Equality Florida Statement, GoFundMe, & Updates on Mass Shooting at Pulse Nightclub

Click Here for GoFundMe 
To raise funds for the victims and families of the horrific Orlando Pulse Nightclub Shooting.

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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 50 people dead and over 50 injured according to preliminary reports.

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 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.

For Transparency Statement on our Orlando's Victim Fund Click Here

Quick links to content below

COUNSELING AVAILABLE:

* The GLBT Community Center of Central Florida is referring folks to First Unitarian Church, 1901 east Robinson street, Orlando, FL 32803 for grief counseling.

*For anyone needing support today, you may call the Zebra Coalition hotline at (407) 228-1446 to speak to a counselor.

* Somos Orlando is providing counseling resources for Spanish-speaking people. http://www.somosorlando.info/

* From the UCF LGBT student services director: There is counseling available to UCF students today from 12pm-5pm, in the student union room 313. Our LGBT student hang out space, Pride Commons, will reopen Monday through Friday from 9am-5pm, with group counseling available from 1pm-2pm daily

* Muslim Counselors: Naseema 786-473-6017 & Sakina Issa 407-484-2724

* Kids/teens counselor Austin Hill: 941-468-7062

* For 25 years the Orlando Youth Alliance has been offering support groups to LGBTQ youth ages 13-24.  They have weekly groups in Orlando, Casselberry and Lakeland.  The groups currently are being led by LMHC counselors experienced in grief and trauma counseling to help those dealing with survivor guilt or having a difficult time coming to grips with the Pulse tragedy. OYA groups are facilitated by criminally background checked adults and have security or police presence.

Eye-Witness Information

Law enforcement officials are looking for information and encouraging anyone who was at Pulse Saturday night to please contact them: 800-CALL-FBI.

BLOOD DRIVES:

To find a donation center or Big Red Bus near you visit www.oneblood.org or call 1.888.9Donate.

VIGIL(S)/Benefits:

Go to http://www.weareorlando.org/ and click on Find a Local Event to find events or click on Add Your Event to add one

Travel for Loved Ones:

JetBlue is officially assisting with flights for those in need. Click here for more details 

"Like many of you, we continue to watch reports of the Orlando nightclub shooting with great sadness. Our thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones. This weekend’s events are felt by all of our 19,000 crewmembers, many of whom live in, work from and travel through Orlando – one of our focus cities – at Orlando International Airport, our Orlando Support Center and JetBlue University. We want to do our part to help the victims of this tragedy as well support the Orlando community through this difficult time."

Equality Florida thanks JetBlue for their fast response and generous support.

Families needing Funeral/Burial Services or Memorials locally

Metro Church and their Senior Minister, Seth Cain, would like to offer their building and services free of charge to any of the families who need a place for funeral services or memorials. Video: https://vimeo.com/170479270, 407-366-7714, metroc.org

The Central Florida Freethought Community will provide non-religious memorial services or celebrations of life. We will cover the costs and fees of secular venues and provide certified Humanist Celebrants at no charge. Call or email 321-804-3373 / [email protected].

Forest Lake Seventh-day Adventist Church - If you or someone you know needs a place to hold a funeral service in conjunction with the ‪#‎thePulse‬ Shootings, please call our church office at 407.869.0680. We will host your service (for free) and stream it live on the Internet for those who might not be able to attend in person.‪ #‎prayforOrlando‬ ‪#‎FLC‬ ‪#‎FLCOnline‬

University Presbyterian Church (UPC) at 2562 Rouse Rd. Orlando, FL 32817 is offering the church for any funerals of victims of the shootings. The church would officiate the funeral and would be free of charge. Interested families can contact, Randy Bronson, who is working on getting the word out to the community at 407-790-0208 or [email protected] or the Senior Pastor, Matt Ryman at [email protected] or call the church’s main office at 407-384-3300. ‬

Saint Richards Episcopal Church Address, 5151 Lake Howell Rd, Winter Park, FL 32792 Phone:(407) 671-4211, Click here for more. 

