In Loving Memory

Just four years ago on this date, the worst mass shooting by a single gunman in American history (until the following year when the Las Vegas shooting claimed more lives), and the second deadliest terrorist attack on our soil since the events of September 11, 2001. It was at Pulse, a nightclub in Orlando, Florida.  It was a fun evening on that June night, until shots rang out killing 49 people and wounding 58 others.  I wrote here at the time that we must never forget.

This of course was not the first time a large group of gay people had been targeted. Another horrible incident occurred during the last day of Pride weekend in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana back on June 24, 1973, at a gay bar called the UpStairs Lounge. Thirty-two people died as a result of fire or smoke inhalation. Although arson was suspected - the smell of lighter fluid, the exact cause was never proven, but that does not change the fact that people died a horrible death.  There was not much publicity surrounding that incident either.  Some radio hosts even joked about it.

There are also those incidents that happen all too often when lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender individuals are viciously attacked, often resulting in death.  Today, during this Pride Month, take a moment to remember all from the LGBTQ community who died as a result of hate.  Let their memories live on.