The House of Representatives passed a resolution to make the Pulse nightclub a national memorial. There were no objections. It now goes to the Senate.
But the House passed the resolution last year as well but died in the Senate after Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) refused to support it.
Related: Christian conservative activists are planning an ex-gay march near the Pulse nightclub
On June 12, 2016, a gunman entered the nightclub in Orlando, Florida, and opened fire. He killed 49 people and wounded 53 others in the LGBTQ club before police shot him.
Never Miss a Beat
Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights.
It was the deadliest mass shooting in America at the time.
H.R. 49 was introduced by Democrat Reps. Val Demings, Stephanie Murphy, and Darren Soto. Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) will introduce it in the Senate.
Scott was Florida’s governor at the time of the shooting.
“This will give this hallowed ground the federal recognition it deserves, especially for those who lost everything,” Soto said when the bill was originally introduced in 2019. “This will give this hallowed ground the federal recognition it deserves, especially for those who lost everything.”
Omar Mateen was killed in a shootout with SWAT team members during the massacre in Orlando. He was the only shooter and was killed after a three-hour standoff with law enforcement as victims hid inside the club. Mateen pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group during the standoff.
Prior to the attack on Pulse, a handful of other U.S. gay bars had been targeted, including Neighbours, a popular gay nightclub in Seattle. It was packed with New Year’s Eve revelers on December 31, 2013, when a man poured gasoline on a carpeted stairway and set it ablaze.
No one was injured; Masub Masmari was sentenced to 10 years in prison for arson.
Our #PulseNationalMemorial just passed the House. We are a step closer to nationally remembering the 49 angels lost and 53 injured during this heinous act of terrorism. Thanks to my Central Florida colleagues @RepValDemings and @RepStephMurphy for your amazing work! pic.twitter.com/RWc74oyPyk
— Rep. Darren Soto (@RepDarrenSoto) May 12, 2021
