Gayety

Tag: pulse

  • Nine Years After Pulse: Survivors Return to Nightclub as Demolition Nears

    Nine Years After Pulse: Survivors Return to Nightclub as Demolition Nears

    Nine years after 49 lives were tragically taken in what was then the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history, the doors of Pulse nightclub in Orlando have opened once more, but this time, not for dancing. Instead, survivors and families of those killed have returned for a final farewell, visiting the shuttered building ahead of its demolition as the city prepares to construct a permanent memorial on the site.

    A Final Visit to Sacred Ground

    Over the past week, groups of survivors and victims’ loved ones were invited to walk through the nightclub for the first time since the June 12, 2016, tragedy. The somber visits, coordinated by the City of Orlando, provided an emotional opportunity for closure in a space many consider sacred.

    “They’ve said very clearly we want to see it one last time before it’s gone,” said Donna Wyche, the city’s outreach and engagement coordinator. “It’s part of the journey of grief.”

    Walls painted black and emptied of furniture, the nightclub served as a stark reminder of the horror that unfolded during a Latin night celebration when a gunman opened fire, killing 49 and injuring 53 more. Survivor Joshua Hernandez, who was held hostage in a bathroom for hours, described the visit as a crucial step in healing. “It’s time to close the chapter of my life,” he said.

    Honoring the Lost with a Memorial

    The city of Orlando acquired the Pulse property in late 2023 for $2 million after a troubled nine-year effort by the onePulse Foundation failed to deliver on earlier promises to build a memorial and museum. A new plan, led by the city, envisions a more modest yet deeply meaningful tribute.

    The proposed memorial, scheduled to open in 2027, will include a reflection pool, a survivors’ tribute wall, rainbow-accented columns honoring each victim, a healing garden, and a private space for contemplation. Admission will be free, and officials hope the site will offer both comfort and remembrance.

    “This will be a place to reflect, to honor, and to never forget,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. “We knew from the beginning that the memory of what happened at Pulse needed to be preserved, and we believe this new vision will finally deliver on that promise.”

    The Wounds Left Behind

    Not everyone agrees on how the memorial should take shape. Some community members and families of the victims have voiced concern that the current design could stray from the intimate, reflective environment they envisioned.

    “It’s not a somber, dignified space,” said Zachary Blair, co-founder of Pulse Families and Survivors for Justice. “We want a place where people can simply stop by, remember, and reflect—without the feeling of spectacle.”

    Brandon Wolf, a survivor and now a national LGBTQ+ advocate, said the delays and disputes surrounding the memorial have prolonged the community’s trauma. “The building may come down, and a memorial may finally rise—but the scars remain,” he said. “We need this space not just to remember the people we lost, but to remind ourselves why this fight for justice continues.”

    Looking Ahead With Resolve

    Despite the emotional divisions and past setbacks, many now feel that the city’s renewed commitment to building a permanent memorial marks a turning point.

    “We are finally at a place where forward movement is possible,” said Nancy Rosado, an advisory committee member and former grief counselor for victims’ families. “This memorial will speak to the resilience of Orlando’s LGBTQ+ and Latino communities. It’s time to create a lasting tribute that truly honors their lives.”

    This year’s anniversary includes a remembrance ceremony held at First United Methodist Church in downtown Orlando, continuing the tradition of gathering in unity and reflection. Declared Pulse Remembrance Day in Florida in 2018, June 12 now carries solemn weight across the state and beyond.

    As the building that once housed joy, celebration, and ultimately tragedy prepares to come down, Orlando takes a meaningful step forward, grounding grief in memory, and pain in purpose.

  • Storms, Scandals & Slow-Burns: ‘Pulse’ Stars Say the New Medical Drama Is “Like Nothing We’ve Seen on TV”

    Storms, Scandals & Slow-Burns: ‘Pulse’ Stars Say the New Medical Drama Is “Like Nothing We’ve Seen on TV”

    Netflix’s Pulse doesn’t waste time. Within minutes, a hurricane barrels into Miami, the hospital goes into lockdown, and two doctors with a tangled past are forced into the same ER under extreme pressure.

    But before the storm hits, the real turbulence begins with a sexual harassment complaint: third-year resident Dr. Danny Simms (Willa Fitzgerald) files it against her boss, Dr. Xander Phillips (Colin Woodell). As the hospital staff grapples with a growing list of trauma cases, rumors swirl, and Danny is unexpectedly promoted to chief resident—adding fuel to the fire both professionally and personally.

    “What made this feel so distinct is the central story between these two characters and the specific investigation into the gray area that those characters have experienced,” Fitzgerald said. “It’s something I had not seen on television. Definitely not in a medical drama.”

    “The added element of the hurricane too is always fun,” Woodell added. “This idea of all these people trapped in this hospital—saving lives, but also two of us having to work together professionally while carrying the baggage of what’s happened between us—it’s a lot of tension.”

    To keep track of the dual timelines, Woodell said, “I kind of was trying to create a timeline for myself of the 12 months leading into present day. It was challenging to get it all out there chronologically.” He also joked, “My hair,” when asked how he kept track of what version of Xander he was playing.

    Fitzgerald found a rhythm in the structure. “You get to grow the characters up at two different times in their life at the same time,” she explained. “Also because a lot of the flashbacks are outside of the hospital, it kind of took care of itself.”

    She also appreciated the complexity of her role: “She’s a human who is therefore imperfect, who is making imperfect choices with the best information available to her, and then reevaluating those choices when more information becomes available.”

    While the central relationship keeps the tension high, the series also delivers one of the most grounded and hopefully queer slow-burns on TV right now: Sophie and Camila. It’s a relationship that sneaks up on you in the best way—starting as friendship and blossoming into something deeper.

    And you can’t talk Pulse without talking about one of the most memorable dynamics to come out of the first season of the show: Camila and Sophie.

    “Yeah, we do,” Fitzgerald said immediately.

    “It is so good,” Fitzgerald said. “So many good dynamics. It’s hard to pick.”

    Honorable mentions:

    • Jack and Ash (AKA Nia and Cole)
    • Cole and Soriano
    • Elijah and Danny

    From steamy stares in the OR to slow-burning romance in the hospital halls, Pulse brings the drama—but it’s the duos that keep us watching.

    Pulse is now streaming on Netflix—just try not to binge it all in one sitting. Or do. We won’t judge.

    Watch Pulse on Netflix