At an event the likes of which has never occurred in quiet Vero Beach, 10 performers and roughly a dozen employees of the Pulse Orlando nightclub arrived for a high-energy show to support those who survived the heinous attack that killed 49 and injured 53 others.
A committee organized by Treasure & Space Coast Radio’s Station Manager Karen Franke, Waldo’s Restaurant Manager Lee Olsen and former Lighthouse Gallery owner Barry Shapiro had transformed the Heritage Center into a dazzling nightclub and invited the community to enjoy “One Pulse Extravaganza” to benefit the employees through the One Pulse Fund.
On June 12, Pulse, a gay bar and nightclub founded by Barbara Poma and Ron Legler, was thrust into the spotlight as the scene of the deadliest mass shooting by a single gunman in U.S. history and the largest terrorist attack in the nation since 9/11. Whether or when the site of such horrific violence will ever reopen has left staff uncertain of their future employment.
More than 1,000 members of the Vero community had come together after the attack for a candlelight vigil in Riverside Park spearheaded by Franke and Olsen. Wanting to do more, Olsen contacted Pulse Orlando and found the club’s videographer, Savanah Powell, online. The fundraiser was the result of ensuing discussions.
A sold-out crowd filled the room with love and support for the employees and performers, some of whom are still in crisis counseling while they wait to hear Pulse’s plans. Ticket-holders enjoyed a buffet, cocktails and dancing, while raising additional dollars by participating in a “you pick it” raffle of donated items.
A celebration of unity, the event included music by Collins and Company, followed by a parade by Pulse performers dressed in drag, the “ladies” introduced to the cheering crowd by TSCR DJ Geoff Moore. The performers danced, lip-synced and whipped the room into a frenzy with a flood of glitter, makeup, laughter and emotion. Veroites welcomed them with open arms and they returned the embrace wholeheartedly.
“We have had incredible community support, from hotels who gave us rooms, to restaurants who donated the food, and all of the people who gave us items for our raffle,” said Olsen. “All the Orlando people requested of us is that tonight be about fun and be the significant turning point from tragedy. They basically said no more tears. The only subtle memorial to the victims were the 49 white balloons spread throughout the room.”
“Pulse still plans on moving forward but we would like to have a memorial on site to remember the 49,” said Powell. “All of us who came out of it are stronger and better people and love harder because of it.”
“I want to thank all of you who came out tonight; you guys are amazing,” said Ms Adrien, a gorgeously costumed drag queen who emceed the show and gave the first performance. “We don’t care if you are gay or straight, what color or religion you are, we are just glad you are here.”
It was a truly liberating and unique event where, for the first time, many LGBTQ members felt the freedom to attend a public social event with their straight friends. Many expressed the feeling that the June attack had brought people together in a way nothing before had done.
“I think Vero Beach is evolving,” said Peter Rapp. “People end up in my store and ask where the gay community is but this is how it should be.”