Pulse Massacre

Pulse Survivor Stars In Pro-Hillary Ad [VIDEO]

Via press release: Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization, released a new digital ad in Florida: “Ricardo.” It features Ricardo Negron-Almodovar, an Orlando resident and survivor of the tragic June attack on the Pulse nightclub, who emphasizes the importance of voting to make real change. Today is …

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FLORIDA: Craig Jungwirth Indicted On Federal Terrorism Charge Over Threats Against Gay Bars, Faces 5 Years

The Orlando Sentinel reports: An Orlando man accused of posting online threats toward the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in South Florida was indicted Thursday in federal court. According to court documents, Craig Allen Jungwirth, 50, posted threats against the LGBT community in Wilton Manors on Facebook on Aug. 30. Wifredo A. Ferrer, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District …

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FLORIDA: State Seeks $150K Fine From Security Company That Employed Pulse Massacre Shooter

The Tampa Bay Times reports: When Orlando nightclub shooter Omar Mateen applied for a security job in 2007, he first had to undergo a psychiatric evaluation. The company that hired him, G4S, told the state that a doctor gave Mateen a clean bill of mental health. But after the June killings opened Mateen’s life to nationwide scrutiny, the doctor named …

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GEORGIA: Pastor Who Said Pulse Victims “Got What They Deserved” Arrested For Child Molestation

From Jacksonsville’s ABC affiliate: A Georgia pastor and and conservative political activist was arrested Friday morning on charges of child molestation and aggravated child molestation. Ken Adkins, 56, of St. Simons Island turned himself into police at about 9 a.m., according to officials with Georgia Bureau of Investigation. GBI was requested on Aug. 12 to assist officials with the accusations …

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Viceland Posts Full Gaycation Episode On Pulse [VIDEO]

The Daily Beast recaps: Ellen Page and Ian Daniel are at the home of an Orlando man named Eddie. It’s been five days since his friends Juan Guerrero and Christopher Andrew Leinonen were killed during a friend’s 21st birthday party at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, two of the 49 people killed during the worst incident of violence against LGBT people …

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ORLANDO: Hospitals Waive Bills For Pulse Victims

The Orlando Sentinel reports: Orlando Health and Florida Hospital will not bill survivors of the Pulse nightclub massacre for out-of-pocket medical expenses, officials announced Wednesday. Instead, the hospitals will write off an estimated $5.5 million or more in care. “The pulse shooting was a horrendous tragedy for the victims, their families and our entire community,” Orlando Health President and CEO …

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ORLANDO: First Responder To Pulse Massacre Denied Treatment For PTSD Due To State Law Loophole

Orlando’s ABC affiliate reports: First responder Gerry Realin worked nearly round-the-clock after the Pulse terror attack on June 12. But now, because of the PTSD that followed that tragic night, his family could lose everything, Realin’s wife said. Jessica Realin said a loophole in state law lets police departments off the hook when their officers get PTSD. They said a …

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ORLANDO: Trump Office Opens Across From Pulse

The Orlando Sentinel reports: Dozens of field offices backing Donald Trump’s presidential campaign will soon be opening across the state – and one appears to have been set up across the street from the Pulse nightclub. The office on the 2000 block of South Orange Avenue was closed Friday afternoon, but dozens of chairs were set up and signs backing …

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Father Of Orlando Terrorist Attends Hillary Rally

The Orlando Sentinel reports: The Pulse nightclub shooter’s father attended Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s rally in Kissimmee Monday night. Cameras captured Seddique Mateen, Omar Mateen’s father, standing in the crowd. He later told a reporter for WPTV, a Palm Beach-based NBC affiliate, that he wanted to attend the rally as a member of the public and a Clinton supporter. …

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Sen. Marco Rubio: My Keynote Address For The Liberty Counsel Is Nothing But A Celebration Of Faith

Next week Sen. Marco Rubio will keynote an Orlando event hosted by the extremist anti-LGBT Liberty Counsel. The event falls two months to the day after the Pulse Massacre, about which Rubio cried crocodile tears of faux solidarity before declaring that the attack convinced him to run for reelection after all. The Tampa Bay Times asked Rubio how he reconciles …

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Pulse To Reopen As Memorial… UPDATE: Or Not?

