Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Statement on One-Year Anniversary of Tragic Orlando Shooting

Statement

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02), a Member of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus, released the following statement in remembrance of last year's shooting at the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida. She is an original co-sponsor of a resolution introduced in the House of Representatives today which commemorates the one year anniversary of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida - June 12, 2016.

"On the one year anniversary of the tragic Pulse Nightclub shooting, we mourn the 49 innocent men and women who lost their lives, and our hearts go out to the survivors, friends, families, and the larger Orlando community. If there is any lesson to be learned from this injustice, it is that we must continue to fight to ensure the safety and equality of all people regardless of their sexual orientation," said Rep. Tulsi Gabbard.

The 49 people who died in the shooting are Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34; Stanley Almodovar III, 23; Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20; Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22; Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36; Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22; Luis S. Vielma, 22; Kimberly Morris, 37; Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30; Darryl Roman Burt II, 29; Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32; Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21; Anthony Luis Laureanodisla, 25; Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35; Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez, 50; Amanda Alvear, 25; Martin Benitez Torres, 33; Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37; Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26; Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35; Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25; Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, 31; Oscar A. Aracena-Montero, 26; Enrique L. Rios Jr., 25; Miguel Angel Honorato, 30; Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40; Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32; Jason Benjamin Josaphat, 19; Cory James Connell, 21; Luis Daniel Conde, 39; Shane Evan Tomlinson, 33; Juan Chevez-Martinez, 25; Jerald Arthur Wright, 31; Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25; Tevin Eugene Crosby, 25; Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, 24; Jean C. Nives Rodriguez, 27; Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33; Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, 49; Yilmary Rodriguez Sulivan, 24; Christopher Andrew Leinonen, 32; Angel L. Candelario-Padro, 28; Frank Hernandez, 27; Paul Terrell Henry, 41; Antonio Davon Brown, 29; Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, 24; Akyra Monet Murray, 18; and Geraldo A. Ortiz-Jimenez, 25.

Background:

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has a strong record advocating on behalf of the LGBT community. She has co-sponsored and supported civil rights and anti-LGBT discrimination legislation like the Respect for Marriage Act, the Repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, the Equality Act, and the Equality for All Resolution. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is also a Member of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus, whose mission is to promote LGBT equality in the U.S. and around the world.

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