SARASOTA – Suncoast residents gathered on Saturday to remember and honor the 49 lives lost at the Pulse nightclub tragedy.
“If we don’t keep the memory of these 49 alive, they’ll be lost, it’s an anniversary we obviously wish we did not need to celebrate, but we will always celebrate,” said President of Project Pride SRQ, Jordan Letschert.
Project Pride SRQ and the Harvey Milk festival hosted a candlelight vigil to remember the 49 victims whose lives were taken at the Pulse nightclub tragedy, on June 12th, 2016.
“People forget, this was the third most serious loss of life we’ve had in the United States in a long time, only behind September 11th and Oklahoma City and to have it happen so close to home, was obviously very sad,” said The Mayor of the City of Sarasota, Hagen Brody.
Early this month, City of Sarasota Mayor Hagen Brody and City Commissioners officially proclaimed June as Pride month for the first time in the cities history. Hoping this will help the city move forward with being more inclusive.
“We want people to feel welcome to the City of Sarasota and those are the types of things we’re doing to ensure that people feel comfortable here,” said Mayor Brody.
President of Project Pride SRQ, Jordan Letschert says the non-profit works to help make Sarasota a place where members of the LGBTQ+ community will always feel supported.
“In our most recent car parade, we had a 15 year old that joined with ALSO youth, and he said it was the best day of his life, not because it was a big party, but because he actually saw the support network in Sarasota,” said Letschert.
Support from a community that look to turn the Suncoast into a safe haven for all, by not forgetting those lost in the tragedy and not letting hate win.
“Ultimately that’s what is going to be the safe haven and that also will start coming from our schools as well as diversity programs grow,” said Letschert.