IMPORTANT UPDATE BELOW. Earlier….. Entertainment Weekly reports: Orlando’s Pulse nightclub will reopen as a memorial for the 49 people killed at the venue in the June 12 mass shooting, its owners announced via Facebook Sunday night. The news was shared on the onePULSE foundation page, a nonprofit established in the aftermath of the attack to “provide financial assistance to the …

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Mother Of Pulse Massacre Victim Delivers Tearful Plea For Gun Control At Democratic Convention [VIDEO]

Rolling Stone reports: On Wednesday, Christine Leinonen gave one of the most moving, heartwrenching speeches at the Democratic National Convention thus far. The mother of Christopher “Drew” Leinonen, one of the 49 shooting victims killed by Omar Mateen after he opened fire in Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, appeared at the DNC to speak of the loss of her only child …

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ORLANDO: Local Boy Scouts Hold Moving Flag Removal Ceremony At Site Of Pulse Massacre Memorial

From the Orlando Sentinel: Michelangelo Dominguez’s mother watched with pride Monday morning as the 13-year-old and other Boy Scouts picked hundreds of weathered American flags from the lawn outside the Dr. Phillips Center in Orlando. He helped collect mini-flagpoles stuck in the dirt around wet teddy bears and melted candles left for the 49 victims killed more than a month …

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HANDS: Pulse Survivors And YouTube Stars Join For Song Benefiting Orlando Massacre Victims [VIDEO]

Via Billboard Magazine: On Tuesday, GLAAD, in cooperation with Interscope Records, released a lyric video for the single “Hands,” which benefits the victims and families affected by the Orlando mass shooting. “Hands” — which was released July 5 — tells the story of the power held in one’s hands: “They can break the world/ They can change it too.” The single …

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My Latest Pride Life Column: Their Phones Kept Ringing

My latest column has been posted to the website of Britain’s Pride Life Magazine, where instead of my usual recap on the state of LGBT rights in America, I’ve written about today’s one month anniversary of the Pulse Massacre and how June 12th went for me. As many of you know, I’m from Orlando and today’s piece is in response …

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ORLANDO: Ten Arrested At Marco Rubio Sit-In

From the Associated Press: Police arrested 10 protesters who were holding a sit-in Monday in the lobby of the building where U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio has his Orlando office on the month anniversary of a massacre at a gay nightclub. The protesters were arrested on misdemeanor trespass charges when the building closed to the public Monday evening, at the request …

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White House Slams Tomorrow’s “Disturbing” House Hearing On Bill To Legalize Anti-LGBT Discrimination

Chris Johnson reports at the Washington Blade: Tuesday’s congressional hearing on a federal “religious freedom” bill that would enable anti-LGBT discrimination is “disturbing,” a White House spokesperson said Monday. Jeff Tiller, a White House spokesperson, made the remarks in response to an email request from the Washington Blade to comment on the House Committee on Oversight & Government Reform’s controversial …

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#SitInForThe49: Activists Launch 49-Hour Gun Control Protest At Marco Rubio’s Orlando Office

From the Florida Democratic Party: Orlando residents have begun a 49 hour sit-in at Marco Rubio’s office to demand an end to the Senator’s opposition to commonsense gun safety measures backed by more than 8 in 10 Floridians. The sit-in will take place from 10:00am today through 11:00am Wednesday, and is using the hashtag #SitInForThe49 to honor the 49 victims …

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Teabagger House Rep Wants Sanctions Against Democrats For “Illegal” Gun Control Sit-In [VIDEO]

Rep. Tom McClintock, a member of the House Tea Party Caucus, wants Democrats sanctioned for their “illegal” sit-in in support of gun control. From the transcript of the clip below: “The Constitution provides that the House may sanction members for disorderly behavior and the members responsible for the events of June 22 and 23 must be called to account for …

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Pop Superstars Release Orlando Tribute Single: J-Lo, Pink, RuPaul, Britney Spears, & More [AUDIO]

Billboard Magazine reports: Jennifer Lopez, Gwen Stefani, Jason Derulo, Meghan Trainor, Juanes, Pink, Mary J. Blige, Selena Gomez and Britney Spears are among 24 artists featured on a new recording to raise money for victims of the Pulse nightclub massacre. The all-star release, “Hands” — a charity single from Interscope Records with support from GLAAD — was conceived by hit …

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