| ���� | Pride Without Prejudice FROM PG.28 “It presented possible way it could. I think that there are everyday acts of kindness that may not have happened if it weren’t for the Pulse incident.” He mentions the fact that local hospitals are forgiving costs for the victims and their families, that even the churches have stepped in to bring some healing, that simple acts – like the dispatch of therapists throughout Orlando for those directly and indirectly traumatized by the immense massacre – have indeed made Orlando stronger. “It also gives us an opportunity to shine the light on fighting against hatred,” he adds. Orlando Commissioner Patty Sheehan was thrust into the media glare, more so even than Dyer, because she is a member of the LGBT community and carried the weight of communicating our concerns with the world. “To be quite honest, in the first hours I was motivated by anger,” she says, “because they weren’t mentioning the LGBTQ community.” So she went everywhere she could to remind people – via the media and public appearances – that this was a crime against our community; a heinous tragedy that was being disguised almost too quickly as “terrorism.” “I didn’t want the celebrity-tragedy fame,” she says. “What I wanted to do was to use the limited media timeframe that we have to talk about the issues of this community.” And while she appreciates the tributes – the lighting up of the our community in a very good light. I think our community responded in the best possible way it could. I think that there are everyday acts of kindness that may not have happened if it weren’t for the Pulse incident.” —BUDDY DYER Dr. Phillips Center in rainbow colors, the rainbow flags she insisted were placed throughout town, the wreaths in the City Hall rotunda – her core mission is getting to the root of the problems that led to so much bloodshed and $6.5 million in damages to businesses. Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs has been a rock, she says, but politicians like Rick Scott and Marco Rubio have been far less genuine. She’s angry still, but she’s using that anger for a cause: namely, sensible gun laws. “Anger is a step of grief, and we all know that,” she says, but there are more steps to climb. “I carry that memory and those feelings of love and comfort and human kindness. There’s a lot out there.” 30 COME OUT WITH PRIDE 2016
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