News : 24 Hours After The Tragedy
The City of Orlando is publishing the names of the dead on its website.
You can read : “On this very difficult day, we offer heartfelt condolences to today’s victims and their families. Our City is working tirelessly to get as much information out to the families so they can begin the grieving process. Please keep the following individuals in your thoughts and prayers. #PrayforOrlando.”
We at A4A will try to keep you updated on our Facebook page, so make sure to follow us for all new development on the tragedy.
The father of the Orlando shooter told interviewers that his son was driven to open fire on a gay club after seeing two men kissing. Today let’s all share photos of two men kissing on social media. Whether you are gay, bisexual or straight, show your support to the victims and let’s all spread LOVE! We posted a picture of two men kissing on our Facebook page, please share it on your wall with the message attached to it.
Please get in contact with us at [email protected] if one of your friend/brother/sister/colleague is a victim and you would like to honour that person on our blog + social media. We are almost sure that some of the victims are members of A4A considering that Orlando is one of the big American cities in our data base, it really breaks my heart.
So here is the updated list, rest in peace my friends!
- Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34 years old
- Stanley Almodovar III, 23 years old
- Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20 years old
- Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22 years old
- Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36 years old
- Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22 years old
- Luis S. Vielma, 22 years old
- Kimberly Morris, 37 years old
- Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30 years old
- Darryl Roman Burt II, 29 years old
- Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32 years old
- Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21 years old
- Anthony Luis Laureanodisla, 25 years old
- Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35 years old
- Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez, 50 years old
- Amanda Alvear, 25 years old
- Martin Benitez Torres, 33 years old
- Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37 years old
- Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26 years old
- Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35 years old
- Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25 years old
- Oscar A Aracena-Montero, 26 years old
- Enrique L. Rios, Jr., 25 years old
- Miguel Angel Honorato, 30 years old
- Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40 years old
- Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32 years old
- Jason Benjamin Josaphat, 19 years old
- Cory James Connell, 21 years old
- Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, 37 years old
- Luis Daniel Conde, 39 years old
- Shane Evan Tomlinson, 33 years old
- Juan Chevez-Martinez, 25 years old
- Jerald Arthur Wright, 31 years old
- Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25 years old
- Tevin Eugene Crosby, 25 years old
- Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, 24 years old
- Jean C. Nives Rodriguez, 27 years old
- Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33 years old
- Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, 49 years old
- Yilmary Rodriguez Sulivan, 24 years old
- Christopher Andrew Leinonen, 32 years old
- Angel L. Candelario-Padro, 28 years old
- Frank Hernandez, 27 years old
- Paul Terrell Henry, 41 years old
- Antonio Davon Brown, 29 years old
- Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz 24 years old
Dave
Gays are human beings capable of being hurt and falling in love.it’s not their choice . They are born with this stigma that even themselves struggle to accept. It takes a lot of courage to come out and stop living a lie.to some who are unable to realize that if they don’t accept who they are others won’t so they turn into these haters capable of doing unimaginable evil.
Our friends and family suffered a horrible fate at the hands of an Islamic terrorist and we need a moment to grieve.
For me, who ran down the street in NYC for my life on September 11th, this seems the same; violent extremists killing innocent Americans. They say this guy got in trouble for cheering the collapse of the Twin Towers, he was on a watch list too.
We’ve got to take this terrorism more seriously, there is a war being waged against all of us and it’s time for the government to recognize this fact. Wouldn’t it be wise for them to go over these terrorist watch lists a little more carefully, starting today?
I would love to see the gay community more active in the terror initiative. We could start by recommending to congress that a special law be put in place that if anyone American or a non-American commits an act of terror in the United States of America and who kill themselves in the process that their surviving parents serve a life sentence in prison. Set an example so their children would think twice about commiting any acts of terror on American soil. All training begins at home. I love all people so this comment is not coming from a place of hate nor inequality.
When will Washington wake up and protect Americans domestically and abroad. Our politically correct leadership is not looking after our oen safety.
Sad irony, not all Muslims are terrorist, but all terrorist are Muslims.
I feel sick to my stomach right now just trying to fathom that we are living in a world right now where it is unsafe to be in church, school, mall, movie theater, world trade center, boston marathon and the list go on………Who has the answer?
Yes, an awful tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families. Not sure if this should be considered a terrorist act or a hate crime. Perhaps fundamentalist-Christian-Americans have perpetuated many crimes against us as well. Ending homophobia should be a big priority!
If the shooter is homophobia,why the hell he went to a gay club where he saw gay men kissing that driven him start the fire?
When will Washington Sen. and Rep. stand up to the NRA and outlaw this multi around type guns. We need to send a strong message to Washington stop this hate. We all human being. Payers are with all of the victims and family and friends.
Too bad that I do not agree that this is an attack on LGBT people. I believe that it is a false flag operation trying yet find another way to enrage people to nullify the 2nd Amendment and convince the good people of this country to give up their weapons. Any student of history will see that this is the first thing that is done before all the people of a country is enslaved. I know that many will not believe me. But the young people are so easily manipulated. Look and learn!
Yes this attack is horrible and I offer my prayers for those who lost their lives. But the correct enemies of our nation must be brought to imprisoned. And their crimes be stopped and paid for.
Michael: Let me guess, you are voting for Trump?
The AP news story today said that the gunman was “religious.” How can any “religion” condone attitudes and actions like these — but some religions do, explicitly and implicitly. All those nes and young ages, no words, no words, no words.
