Everytown, Moms Demand Action, Students Demand Action Mark 10 Years Since Pulse Nightclub Shooting

ORLANDO, Fla. - Today, ahead of the 10-year mark of the mass shooting at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida, where 49 people were shot and killed and more than 50 others wounded, the Florida chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety's grassroots network, released the following statements.

"A decade after the tragedy at Pulse, we remember the 49 lives stolen, the survivors forever changed, and the loved ones still carrying the weight of this unimaginable loss," said Angela Ferrell-Zabala, executive director of Moms Demand Action. "As we celebrate Pride this month, we must honor this community by refusing to normalize gun violence and hate. We stand with queer and Latinx communities in Orlando and beyond, because everyone deserves to live, love, and celebrate exactly as they are."

"Ten years ago, a horrific act of gun violence left LGBTQ+ communities across our state reeling, leaving a scar that Florida families will forever carry," said Laura Buck, a volunteer with the Florida chapter of Moms Demand Action. "A lot has changed over the last decade, but a lot hasn't. When hate is paired with easy access to guns, spaces where people go to find community, celebrate their identity, and freely be themselves are directly threatened. As we reflect on this tragedy, we must commit to disarming hate. Everyone deserves the right to live authentically without the fear of gun violence."

The violent attack on Pulse Nightclub forever changed queer Latinx and broader LGBTQ+ communities. With Pride month underway, the 10-year mark of this tragedy underscores the urgent importance of passing comprehensive gun safety laws in Florida and across the country.

LGBTQ+ and Latinx communities continue to be disproportionately impacted by gun violence, bearing the brunt of a lethal combination of easy access to firearms and hate-fueled violence. As extremism and hateful rhetoric remain on the rise nationwide, this 10-year-mark serves as a stark reminder that lawmakers must use every legislative tool available to disarm hate and guarantee all communities the basic right to live safely.