Say Their Names

Edward Sotomayor Jr.

Stanley Almodovar III

Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo

Juan Ramon Guerrero

Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera

Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz

Luis S. Vielma

Kimberly Morris

Eddie Jamoldroy Justice

Darryl Roman Burt II

This morning, a young man killed other young men at Pulse, a club started by a sister who loved her brother. Barbara Poma wanted to make a supportive, loving LGBT club for people as part of keeping the memory of her brother, and how his coming out as gay changed their family, alive. It was a club which also celebrated racial diversity, particularly the cultures of the Latinx communities in Florida, and all of the names released to the public so far are on Latino men we have lost to violence based in hatred; the Orlando Sentinel is putting together profiles of each person as they can.

Deonka Deidra Drayton

Alejandro Barrios Martinez

Anthony Luis Laureanodisla

Jean Carlos Mendez Perez

Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez

Amanda Alvear

Martin Benitez Torres

Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon

Mercedez Marisol Flores

Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado

Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez

In moments like this, it's hard to not give into an answering hate. It's hard to not try to find some group to blame, so way to package this up so that the pain goes away faster, but this isn't an isolated event in a country which loves all of it's people. This is a reflection of the violence enacted against Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, and Queer people of all types. It's a reflection of the violence enacted against people of color. It's a reflection of the radiating effect of rage and entitlement.

Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez

Oscar A Aracena-Montero

Enrique L. Rios, Jr.

Miguel Angel Honorato

Javier Jorge-Reyes

Joel Rayon Paniagua

Jason Benjamin Josaphat

Cory James Connell

Juan P. Rivera Velazquez

Luis Daniel Conde

Hating the groups this murderer belongs to won't decrease the violence - it will simply embolden other people to attack those groups as well. Dismissing the murderer as crazy won't decrease the violence - it will simply encourage those who want to paint the world with their hatred and hurt those who suffer. Look to the helpers in this time, support those around you, protect the people around you and give them solace if you can.  Work together to repeal policies which deny gay men the ability to give blood to those they love, reinforce a dedication to supporting people as they express themselves and giving care to LGBTQ people who don't receive the support and love of their families of origin.

Say their names.

Shane Evan Tomlinson

Juan Chevez-Martinez

Jerald Arthur Wright

Leroy Valentin Fernandez

Tevin Eugene Crosby

Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega

Jean C. Nives Rodriguez

Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala

Brenda Lee Marquez McCool

Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan

Christopher Andrew Leinonen

Angel L. Candelario-Padro

Frank Hernandez

Paul Terrell Henry

Antonio Davon Brown

Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz

Akyra Monet Murray