The US Senate on Wednesday passed a bill to designate the site of the Pulse nightclub as a national memorial.
Senator Rick Scott (R) introduced the senate bill. It recognizes the anniversary of the shooting, in which 49 innocent lives were lost. The tragedy, in which a gunman targeted an LGBTQ nightclub in Orlando, unfolded in the early hours of June 12, 2016.
A companion house bill was led by Rep. Darren Soto (D) and passed in the House on May 12.
Soto took to Twitter to thank people for supporting the legislation in the Senate.
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Saturday marks 5 years since our Central Florida community lost 49 angels in the Pulse nightclub shooting. I am honored that my bill with @RepStephMurphy & @RepValDemings for a #PulseNationalMemorial passed the House & thank @SenRickScott & the Senate for taking action #ForThe49. pic.twitter.com/kyAGdni1HX
— Rep. Darren Soto (@RepDarrenSoto) June 9, 2021
Speaking of the resolution, Senator Scott said, “Nearly five years ago, our state, nation, the City of Orlando, and Hispanic and LGBTQ communities were attacked, and 49 innocent and beautiful lives were lost. It was an unspeakable tragedy. An evil act of terrorism designed to divide us as a nation and strike fear in our hearts and minds. But instead, we came together, and supported each other through heartbreak and darkness, to preserve and rebuild.”
Related: The Pulse massacre is remembered in Orlando through memorials to 49 victims
The resolution was passed with unanimous consent.
Senator Marco Rubio (R), said, “The terrorist attack at Orlando’s Pulse nightclub was a heinous act of violence and hatred against members of the LGBTQ community. Forty-nine innocent lives were lost on that horrific day. As the fifth-anniversary approaches, we must continue to honor the memory of those who were taken far too soon.”
The official Twitter account for Pulse Orlando said, “We are thrilled that the U.S. Senate passed the bill designating Pulse nightclub as a national memorial. The unanimous consent is such welcome news as we are set to mark the five-year remembrance of the Pulse tragedy. This recognition means so much to the LGBTQ+ community.”
We are thrilled that the U.S. Senate passed the bill designating Pulse nightclub as a national memorial. The unanimous consent is such welcome news as we are set to mark the five-year remembrance of the Pulse tragedy. This recognition means so much to the LGBTQ+ community. pic.twitter.com/JWWLYKqgUQ
— Pulse Orlando (@pulseorlando) June 10, 2021
Similar legislation was introduced by Floria Reps. Soto, Val Demings, and Stephanie Murphy last year but languished in the Senate. On that occasion, the bill asked for Pulse to become part of the National Park System. The 2021 legislation does not ask for it to become part of the National Park System, and it will not receive federal funds.
Instead, it will be wholly looked after by the onePULSE Foundation, which was set up by Pulse owner Barbara Poma following the tragedy.
onePULSE is in development to build the Pulse memorial and museum, which is scheduled to open in 2022. Initial plans for the museum were released in 2019.
Beautiful event hosted by @onePULSEorg to unveil the design for the National @pulseorlando Memorial and Museum! The legacy of the 49 angels taken by hate will be remembered and celebrated for generations to come. Just WOW! 🏳️🌈#WeWillNotLetHateWin #ForThe49 #HonorThemWithAction pic.twitter.com/6AKTJqjwQp
— Rep. Carlos G Smith (@CarlosGSmith) October 30, 2019
Related: Winning design for Orlando’s Pulse Memorial and Museum announced
GayEGO
Excellent News. Never Forget!
aaronarnwine
Remember, if it’s a white guy that shoots 3 Asians in a parlor, that’s terrorism. When a Muslim slaughters 49 gays, he’s just a gunman. Good work queerty.
LeBlevsez
Seems your snowflake-ass is feeling put-upon. Funny how according to your post if a white person is responsible for murder, it’s merely a shooting. Slaughter is slaughter regardless the color of the hand holding the gun. So just stop your pathetic whining. Or at least choose a more receptive venue. Maybe a MAGA rally?
MISTERJETT
or maybe it was one misguided individual who couldn’t accept his homosexuality who decided to go in and slaughter 49 innocent humans.
barryaksarben
you are joking right? They were murdered period . The white guy WAS a terrorist and he is probably the only WHITE killer called that as the guy who shot up the church in Teas was NOT called a terrorist or Dylan Root wasnt nor Kyle Rittenhouse etc etc. THIS ONE WHITE GUY IS CALLED A TERRORIST and you seem to have totally memory fail to all the other hundreds of white killers NOT CALLED TERRORISTS or excuse by the fkn police as having a bad day or the police stopping to get them fast food cuz killing black church goers makes a white guy hungry. GO away TROLL no one is buying your racist shit here. RICK SCOTT IS NOT OUR FRIEND and anyone who thinks he is can call me here in FLorida and Ill set you straight,
LeBlevsez
Don’t let these press releases by Scott and Rubio fool you. Go to sites like votesmart.org or the GLAAD Accountability Project to find how they vote on bills and for their unscripted statements.
Fahd
This is appropriate considering the severity of this massacre.
Nevertheless, in five years, if anyone in power really cared, we could have extensively researched how the confluence of gun availability, mental illness, religious fanaticism, social stigma, etc. lead to these senseless acts of terror.
There are so many potential copycats out there, and all we are getting is “thoughts and prayers”.
MISTERJETT
GOOD MOVE!!!!!!
Openminded
I think the memorial is a very fitting thing to do. However, I see this legislative action as little more than lip service by politicians. It’s 5 years in the making and comes with zero government funding to insure the permanence of the memorial. Basically the LGBTQ community will have to secure funding to presumably purchase the property and then continue the upkeep and support of any memorial placed there. Without Federal or State park status, it will just be another piece of taxable property that will likely struggle long term to receive donations to keep the memory of this tragedy alive beyond our generation. Long story short, the LGBTQ community doesn’t need nor really benefit from this legislation as far as building this memorial goes.
Inspector 57
Forgive me, but I don’t have much use for “memorials.” I’d rather see the site turn back into a thriving gay bar.
whitenoiz
It will be a place where lots of gay people will gather. So in essence it will be a thriving “gay bar”. Gay people will meet there. Some will “hook up”; some even for life.