In Orlando, 10th anniversary of Pulse brings events to remember the 49 victims

Friday is the 10th anniversary of the Orlando Pulse nightclub massacre. The community is coming together to remember the tragedy and honor the 49 victims.

All over Orlando, local businesses, churches, nonprofits, and the city are hosting special events and fundraisers to support LGBTQ causes. There are also quiet gatherings for the community.

The Pulse Memorial site will be lit up every night from dusk to dawn through June 15.

“This quiet activation serves as a peaceful visual tribute, marking a decade of resilience since June 12, 2016,” the city said.

OneBlood will hold a blood drive from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday at Orlando City Hall. You can make an appointment online.

Orlando City Hall is also offering a free event called “Created in Community: Portraits of Pulse.”

“This powerful exhibition features 49 portraits honoring the lives lost, created through a deeply collaborative community effort,” the city’s website said. “Designed by local artist Jeff Sonksen in a paint-by-number format, the works were completed in 2017 by victims’ families, friends, and members of the Orlando community. Each portrait emerged through a shared process of painting, transforming grief into collective remembrance and healing.”

An outdoor ribbon exhibit showing the support Orlando received is on display outside City Hall through June.

City Hall is at 400 S. Orange Ave. in downtown Orlando.

The annual Pulse Remembrance Ceremony at First United Methodist Church will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Friday.

The event will feature performances by the Orlando Gay Chorus and City of Orlando Poet Laureate Camara Gaither. It will end with a candlelight ceremony where all the victims’ names are read aloud.

The church is at 142 East Jackson St.

Equality Florida, the Human Rights Campaign and GIFFORDS announced they will host a 10 a.m., June 13 event discussing gun violence and challenges the LGBTQ community faces. Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson, GIFFORDS Executive Director Emma Brown, Equality Florida Executive Director Stratton Pollitzer and Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith are scheduled to speak. RSVP here.

A local nursery is plant 49 flowers in the median on Corrine Drive.

“Each plant will be marked with the name of one of the victims as a tribute to their life and legacy,” Palmer’s Garden and Goods wrote on its Facebook page. “Let’s work together to plant beauty, spread kindness, and create a world where everyone feels safe and celebrated.”

The community is invited to sponsor a flower to raise money for Zebra Youth with Palmer’s Garden, which matches contributions up to $5,000.

Orlando is moving closer to building a permanent memorial after a process fraught with mismanagement stemming from the collapse of the onePulse Foundation.

The city of Orlando is now 60% complete, according to WFTV 9.

The old Pulse site was demolished, and the new tribute is under construction, featuring a reflecting pool, a private gathering area, a healing garden, a survivor’s wall, and sealed capsules with personal items from the 49 victims, the TV station reported.