Pulse (nightclub) explained

Pulse
Fullname:Pulse Orlando
Logo Image:Pulse Orlando logo.svg
Image Alt:Photo of a white low-rise building and parking lot.
Address:1912 South Orange Avenue
Location:Orlando, Florida, U.S.
Closed:June 12, 2016

Pulse was a gay bar, dance club, and nightclub in Orlando, Florida, founded in 2004 by Barbara Poma and Ron Legler. On June 12, 2016, the club was the scene of the second worst mass shooting by a single gunman in U.S. history, and the second deadliest terrorist attack on U.S. soil since the September 11 attacks. Forty-nine people were killed and 58 other people were injured.

Description

Pulse hosted themed performances each night and had a monthly program featuring educational events geared towards the LGBT community.[1] According to Orlando Weekly, Pulse featured "three glitzy, throbbing rooms of club boys, twinks and twinks at heart. Every night has something different in store, but Pulse is known to have some pretty impressive drag shows, and the bar's dancers are usually gorgeous."[2] Because of the three areas, Lonely Planet Discover Florida deemed it "three nightclubs,"[3] while their Florida volume focused on it being "ultramodern."[4]

Top 10 Orlando called it a "firm favorite for the Orlando gay crowd,"[5] The Rough Guide to Florida deemed it "justifiably popular," citing its "great lighting and sound plus cabaret performers, drag acts, and erotic dancers."[6] Pulse was the only gay club mentioned in The Rough Guide to the USA for Orlando.[7] According to listings, the entire premises, including the washrooms, were accessible.[8] Using "periodic consumer surveys," Zagat rated Pulse 25/30 for atmosphere, 25/30 decor, and 22/30 service.[9]

History

In 1985—prior to Pulse's founding—the property located at 1912 South Orange Avenue was home to a pizza restaurant named Lorenzo's.[10] By 1999, it was called Dante's, a bar with live music.[11] Dante's closed in January 2003.[12]

Founded by Barbara Poma and Ron Legler, Pulse opened on July 2, 2004.[13] [14] Poma's brother, John, died in 1991 from AIDS, and the club is "named for John's pulse to live on," according to a marketing staff member in February 2016.[15] [16] The venue had a focus on local talent. Poma ensured that her brother's memory was prominent on the website, and that the facility was more than "just another gay club." Legler, who was president of the Florida Theatrical Association when Pulse was founded, also founded two nightclubs in Lake Eola Park in 2010, before moving to Baltimore in 2014.[17] The Washington Post described the club's first 12 years as "a community hub for HIV prevention, breast-cancer awareness and immigrant rights," and reported it had partnered with educational and advocacy groups such as Come Out with Pride, Equality Florida, and the Zebra Coalition.

June 2016 massacre

See main article: Pulse nightclub shooting and Pulse Memorial and Museum.

On June 12, 2016, a 29-year-old Muslim extremist named Omar Mateen, killed 49 people and wounded 58 others in a mass shooting. Mateen affirmed he was acting on behalf of the terrorist group IS, and swore allegiance to the group's leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.[18] [19] On the day of the shooting, IS had also released a statement via Amaq News Agency, taking responsibility for the attack.[20] The attack was the deadliest single gunman mass shooting in United States history until the 2017 Las Vegas shooting,[21] [22] [23] [24] [25] the deadliest incident of violence against LGBT people in U.S. history, surpassing the UpStairs Lounge arson attack of 1973,[26] and the second deadliest terrorist attack on U.S. soil since the September 11 attacks of 2001.[27] [28] [29]

In November 2016, the city of Orlando agreed to buy the nightclub for $2.25 million. Mayor Buddy Dyer expressed plans to convert the nightclub into a memorial to honor the memory of the victims.[30]

Barbara Poma, the owner, refused to sell the nightclub to the city in December 2016.[31] Instead she announced in May 2017 the creation of the onePULSE Foundation to independently fund a Pulse Memorial and Museum planned to open in 2022.[32]

