The donations from next week’s Philly4Pulse fundraiser will go toward Equality Florida, instead of the GLBT Community Center of Central Florida, organizers announced this week.
The change comes from Equality Florida’s partnership with the National Compassion Fund, a project initiated by those impacted by previous mass-casualty crimes like Sept. 11 and Columbine. It aims to ensure speed and transparency in distributing the donations for the victims’ families and survivors of this summer’s mass shooting at Pulse, a popular LGBT nightclub in Orlando.
“We really tortured ourselves about where to give the money,” said Jeffrey Sotland, co-owner of Tabu. He’s organizing the July 21 fundraiser with 13 other bar owners around the Gayborhood. The William Way LGBT Community Center and Wilma Theatre will host sober activities.
Equality Florida’s fund recently surpassed $7 million in donations, making it the largest effort to support those affected by the shooting at Pulse on Latin Night. The statewide LGBT organization has also partnered with the GLBT Community Center of Central Florida and the OneOrlando Fund, administered by the city of Orlando. The entities will coordinate distribution of their funds.
The disbursement plan and accountability measures are available online at www.eqfl.org/transparent.
The Philadelphia bar owners plan to deposit donations from their event into the Wells Fargo Bank account of William Way. From there, Chris Bartlett, executive director of the city’s LGBT center, will cut a check to Equality Florida. Executive director Nadine Smith will take it the day after the event.
Smith will attend Philly4Pulse. The bar owners are paying for her flight and Sofitel Hotel has donated a room for her stay.
“We wanted there to be direct engagement,” Sotland said. “It’s not just about showing up, giving us your money and leaving. We want involvement and we want people to carry this forward. We can make a difference with our customers and our friends.”
Sotland will take Smith to each location. She is expected to make a speech during the drag show at Voyeur, 1221 St. James St.
Philly4Pulse kicks off at 5 p.m. with Queer Riot!!! in the lobby of Wilma Theatre, 265 S. Broad St., said R. Eric Thomas, program director with William Way. Artists, activists and community members are invited to participate. The Bearded Ladies Cabaret and Emily Bate will perform. There will also be craft tables and food provided by the Community Supported Kitchen.
At 7 p.m., the Queer Riot!!! performers will march attendees to the participating bars, ending at William Way, where there will be a dance party with DJ Nikki Lopez and other activities.
The bars have entertainment starting at 9 p.m.
A list of participating bars and government officials who will serve as guest bartenders can be found in PGN on page 24. People can also look up “Philly4Pulse” on Facebook.