Prayers and condolences to all.
After listening and watching all the coverage a thought came to mind:
Could this man have been gay himself? And with his Muslim upbringing could not accept the fact himself that he was gay and he could not live that life and therefore no one should? He beat his first wife to the point she thought she would have been killed if she stayed. Did he beat his wife because he couldn’t love the person he wanted to because of his beliefs?
I guess that if there is any possibility of this and he had secret trysts with men someone he was “with” may surface but we will most likely never know what the true motivation was. Not to mention the effect it will have on his 3 yr old son!
Leathernine: Really? Stand up to the NRA? Did the Boston Marathon bombers use guns? Did the 9/11 hijackers use them either? Do the ISIS barbarians shoot gay men before pushing them off the roof of a tall building?
In case you didn’t know it (and I’m guessing that you didn’t, given your comment), the VAST majority of mass shootings here in the U.S. over the last several years have happened in so-called “gun free” zones: Sandyhook, VA Tech, the church in South Carolina, the movie theater in Colorado, and, yes, at Pulse.
OBVIOUSLY the murderer in each of these instances ignored the “gun free zone” while the victims obeyed it — and were thus defenseless against a well-armed assailant.
As I said the other day, how about more concern about criminal control than gun control? And what we should be asking our politicians is why a man like Mateen had BOTH of his FBI investigations closed out without being acted on, or why his employer did NOTHING even after his rants and threats forced another employee to quit his job at the same location.
And, to What???? I appreciate your suggestion, but, in a culture where MOTHERS often hope their sons grow up to be homicide bombers, or where fathers (along with other family members) regularly murder (or to use their term, perform an “honor killing”) their own daughters for things such as even wearing Western clothes — do you really think the threat of a prison sentence is going to deter them?
And yes, I am former Federal L/E, with a Masters in Security Management, as well as someone who’s been in more then one “deadly force” situation.
Richard #2,
Thank you for your expert advice. I know that you’ve worked very hard to prevent mass killings like what has happened in Orlando from happening and I know that some dangerous individuals manage to slip through the cracks like the individual who killed our folks in Orlando who the federal government was not able to collect enough evidence to consider him as a major threat to society.
To clarify my suggestion I do think that by considering parents or family members who it can be proven knew that a terrorist, their child was capable of killing and planing to kill people should be considered accomplices to the crime especially if the terrorist killed himself and is not able to have a trial.
I can spot an angry person or a dangerous person from a distance so you can’t tell me that his parents who he sat down with for dinner did not know how he felt about gays or western culture. I am sure that he expressed his hate over meals or tea.
Let me ask you, when your boyfriend comes home from working all day long don’t you sometimes ask him, ‘Sweetheart are you tired, is everything okay?’
In America when we hear of or know that a person may commit a crime we are to notify the proper authority so that the can intervene.
Yes, I know that family secrets exist but I know one thing, if I know that if my son was to conform to the ideas of terrorism and if he committed an act of terror that I would be sent to jail for life, I would call the FBI. I have heard of people being willing to die for a god’s cause but never of anyone who would spend the rest of their lives in jail for him!
So, I suggest that the UN makes a law with member and non member states to announce that parents that do not inform authorities of potential terrorist crimes by their children – and it could be proven that they knew about it should be sent to jail – without a trial!
People would start picking up the phone and calling the police, believe me! Most people from Muslim countries who come to the United States want a better life for themselves and their children. It isn’t until the children grow up here and have to deal with all the jokes and teasing that they become angry and want to start killing people including our folks!
And by the way, I think your view on Muslims in general are messed up. They like to laugh, eat, sleep, and have sexual intercorse like the rest of us. And as a matter of fact most Muslims embrace western societies culture and hold fast to their spiritual beliefs and understanding.
So, I stand by my method of prevention and know some people would think twice about keeping silent.
I feel the parents should be held responsible and their American citizenship revoked and charged with treason. when the parents pledged allegiance to the United States of America and relinquished their citizenship from their country of origin they have the obligation to raise their child as an American. they raise their child based on the Koran which does not have the values that America is based on. he was living in his parents house how could they not know that he was becoming radicalized I think it’s just ignorance. the parents should have realized that something was wrong when his former wife came forward and said that he was beating her, and for him to have done this vicious act because he saw men hugging he was offended and disgusted that it was being done in front of his child what if this was a father and son greeting each other?
it was his parents obligation as Americans and duty to share with his son that he is in America and people are free to do and love whomever they
They Jews and help him to understand what Freedom really represents. and I agree with Donald Trump trump all borders should be closed from Syria Iraq Iran until we can figure out and be able to vette the radical Muslims from people who really are escaping persecution.
and if Saudi Arabia Arabia was involved in any way in the 9/11bombing they should be held responsible for the murder of 3,000 innocent people. I’m gay I’ve paid taxes all my life and I served my country and I want to feel free to love anyone or marry anyone I want.
Love Is Love Is Love Is Love. and I will not allow a radical Muslim to visit his religious beliefs on me here on American soil! !!!!!!!
@MARKO… Sorry guy, but all terrorists are not Muslim. The members of the KKK are terrorists and NOT MUSLIM. The shooter of the African American church members in North Carolina (I refuse to legitimize his name) is a terrorist.
All terrorists should be treated the same… swiftly and seriously, and the Caucasian ones should not be defined to be “just good old boys trying to have some innocent fun”.
They are all monsters that deserve to be punished.