In the aftermath of the massacre at Pulse, Equality Florida made two promises.First, we would do everything we could to help the families of those killed and the survivors dealing with the physical and emotional pain of being targeted in the worst anti-LGBTQ hate crime in U.S. history.You helped us keep the first promise by contributing, online and in person, more than $9M.And we have kept our word that every penny we collected - even the interest that accrued on the funds - is going to the victims of Pulse. No staff or overhead. We’ve donated all of our time.On September 27th, those funds will be disbursed and now our attention must focus entirely on fulfilling the second promise - to honor the dead with action.Thoughts and prayers and symbols are not enough.We are committed to ensuring the lasting memorial is the real change of uprooting anti-LGBTQ hatred at the source.To keep this promise, we need you with us again.Our mission for the last 19 years has been to uproot bigotry and fight for equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Florida. Indeed, we fight for freedom for all Floridians to live without fear of violence, harm to their family, being fired from a job or refused service because of their sexual orientation and gender identity.The massacre at Pulse has made this vision a priority for millions more people in the state of Florida. We have never been closer to a huge breakthrough in LGBTQ protections in a state that will have ripple effects nationally.It is time for us to demand huge strides, not tiny measures, in changing the culture and the laws in Florida to ensure we stop the discrimination and violence that anti-LGBTQ hatred makes inevitable.We are asking you now to join us in achieving two goals that are ambitious but achievable if we have the courage to stand together.Florida has a long and hateful history when it comes to the treatment of LGBTQ people and has been the springboard for national anti-gay campaigns from Anita Bryant to the Liberty Counsel. Florida-based groups have not only done harm here, they’ve exported their prejudice to states around the nation and other countries as well.But the tide has turned in our favor as hearts have softened and minds have opened in the wake of Pulse. Shame on us if we let this moment pass without pushing with all our might for the state to treat us all as equals under the law and to end easy access to weapons of mass slaughter.We are so very grateful to have found the resources to help these people and their families get services, make up for lost wages, heal wounds and begin to put their lives back together.Will you stand with us again and fulfill the promise of real change as the lasting memorial #ForThe49?Inspired by our work in the aftermath of Pulse, an anonymous donor will match the first $100,000 raised for this campaign. That means the gift you give today will be doubled! https://www.gofundme.com/forthe49



_______________________________________This is the official Pulse Victims Fund page for Equality Florida, the state's lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization.Equality Florida, the GLBT Community Center of Central Florida (The Center) and the National Compassion Fund announced a partnership with OneOrlando to ensure all funds collected for victims are disbursed in a unified process that will expedite funds, ensure transparency and safeguard against fraud.We have made available emergency deployment of short-term disbursements from our fundraising efforts, and connected victims with the immediate funds available via state and federal resources. We are committed to raising as much as we can to ensure long-term support for the victims’ families and survivors. The money raised towards this fund directly supports the victims families and survivors.--------------------------Esta es la página web oficial del fundo para las víctimas de “Pulse.” Esto fundo ha sido creado por el organization “Equality Florida”, el organizacion estatal para los derechos civiles de lesbianas, gays, bisexuales y transgéneros (LGBT). Equality Florida está recogiendo las contribuciones a través de esta página de GoFundMe para apoyar a cada víctima de los disparos horribles en la discoteca de “Pulse” en Orlando. Esto incluye las víctimas familiares, sobrevivientes y las personas en el club que no han sufrido daño físico pero que necesitan apoyo.Estamos trabajando con el Centro Nacional para Víctimas de Crimen (National Center for Victims of Crime) (NCVC) para distribuir las contribuciones a través de su Fondo Nacional de la Compasión (http:// nationalcompassionfund.org/ faq/).El Fondo primero fue creado por las víctimas y familiares de los crímenes siniestros en el pasado, incluyendo 9/11, Columbine, VA Tech, NIU, Aurora, Oak Creek y Newtown. Después de que experimentaban negociaciones prolongadas y estresantes tratando de recoger el dinero donado en su nombre, pidieron el Centro Nacional para Víctimas de Crimen para para desarrollar un nuevo modelo para las donaciones — un modelo que sirve genuinamente a las víctimas, los donantes y el público en general.NCVC ha comenzado la dispersión de los fondos a corto plazo de las víctimas de “Pulse” y estan conectando las víctimas con los fondos inmediatamente disponibles a través de recursos federales y estatales. Estamos comprometidos a recaudar todo lo que es posible para garantizar el apoyo a largo plazo para las familias de las víctimas y sobrevivientes. El dinero recaudado en eso fondo esta apoyando a las familias de las víctimas y sobrevivientes directamente.------------------------Please contribute and share this page. #WeAreOrlandoFor the latest information, visit:For those who prefer to check, please see below:Equality Florida Institute, Inc.P.O. Box 13184St. Petersburg, Fl 33733Memo should note Orlando Victims FundNadine Smith, Equality Florida's CEO will be managing the campaign and can be contacted with questions.A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR THE EQUALITY FLORIDA INSTITUTE MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES (WWW.800HELPFLA.COM) BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN FLORIDA (1.800.435.7352). REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. REGISTRATION #CH7992.---------------------------To ensure transparency, GoFundMe has requested we answer the following questions:1. Who you are:Equality Florida, a registered 501c3 nonprofit organization and the state's LGBT civil rights organization: eqfl.org2. Where you're fromFounded in St. Petersburg, Florida, with staff and offices across the state including in Orlando, Florida.3. Your relationship to the parties you're raising funds forWe are advocates for the LGBT community in Florida.4. How the funds will be spent (be specific as possible)Every penny raised will be distributed directly to the victims and their families. We are working with a team of attorneys and experts, including the National Center for Victims of Crime, which deployed funds in both Chattanooga and Aurora, to ensure funds are distributed correctly.--------------------------Equality Florida statement on mass shooting at Orlando gay club:We are reeling from the tragic news that a gunman opened fire on the 2am capacity crowd at Pulse leaving 49 people dead and over 50 injured according to Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer.We are heartbroken and angry that senseless violence has once again destroyed lives in our state and in our country.Gay clubs hold a significant place in LGBTQ history. They were often the only safe gathering place and this horrific act strikes directly at our sense of safety. June commemorates our community standing up to anti-LGBTQ violence at the Stonewall Inn, the nightclub that has become the first LGBTQ site recognized as a national monument.We have received a steady stream of emails and messages from those seeking to help or to make sense of the senseless. We make no assumptions on motive. We will await the details in tears of sadness and anger. We stand in solidarity and keep our thoughts on all whose lives have been lost or altered forever in this tragedy.Graphic designed by local artist Tony Chevy.