SARASOTA – For many in the LGBTQ+ community the month of June is associated with pride, but for Owner of the Pulse nightclub and Founder of the onePULSE Foundation, Barbara Poma, the week of June 12th is a time to honor the 49 lives that were taken in one of the deadliest mass shootings in the country.
Through the tragedy, Barbara Poma founded the onePULSE Foundation, a nonprofit helping to establish a sanctuary of healing and a beacon of hope for all the lives affected by the Pulse nightclub tragedy. The foundation not only keeps the memory of the 49 Angels alive but ensures that they will never be forgotten.
“I can tell you that this year had a very different feel about it amongst the stakeholders and the community,” said Owner of Pulse nightclub and Founder of the onePULSE foundation, Barbara Poma.
June 12th marked 6 years since 49 lives were taken at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando. Through the tragedy, Poma founded the OnePULSE foundation to create and support a memorial that opens hearts, a museum that opens minds, as well as educational programs and legacy scholarships.
“You have to remember that what happened at PULSE was not only a terrorist attack it was the largest attack on the LGBTQ community in history, being that it happened here, we felt it was the platform to educate people with not only what happened at PULSE that night, the horrible tragedy that took 49 lives, so the struggles and the successes of the LGBTQ history,” said Poma.
Beyond honoring Pulse victims, survivors and first responders, the foundation awards 49 scholarships, in each of the victims names in which the families designated what their loved one wanted to do whether they achieved it or not.
“They range from cosmetology all the way up to med school, trade schools, you can be any age to get it, anywhere in our country to get them as long as its an accredited program you can apply, and its not specifically LGBTQ+ because not everyone who died that night was LGBTQ, they were allies and we wanted to make sure there was a scholarship for everyone just like PULSE was for everyone,” said Poma.
Poma says she has felt heartbreak time and time again since the tragedy at Pulse.
“Sometimes most of us just have to turn the news off, because we cant see the crosses arrive, we cant see the flowers and the candles and the people holding each other in grief because we know all to well what that feels like,” said Poma.
“I think all politicians need to put everything else aside, and remember they were elected by human beings and they need to protect us, this isnt a political issue, this is a human issue, we need to focus on that,” said Poma.
For Poma, the recent wave of LGBTQ+ related legislation in the state of Florida shows the continued resilience of the community
“I remember when my brother was alive 30 years ago I never thought I would see the day when gay people can get married, and now they can, and they fought for that right and I know were under attack again, and still so with every bit of progress is one step forward, two steps back, this is a community that is resiliant, this is a community that will stick together and fight, the new generation is not tired, the old people may be tired but the new generation is not tired and their strong,” said Poma.
And most importantly, by coming together and not letting hate win.
For more one onePULSE Foundation, you can visit their website here.