TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — It’s been four years since the mass shooting at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando left 49 people dead and more than 50 wounded.
Most of those killed and wounded were LGBTQ+ and Latino.
On Friday, the City of Tallahassee held a remembrance virtually, along with tolling the bells of St. John’s Episcopal Church.
The bells rang 49 times in honor of the 49 who died, something David Grimes is thankful for.
“I used to go to Pulse fairly regularly whenever I would be visiting Orlando," said Grimes. "It was a place that was safe. I took my little sister there. And today is a really hard day for me. I’m a member of St. John’s Church. I absolutely love my church and one of the things I love is what we just saw.”
Grimes said the show of support from his church is monumental.
“For a lot of my LGBTQ+ friends, the church has not been an ally for them, and has not shown up for them, and has a lot of times been very hostile to them," said Grimes. "I think it’s a hugely important statement to hear from people of faith, from the community of St. John’s, and from our faith leaders in Tallahassee that we are seen and remembered, and that we’re beloved children of God.”
The Pulse Nightclub shooting remains the deadliest incident of violence toward the LGBTQ+ community in the country.
