The world was shocked by the shooting attack on Orlando’s Pulse nightclub back in June—not only for the fact that it was the deadliest in US history , but also because it represented such a tragic hate crime directed toward the LGBTQ community, within the traditional “safe space” of a nightclub. The fate of the club has been put in the spotlight over the past week.
The onePULSE Foundation was created by the nightclub's owners in the aftermath of the shooting, and last week it revealed on social media its hope to reopen as a memorial.
"You heard right! We will be reopening Pulse as a memorial for the 49 lives who were taken from us on June 12," the foundation wrote, kickstarting a fundraising effort for the memorial.
However, this week it emerged that news of the reopening might have been premature, with a spokeswoman for the club clarifying that a member of Pulse’s social media team had misunderstood the facts and incorrectly published the post.
“OOPS! Looks like we got the media’s pulse racing with an inadvertent Instagram posting that incorrectly stated the Pulse Nightclub was reopening as a memorial,” the rep told Time .
While Pulse remains closed for the moment, its owners have clarified their desire “that someday a memorial be created at the site.”
Meanwhile, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer has confirmed the city is in the process of creating its own memorial for the 49 shooting victims.
“As our community continues to heal from this tragic event, we stand committed to creating a permanent space that will preserve the memory of those who lost their lives, provide comfort to those who seek it, and honor the spirit and love of our great city,” the mayor confirmed in a June statement .
Find out more about the fundraising efforts at the onePULSE Foundation .
