STORY Pulse Nightclub

Beth Love, 31, is overcome with emotion after participating in the BASEOrlando coordinated event, "Orlando Strong Body Paint," on Friday, June 17, 2016 in Orlando, Fl. The group created a human rainbow, composed of volunteers numbering the same as t… — Beth Love, 31, is overcome with emotion after participating in the BASEOrlando coordinated event, "Orlando Strong Body Paint," on Friday, June 17, 2016 in Orlando, Fl. The group created a human rainbow, composed of volunteers numbering the same as that of the victims of the Pulse shooting as a visual reminder of the amount of lives lost.

PULSE NIGHTCLUB SHOOTING

PHOTOGRAPHY: AMANDA VOISARD | PUBLICATION: THE WASHINGTON POST

On June 12, 2016, a 29-year-old security guard named Omar Mateen, laid siege to the popular gay nightclub in Orlando, FL, killing 49 people and wounding 53 others in the 2nd deadliest mass shootings in modern American history. After a three-hour standoff, Orlando Police Department officers shot and killed Mateen. The massacre left the community of Orlando in disbelief and horrified the nation.

As the first horrible week in Orlando came to a close following the shooting the weekend before, Evan Fagin and members of the LGBT friends community continued on through the muggy sadness that hovered over the community, many afraid they hadn’t felt the worse of it yet. Through it all, they banded together working through the trauma of which would certainly linger long after the news trucks had departed and the world moved on to the next top story.

And now in Orlando, the beautiful drag queens and merengue-dancing girls and slender-chested boys, and all the fragile young people like Evan were left alone to stumble through the first Saturday night without Pulse and with pieces missing.
synopsis of Washington Post article written by By Monica Hesse

Women react after entering the Beardall Senior Center in Orlando to be notified of the status of their loved one.

Jeff, left, and Bryan Bevins-Spitler, right, attend a vigil as Milton Junior, 25, middle left, and Bradley Marvin, 34, middle right, embrace at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando.

People embrace and weep during a candlelight vigil outside the Dr. Phillips Center in Orlando.

Gay Orlando grapples with first Saturday after Pulse: 'I feel like I have to be out'

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ORLANDO, FL- JUNE 17: Red paint is brushed across the brow of Evan Fagin as he gets his body painted in preparation to represent a victim of the Orlando Pulse nightclub shooting, just short of a week after the mass shooting. The group BASE Orlando coordinated a human rainbow on Friday, June 17, 2016 that was composed of the same number of volunteers as victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting as a visual reminder of the number of lives that were lost.

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ORLANDO, FL- JUNE 14: The sun sets on Lake Eola as Marilu Pablo, her daughter, Lesly Pablo and husband Israel Pablo visit a memorial for those who perished in Sunday's mass shooting at Pulse nightclub, on Tuesday, June 14, 2016 in Orlando, Fl. (Photos by Amanda Voisard)

ORLANDO, FL- JUNE 18: Signs signal the direction of the graves of Pulse nightclub victims, Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21, a native of Cuba and Cory James Connell, a student at Valencia College in Orlando, on Saturday, June 18, 2016

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ORLANDO, FL- JUNE 17: Mathieu Carter, known by her stage name, "Hera Sthetique," left, Blue Star, and Lola Selsky, embrace during amateur burlesque night with the Lady's of the Peek a Boo Lounge event at "The Venue," on Friday, June 17, 2016 in Orlando, Fl. The establishment opened its doors that evening for the first time since the Pulse nightclub shooting, donating a portion of the proceeds to the Pulse Employee Recovery Fund. (Photos by Amanda Voisard)

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ORLANDO, FL- JUNE 13: Groups light candles following a vigil on the front lawn of the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts on June 13, 2016 in Orlando, Fl in remembrance of those who perished in Sunday's mass shooting.

