed WA dancer Floeur Alder.

Long-acting injectable PrEP available through Compassionate Access Program

This long-acting injectable form of pre-exposure prophylaxis - Apretude - offers an alternative to daily oral pills.

On This Gay Day | In 1981 a newspaper revealed Martina Navratilova was a lesbian

Navratilova won 59 Grand Slam titles across the singles and doubles categories in a career that spanned the 1970s and 1980s.

Newsletter

Don't miss

Dolly Parton’s musical comedy ‘Here You Come Again’ is coming to Perth

A joyous new musical comedy featuring the hits of the legendary Dolly Parton is coming to Perth audiences this August.

WA documentary ‘POINTE’ tells powerful story of healing through dance

A new documentary from Dawn Jackson tells the captivating, shocking story of acclaimed WA dancer Floeur Alder.

Long-acting injectable PrEP available through Compassionate Access Program

This long-acting injectable form of pre-exposure prophylaxis - Apretude - offers an alternative to daily oral pills.

On This Gay Day | In 1981 a newspaper revealed Martina Navratilova was a lesbian

Navratilova won 59 Grand Slam titles across the singles and doubles categories in a career that spanned the 1970s and 1980s.

Bibliophile | ‘Stillwater’ is an edgy thriller from debut crime author Tanya Scott

After years away, disability support worker Luke Harris is back in his hometown of Melbourne and is determined to build a quiet life, starting with a steady job.

Dolly Parton’s musical comedy ‘Here You Come Again’ is coming to Perth

A joyous new musical comedy featuring the hits of the legendary Dolly Parton is coming to Perth audiences this August.

WA documentary ‘POINTE’ tells powerful story of healing through dance

A new documentary from Dawn Jackson tells the captivating, shocking story of acclaimed WA dancer Floeur Alder.

Long-acting injectable PrEP available through Compassionate Access Program

This long-acting injectable form of pre-exposure prophylaxis - Apretude - offers an alternative to daily oral pills.