On October 19, 2023, the city of Orlando announced they had purchased the Pulse nightclub and would demolish the existing structure and build a permanent memorial on the former site. As of December 2023, the nightclub remains standing.[33]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Scene of mass shooting more than 'just another gay club' . USA Today . June 12, 2016 . Kim . Hjelmgaard . June 12, 2016 . 0734-7456 . Gannett Company . June 13, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160613033615/http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2016/06/12/pulse-more-than-just-another-gay-club/85785762/ . live .
  2. News: Orlando gay bars . June 12, 2016 . Orlando Weekly . Euclid Media Group . January 15, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210115153927/https://www.orlandoweekly.com/orlando/orlando-gay-bars/Content?oid=2244768 . live .
  3. Book: Adam Karlin. Jeff Campbell. Jennifer Rasin Denniston. Emily Matchar. Lonely Planet Discover Florida. registration. June 1, 2012. Lonely Planet. 978-1-74321-015-4. 154.
  4. Book: Adam Karlin. Jennifer Rasin Denniston. Paula Hardy. Benedict Walker. Lonely Planet Florida. December 1, 2014. Lonely Planet Publications. 978-1-74360-250-8. 615. October 19, 2016. June 4, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220604113706/https://books.google.com/books?id=reXUBQAAQBAJ&pg=PT615. live.
  5. Book: Cynthia Tunstall. Jim Tunstall. Top 10 Orlando. August 1, 2012. DK Publishing. 978-0-7566-9461-6. 79. October 19, 2016. June 4, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220604113705/https://books.google.com/books?id=wFmzDyga48AC&pg=PA79. live.
  6. Book: Rough Guides. The Rough Guide to Florida. June 13, 2016. 8th. August 3, 2009. Penguin Group. 978-1-4053-8013-3. 319. June 4, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220604113707/https://books.google.com/books?id=XNJaAomoSGwC&pg=PT319. live.
  7. Book: Samantha Cook. The Rough Guide to the USA. March 1, 2011. Rough Guides. 978-1-4053-8954-9. 1082. October 19, 2016. June 4, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220604113707/https://books.google.com/books?id=E1qZJLwDlTUC&pg=PT1082. live.
  8. Book: Frances Green. Gayellow Pages USA No. 34 2012-2013. April 1, 2012. Renaissance House. 978-1-885404-28-2. 276. October 19, 2016. June 4, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220604113707/https://books.google.com/books?id=e1SIUkQupUYC&pg=PA276. live.
  9. Web site: PULSE - Zagat Review. June 13, 2016. June 11, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220611234019/https://stories.zagat.com/. live.
  10. Sherman, Chris. "What's Cooking in Pizza Circles ". The Orlando Sentinel. July 19, 1985.
  11. Joseph, Scott. "A Fortuitous Fusion ". The Orlando Sentinel. February 26, 1999.
  12. Gray, Tyler. "Caught in Headlightz: Bar Changes Act ". The Orlando Sentinel. January 17, 2003.
  13. Matthews, Mark K. "Pulse's Space a New Odyssey for Chic ". The Orlando Sentinel. July 9, 2004.
  14. Orlando's Pulse Nightclub Was Founded by a Woman Whose Brother Died from AIDS . James . West . June 12, 2016 . Mother Jones . June 12, 2016 . 0362-8841 . Foundation for National Progress . June 13, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160613131259/http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/06/orlando-gay-nightclub-massacre-lgbt-community-history . live .
  15. News: Orlando's club Pulse owes its name and spirit to 'loving brother' who died from AIDS. . June 13, 2016. October 25, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201025191646/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/06/13/more-than-just-another-gay-club-pulse-was-founded-in-her-brothers-memory-and-named-for-his-beating-heart/. live.
  16. News: The Pulse of Orlando . February 3, 2013 . Next . June 12, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160617092046/http://nextmagazinefl.com/central-florida/the-pulse-of-orlando . June 17, 2016 . dead .
  17. Web site: Ron Legler, 'champion' of downtown and the arts, leaving Orlando. Orlando. Sentinel. February 19, 2014 . June 13, 2016. May 9, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200509012033/https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/breaking-news/os-ron-legler-leaving-orlando-20140218-story.html. live.
  18. News: Fais . Scott . June 15, 2016 . Mateen to News 13 producer: 'I'm the shooter. It's me.' . News 13 . November 23, 2022 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160616004253/https://www.mynews13.com/content/news/cfnews13/news/article.html/content/news/articles/cfn/2016/6/14/orlando_shooting_oma.html . June 16, 2016.
  19. News: Miller . Michael E. . June 15, 2016 . 'I'm the shooter. It's me': Gunman called local TV station during attack, station says . The Washington Post . November 23, 2022 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160615155427/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/06/15/im-the-shooter-its-me-gunman-called-local-tv-station-during-attack-station-says/ . June 15, 2016.
