Editor’s note: In remembrance of the 49 people who lost their lives in the June 12, 2016, Pulse nightclub shooting, Hope CommUnity Center has issued the following statement honoring the victims.
At Hope CommUnity Center, we bow our heads in sacred remembrance of the 49 souls whose lives were tragically and brutally taken on this day 8 years ago.
Then, we lift our eyes towards a more just future, gather our collective energy, step forward with determination and resolve, and stand firmly with the LGBTQIA+ community, especially those who reside at the intersection of LGBTQIA+ and immigrant identities.
- We honor the lives that were lost every single day, not just with thoughts and prayers, but with action.
- We fight back against state laws that target and criminalize innocent people from both LGBTQIA+ and immigrant communities.
- We host the annual Apopka Pride which in 2023 had over 350 people in attendance.
- We form a group called the QTIs (Queer Transgender Immigrants), which began as a support group with 5 members less than 2 years ago, and now is over 80 members strong and a force for powerful advocacy of LGBTQIA+ immigrants.
June 12th will always be a day of grief and remembrance. But, it will also forever serve as the fuel that powers our impatient demands for freedom and justice.
The Apopka Chief and The Planter are weekly community newspapers, independently owned and family operated, that have served the greater Apopka area in Central Florida since 1923 and 1965 respectively.
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