On Anniversary of Pulse Nightclub Attack, GMHC Focuses on Courage

GMHC, the world's first and leading provider of HIV/AIDS prevention, made a statement on the anniversary of the Pulse nightclub massacre as they helped spread the word about the public event from 7-9 p.m. on June 12 by Gays Against Guns outside the Stonewall National Monument.

"One year ago, the country woke up to unspeakable horror when 49 members of the LGBT community were murdered and 53 injured inside the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida. This was the worst mass shooting in American history," said GMHC CEO Kelsey Louie.

"LGBTQ people around the world continue to mourn the lives lost in this massacre and grieve with the victims' friends and families for the lives shattered. The Pulse massacre highlighted the harsh reality that hatred and prejudice toward the LGBTQ community remain active forces in our society. This bigotry manifests as violent hate crimes, discriminatory legislation, and sociopolitical attacks that strive to continue to render the LGBTQ community as second-class citizens."

"Yet, even in the darkest of times, we remain inspired by the courage and strength displayed by our community. The love, pride, and resilience characterizing the LGBTQ community's response to the Pulse massacre is a hallmark that has continually propelled us through times of tragedy and despair. Together, we have made the legalization of gay marriage the law of the land, expanded our civil rights protections, and battled the scourge of HIV and AIDS. Moreover, organizations, institutions, and neighborhoods have built strong support systems to provide a sense of belonging and a broad array of specialized services to members of the LGBTQ community."

"There is still hatred to fight. There are still prejudices to overcome and policy battles to be won, including ending the discriminatory blood ban that prevented gay and bisexual men from donating desperately needed blood in the immediate aftermath of the Pulse tragedy. This scientifically baseless blood ban continues to classify gay and bisexual men as a sub-human class of citizen to be separated from the life force of society in general, even today. During Pride month, we will remember the victims who lost their lives at Pulse, and press forward together for acceptance, equality, and justice."

Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) is the nation's leading provider of HIV and AIDS care, prevention services and advocacy, serving nearly 10,000 people living with and affected by HIV and AIDS in New York City, the epicenter of the epidemic in the U.S. As the world's first HIV and AIDS service organization, GMHC is an expert in providing services that every person affected by the epidemic deserves. GMHC is on the front lines caring for people who are both HIV negative and positive, including testing, nutrition, legal, mental health and education services. GMHC also advocates for stronger public policies at the local, state and federal level with the goal of ending AIDS as an epidemic in New York State by 2020. Most recently, GMHC and other HIV and AIDS organizations successfully persuaded the federal government to recommend widespread use of PrEP, a new daily treatment that is over 90% effective in preventing HIV infection.

For more information, visit www.gmhc.org