  20. News: READ: Official ISIS Statement on Orlando Terror Attack by Amaq News Agency . March 24, 2024 . Heavy . June 12, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160613065514/http://heavy.com/news/2016/06/official-isis-islamic-state-statement-about-orlando-florida-terrorist-terrorism-attack-shooting-omar-mateen-lone-wolf-attack-amaq-news/ . June 13, 2016 . live.
  21. News: Fifty dead in Orlando gay nightclub shooting, worst mass killing in modern U.S. history; gunman reportedly pledged allegiance to Islamic State . Los Angeles Times . June 12, 2016 . June 12, 2016 . June 12, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160612095327/http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-orlando-nightclub-shooting-20160612-snap-story.html . live .
  22. Web site: Orlando Pulse club attack: gunman behind shooting that killed 49 'named as Omar Mateen' . Lyons . Kate . June 12, 2016 . The Guardian . June 12, 2016 . June 12, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160612100242/http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jun/12/orlando-shooting-nightclub-pulse-gunman . live .
  23. News: Gunman in nightclub shooting had been investigated for terrorist links . CBC News . June 12, 2016 . June 12, 2016 . November 8, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201108141637/https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/florida-pulse-nightclub-shooting-1.3631419 . live .
  24. Web site: Lois . Beckett . Orlando nightclub attack is deadliest US mass shooting in modern history . The Guardian . June 12, 2016 . June 12, 2016 . June 12, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160612151113/http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jun/12/orlando-nightclub-deadliest-mass-shooting-terrorism . live .
  25. News: Gunman's 'terror attack' on gay nightclub leaves 50 dead . Yeung . Peter . June 12, 2016 . The Independent . en-GB . June 12, 2016 . June 12, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160612130352/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/orlando-nightclub-shooting-20-dead-terror-attack-at-florida-lgbt-club-gay-killed-explosion-bomb-a7077831.html . live .
  26. Web site: Mark Joseph . Stern . The Long, Tragic History of Violence at LGBTQ Bars and Clubs in America . Slate . June 12, 2016 . June 12, 2016 . June 12, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160612172215/http://www.slate.com/blogs/outward/2016/06/12/pulse_nightclub_shooting_and_tragic_history_of_violence_at_lgbtq_clubs_in.html . live .
  27. News: 50 killed in Florida nightclub, shooter pledged ISIS allegiance . Ashley . Fantz . Faith . Karimi . Eliott C. . McLaughlin . CNN . June 12, 2016 . June 12, 2016 . May 25, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190525135958/https://www.cnn.com/2016/06/12/us/orlando-nightclub-shooting/index.html . live .
  28. Web site: Obama: Orlando An Act Of 'Terror And Hate' . Sky News . June 12, 2016 . June 12, 2016 . June 12, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160612183043/http://news.sky.com/story/1710904/obama-orlando-an-act-of-terror-and-hate . live .
  29. News: The Orlando attack could transform the picture of post-9/11 terrorism in America . Ann . Swanson . June 12, 2016 . June 12, 2016 . The Washington Post . June 12, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160612203733/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/06/12/the-orlando-attack-could-transform-the-picture-of-post-911-terrorism-in-america/ . live .
  30. Kreps. Daniel. City of Orlando Buying Pulse Nightclub to Create Memorial. November 11, 2016. Rolling Stone. November 9, 2016. November 10, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161110152430/http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/city-of-orlando-buying-pulse-nightclub-to-create-memorial-w449525. live.
  31. Web site: Pulse nightclub owner says she won't sell to city. Orlando Sentinel. December 5, 2016. January 16, 2017. January 16, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170116045211/http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/political-pulse/os-pulse-nightclub-no-sale-orlando-20161205-story.html. live.
  32. News: Pulse Nightclub to Become a Memorial and Museum. Bendix. Aria. The Atlantic. June 12, 2017. en-US. June 23, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170623111103/https://www.theatlantic.com/news/archive/2017/05/orlando-shooting-pulse-nightclub-memorial-museum/525663/. live.
  33. Web site: Cann . Christopher . Pulse nightclub to be purchased by city of Orlando with plans of mass shooting memorial . 2024-08-16 . USA TODAY . en-US.

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