Redeemer Lutheran Church owns three Glen Haven burial plots that they would like to donate to those who might need them.  One plot is a single and two of them are together, appropriate for a couple.  Redeemer Lutheran Church is an LGBTQ-friendly church located at 3377 Aloma Avenue, Winter Park, FL 32792. Call Thor Falk, President, at 407-754-6333. 

The University Club of Winter Park called and they would like to volunteer their space as a free location to host memorial services for victim’s families. We provide AV support and are here to provide any help we can to make this experience one filled with love and support. Please contact us to learn more.  

Accessing Victim Relief Fund

We are working with the National Center for Victims of Crime, which deployed funds in both the Chattanooga and Aurora shootings, to distribute the contribution from our Pulse Victim Fund (http://nationalcompassionfund.org/faq/).

This organization offers support to communities affected by mass casualty events in the form of the National Compassion Fund, and ensure that every penny donated will be correctly and quickly dispersed to the victims and families.

We ask all victims to call this hotline to begin this process:
VictimConnect Resource Center
855-4-Victim (855-484-2846). We are experiencing technical issues with the 855-4-Victim helpline number. Please call 202-467-8759 to reach VictimConnect until this issue is resolved.

Legal Services for Victims

The Orange County Bar Association will be handling phone intake and referrals for victim legal inquiries, in coordination with the Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association, the Florida Bar’s Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, and other affiliate bar organizations. The telephone number is 407-422-4537, and the hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The telephone infrastructure and staffing are already independently in place to support OCBA’s long-standing lawyer referral service, so we can assure that the phone number will remain active and staffed to serve victims for years to come. While we anticipate many inquiries relating to probate and disability law, we are gearing up to assist with referrals in virtually all areas of law where a need may arise.

Pro Bono legal services from Foley & Lardner, LLP, contact John S. Lord Jr., 407.244.3246, www.foley.com

Contact for Immigration Lawyer/Assistance for Visa Issues - Carlos J. Bonilla Esq., Immigration Laywer, 407.557.6208  

Patricia Hernandez, an Aqua Board Member and Co-Chair of the LGBTQ Committee of the South Florida Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyer's Association and Sasah Westerman-Keuning (a board member of Unity Coalition and Patricia's co-chair) are offering their services pro bono to anyone who needs help in regards to temporary immigration etc. in connection with Orlando i.e helping a family member of a victim enter the US etc.

Patricia Hernandez, Esq.
Co-Chair, Gay & Lesbian Lawyers Association (GALLA)
Co-Chair, LGBTQ Committee, AILA South Florida Chapter
Immigration | Criminal | Civil Law Attorney
10691 N. Kendall Drive, Suite 210
Miami, FL 33176
Tel: (786) 571-VISA (8472)
Cell: (305) 775-3273
Fax: (305) 275-1387
e-mail: [email protected]

Sasha Westerman-Keuning,P.A.
Co-Chair, LGBTQ Committee, AILA South Florida Chapter
Bayfront Law Center
1801 NE 123rd Street, Suite 409
Miami, Florida 33181
786-442-3177
786-408-4727
[email protected]
www.sashavisalaw.com
 

For VISA Assistance: Contact Cathy Ripa via http://somosorlando.com/

For immigration needs for family members of the Orlando Pulse victims, the Florida Coastal School of Law Immigration Clinic would be honored to help. The telephone number is (904) 680-7650. They also speak Spanish for folks that need those translator services.

Immigration Equality has heard from a large number of Florida-based immigration attorneys ready to provide free immigration services to undocumented survivors and the family of the victims. We will provide a free screening for possible immigration relief, and then connect individuals and/or families with local counsel to work with them pro bono. Anyone with questions or in need of help can call us on our national hotline at 212-714-2904 or email us at orlando@immigrationequality.org. We have Spanish speaking staff available via both avenues.