In the early hours of Sunday, 50 people (including the shooter) were killed after Omar Mateen opened fire at Orlando's Pulse nightclub, a gay bar. It was the deadliest shooting in U.S. history. By afternoon, the city of Orlando began listing victims' names:
During this difficult time, we offer heartfelt condolences to the families of the 49 victims who lost their lives during the Pulse tragedy. To the families and friends of the victims, your city is with you and will continue to be with you as you deal with this unimaginable tragedy.
In the conversations surrounding the shooting, it's easy to get lost in debates about gun control, Islamophobia, homophobia, and politics; but it's important to take time and remember the people whose lives were unfairly taken. Every victim had family, friends, and loved ones affected by this loss.
Read their names.
Look at their faces.
Note that they each contained multitudes and entire universes.
Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34 years old
Stanley Almodovar III, 23 years old
Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20 years old
Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22 years old and Christopher Andrew Leinonen, 32 years old
Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36 years old
Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22 years old
Luis S. Vielma, 22 years old
Kimberly "KJ" Morris, 37 years old
Darryl Roman Burt II, 29 years old
Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32 years old
Anthony Luis Laureano Disla, 25 years old
Family members said Laureno Disla was his happiest when he was on the dance floor, which is where he was on Saturday evening. "He started dancing when he was about 10 years old,” his cousin Ana Figueroa told the Orlando Sentinel. From San Juan, Puerto Rico, originally, Laureno Disla moved to Orlando and performed as a drag artist (Alanis Laurell). He had studied communications at Universidad Del Sagrado Corazon but didn’t finish.
Laureno Disla’s friend Cindy J. Ross D’Austin posted a beautiful photo of them together on Facebook.