Orlando, Fla., has long been synonymous with Disney World, deemed the “most magical place on Earth.” But for LGBT communities, the city has more recently taken on a darker meaning, as it was the site of the nation’s deadliest LGBT attack.
A recent trip to the city proved that LGBT travelers can both memorialize the victims of the mass shooting at Pulse Nightclub and also discover the magic of Orlando. PGN was recently in town for the LGBT Journalists Convening, a gathering of national LGBT media representatives and bloggers.
The convention was held at the Rosen Centre, a sprawling hotel popular with conference-goers (though it can also offer part-hoppers more affordable lodging in a less-bustling locale than some of the more traditional Disney hotels).
Several of the conference’s dozens of panel and workshop discussions focused on covering the Pulse tragedy, and the 75-plus attendees saw the story from a new angle with a visit to the club during the conference.
“Surreal” is the best word to describe the atmosphere outside of the club. We’ve all witnessed the horrific photos and videos from the shooting, so seeing the stark black Pulse sign surrounded by palm trees in person is a strange sensation. The club is situated at a busy intersection, but there is such a reverence by people who have come to pay their respects that the noise from the surrounding streets seems miles away.
The area around the club, which is blocked by a large chain-link fence, is a living memorial to the 49 lives lost. Rainbow banners drape the entire fence, and messages of support have been scrawled across every inch of it. Propped against the fence and throughout the parking lot are lit candles, stuffed animals, posters and other items, including several gardens of rocks that people have left messages on. Most of the memorial items offer both thoughts for the victims and also hope for peace.
While visiting the site of such a tragedy may seem morbid to some, it is a powerful and potentially necessary experience for others. The interactive nature of the memorial has safeguarded the site from becoming a garish tourist attraction; it is a communal space for LGBT people and allies to mourn not just the victims, but also the reverberating impact the attack has had on the LGBT and ally communities.
While tributes from around the world continue to pour in at the club, the Orange County Regional History Center has been collecting thousands of others from Pulse and other memorials in the last year. Much of its archiving work is documented through its One Orlando Digital Memorial: www.thehistorycenter.org/digital-memorial/. The center is planning to unveil a physical exhibit about the tragedy to coincide with the one-year anniversary in June.
References to Pulse are seen throughout Orlando, on billboards, storefronts and on an impressive number of T-shirts at local attractions like Walt Disney World. In fact, the number of gay grooms and brides (wearing the customary Mickey ears denoting such) was just as impressive. (And there will be an influx of LGBT travelers for Gay Days, June 2-4.)
Disney may be too overpopulated with youngsters for travelers without youth, but there are many adult-focused aspects of the parks that shouldn’t be missed on a trip to Orlando. For instance, Epcot’s Flower & Garden Festival runs through May 29. The event features breathtaking landscaping throughout the internationally themed park, with special stalls offering garden-focused merch in each country. Known as the park where you can “drink around the world,” Epcot ups the libation ante during the flower show, with florally infused international drinks in each nation.
Universal Studios also has its fair share of adult-oriented activities. “Harry Potter” fans can delight in the magic of Hogwarts and Diagon Alley in the recently retooled Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The area is separated into two sections, connected by a quick ride aboard the Hogwarts Express. On one side, a thrill ride takes you on a high-flying adventure through Hogwarts (where the line that wends its way through the castle is almost as fun as the ride itself), and on the other side, a free-falling coaster carries riders on a daring escape from Gringotts bank.
For those who want to keep their feet firmly planted on the ground, both sides of the park offer impressively designed cobblestone streets full of Potter-themed shops, where you can get your own wand, robes, Quidditch merchandise and Chocolate Frogs.
Whether you’re looking to revisit your childhood or explore the bustling downtown nightlife scene, Orlando offers a very varied experience. For LGBT travelers, part of that experience should be a stop at what has come to be a seminal site in the community’s history, where you can find both healing and hope.