George Takei promotes gun reforms on the anniversary of the Pulse tragedy

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As I was trying to claw my way to the end of 2016, I didn’t make the connection that 2017 would be spent acknowledging all the one-year anniversaries of the terrible things that happened in that God-forsaken year. Yet another of those tragic anniversaries took place yesterday as it was one year since the horrific mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, FL, where 49 people lost their lives. The day the shooting happening, actor and LGBTQ advocate, George Takei, tweeted:

What I didn’t know is following the attack, George founded a gun violence prevention group called One Pulse for America. To help honor the victims of the attack, George and OPfA released a video on the anniversary asking for people to join their fight against gun violence. The video ends by listing all the names of the victims as music plays – I suggest having a tissue handy. It is, however, important to watch because we still don’t have stricter gun laws and we sadly have a few other anniversaries still ahead acknowledging that fact.

There were many memorials marking the Pulse shooting anniversary yesterday. About 2,000 people attended a candlelight vigil was held in DuPont Circle, Washington D.C. Orlando itself, which has named June 12 Orlando United Day, organized the Orlando Remembering Our Angels event. It was recently announced that the actual Pulse nightclub will become a memorial and museum in the hopes of helping the LGBTQ community heal. You can donate to the onePULSE Foundation to assist with building costs here and you can join the One Pulse for America to help work ending violence toward the community here. Both organizations are doing much to help heal the community and, just as importantly, remembering those who lost their lives during that hateful act.

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Photo credit: WENN Photos and Instagram

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11 Responses to “George Takei promotes gun reforms on the anniversary of the Pulse tragedy”

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  1. astrid says:
    June 13, 2017 at 7:23 am

    Great post. Thank you!

  2. lightpurple says:
    June 13, 2017 at 7:35 am

    And still, we do nothing.

    But if we must have a TV personality as President, why can’t it be the national treasure that is the great George Takei?

  3. Ankhel says:
    June 13, 2017 at 7:37 am

    What a lovely drawing.

  4. Beth says:
    June 13, 2017 at 7:43 am

    That’s awesome. Yesterday there were memorials here in the Orlando area. Some I was able to watch on TV. Outside of Pulse since this happened, there’s always been people setting up flowers and things in memory of the victims. Very upsetting it happened, but great to see people care

    • a reader says:
      June 13, 2017 at 11:17 am

      Beth, here’s a hug from one Orlandoan to another. <3 I am blown away by the kindness shown yesterday. I got sucked into facebook and was scrolling past all the updates from friends who attended the various memorials, and it warms my heart to see my hometown come together and support the LGBT community there.

  5. L84Tea says:
    June 13, 2017 at 8:38 am

    Oh my…

  6. adastraperaspera says:
    June 13, 2017 at 9:22 am

    George demonstrates true, heartfelt leadership.

  7. Miss M says:
    June 13, 2017 at 9:41 am

    I didn’t know about his gun violence prevention group.
    The drawing is so beautiful.

  8. a reader says:
    June 13, 2017 at 11:15 am

    As an Orlando native who spent one year ago yesterday on the phone frantically trying to confirm all my friends were alive, I thank all of you for not forgetting this tragedy. I was back home the next day helping with recovery efforts and yesterday was a very difficult day for me emotionally. Please honor them with action. Be kind, be compassionate, be thoughtful, be a true ally. #forthe49 #iloveyou