Pulse anniversary marked by art, litigation
ORLANDO, Fla. — Survivors and victims’ relatives this week marked the second anniversary of the Pulse nightclub shooting with a remembrance ceremony, a run, art exhibits and litigation.
In the run-up to the June 12 commemoration of the massacre of 49 people at the gay nightclub, some survivors and victims’ relatives filed a lawsuit against the Orlando Police Department and the owners of the nightclub.
The lawsuit against the police was filed June 7, and it claims the city and police didn’t do enough to try to stop the shooter. The lawsuit against Pulse owners Barbara and Rosario Poma was filed June 8, and it says the nightclub had inadequate security.
Both lawsuits were filed by plaintiff attorneys based in Philadelphia and Michigan.
The Pomas said in a statement that they hadn’t seen the lawsuit and that the focus this week should be on healing.
“We ask that everyone keep the focus where it belongs as we prepare for this Remembrance Week,” the couple said.
Council meeting canceled over Pride recognition
HOMER, Alaska — A city council meeting in Alaska where the mayor had planned to recognize LGBTQ Pride Month was canceled after council members failed to show.
Homer Mayor Bryan Zak had planned to read a mayoral recognition in support of Pride celebrations in June, but the city council meeting was canceled Monday, June 11, for lack of a quorum, The Homer News reported.
Council members Heath Smith, Shelly Erickson and Tom Stroozas had notified the city clerk Monday afternoon that they could not attend the meeting. The city had received numerous emails supporting and opposing the recognition after it was proposed.
All three council members said their decision for not attending the meeting was not based on opposition to the recognition, but they did not want to promote discord and controversy within the community.
The mayor decided to read the document to a crowd of dozens gathered outside the city hall. “I think we’re making history with the council members not being present with short notice,” Zak said. “I can’t really say for sure why they’re not being there. Given the circumstances, I think we can read something into this.”
Before Zak spoke at the gathering, a man in a silver pickup truck drove into the city hall parking lot and yelled, “Shame on you, Bryan.”
Council member Rachel Lord criticized the absent council members at the unofficial gathering, saying the council and staff had dedicated a lot of time preparing for the meeting.
“It feels very wrong to step away from our duty like I feel three of our council members did,” Lord said. “I’m deeply disappointed.”
Information from: The Homer (Alaska) News, www.homernews.com
Catholic family rally to include LGBT issues
VATICAN CITY —An international family rally the Catholic Church is hosting in Ireland will feature workshops on hot-button issues facing Catholic families, including protecting children from clergy sexual abuse, weathering divorce and ministering to lesbian and gay faithful.
Pope Francis will join the Aug. 21-26 World Meeting of Families for the last two days and preside over the final Mass in Dublin.
Organizers on Monday, June 11, unveiled the pastoral program leading up to Francis’ arrival, and it includes some surprising entries. Perhaps none is more surprising than the inclusion of the Rev. James Martin, an American Jesuit scheduled to deliver a presentation on welcoming LGBT Catholics and their families into parishes.
Martin, author of “Building a Bridge,” about Catholic outreach to the LGBT community, has had several talks canceled in the United States in recent months because of pressure from conservative groups who oppose his call for the church to better accomodate gay Catholics.
Martin told The Associated Press it was “immensely significant” that a Vatican-backed meeting would include his presentation, saying it showed “that LGBT Catholics and their parents are an important part of our church.”
“The message from the Vatican to LGBT Catholics is this: you belong,” he said.
Martin recalled that during the previous World Meeting of Families, held in Philadelphia in 2015, the only official event about gay Catholics featured a gay man and his mother speaking about chastity.