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ORLANDO, FL- JUNE 17: Jennica McCleary, looks on as Evan Fagin, 30, gets a "Pulse" inspired tattoo by tattoo artist, Ron Rivera, 23, at Stigma Tattoo Bar on Friday, June 17, 2016 in Orlando, Fl. Tattoo artists donated their time, offering a $50 tattoo with the proceeds going towards the victims' families in the wake of Sunday's mass shooting at Pulse. (Photos by Amanda Voisard)

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ORLANDO, FL- JUNE 17: Tears fall as Jennica McCleary, 35, listens to Melissa Etheridge's song, 'Pulse,' dedicated to Orlando Victims, while getting a Pulse inspired tattoo at Stigma Tattoo Bar on Friday, June 17, 2016 in Orlando, Fl. Tattoo artists donated their time, offering a $50 tattoo with the proceeds going towards the victims' families in the wake of Sunday's mass shooting at Pulse. (Photos by Amanda Voisard)

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ORLANDO, FL- JUNE 17: Tears stream down the face of "Pistol," as she performs during the second act of the Amateur Burlesque night with the Lady's of the Peek a Boo Lounge, event at "The Venue," on Friday, June 17, 2016 in Orlando, Fl. The establishment opened its doors that evening for the first time since the Pulse nightclub shooting, donating a portion of the proceeds to the Pulse Employee Recovery Fund.

A performer breaks while singing during the second act of Amateur night with the Lady's of the Peek a Boo Lounge, hosted by Blue Star at "The Venue," on Friday, June 17, 2016 in Orlando, Fl.

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ORLANDO, FL- JUNE 17: A human rainbow is created at a BASEOrlando coordinated event, "Orlando Strong Body Paint," on Friday, June 17, 2016 in Orlando, Fl. The group created the rainbow, composed of volunteers numbering the same as that of the victims of the Pulse shooting, as a visual reminder of the amount of lives lost. (Photos by Amanda Voisard)

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ORLANDO, FL- JUNE 17: Jennica McCleary, 35, second from left, takes part in forming a human rainbow at a BASEOrlando coordinated event, "Orlando Strong Body Paint," on Friday, June 17, 2016 in Orlando, Fl. The group created the rainbow, composed of volunteers numbering the same as that of the victims of the Pulse shooting, as a visual reminder of the amount of lives lost. (Photos by Amanda Voisard)

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ORLANDO, FL- JUNE 17: Shea Rafferty, 41, middle and his husband, Tinus Kotze, 38, right, kiss before joining in a human rainbow at a BASEOrlando coordinated event, "Orlando Strong Body Paint," on Friday, June 17, 2016 in Orlando, Fl. The group created the rainbow, composed of volunteers numbering the same as that of the victims of the Pulse shooting, as a visual reminder of the amount of lives lost.

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ORLANDO, FL- JUNE 17: BASEOrlando, co-Creator, Mandi Ilene is enveloped by a human rainbow at the event, "Orlando Strong Body Paint," which she helped organize on Friday, June 17, 2016 in Orlando, Fl. The group created the rainbow, composed of volunteers numbering the same as that of the victims of the Pulse shooting, as a visual reminder of the amount of lives lost.

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ORLANDO, FL- JUNE 17: Beth Love, 31, next to her husband, Zac Love, 35, is overcome with emotion after participating in the BASEOrlando coordinated event, "Orlando Strong Body Paint," on Friday, June 17, 2016 in Orlando, Fl. The group created a human rainbow, composed of volunteers numbering the same as that of the victims of the Pulse shooting as a visual reminder of the amount of lives lost.

Orlando City Soccer Club fans dress in rainbow colors to show support for the victims of the Pulse Nightclub shooting on Saturday, June 18, 2016 in Orlando, Fl.

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ORLANDO, FL- JUNE 18: Evan Fagin, right, embraces Mary Ezzard, during a Orlando City Soccer Club game on Saturday, June 18, 2016 in Orlando, Fl. Jake Cerrtani cheers for a goal at rear. The match was paused in the 49th minute to honor the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting.

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ORLANDO, FL- JUNE 17: Officer Monica Only, of the Orlando Police Department, right, stands at her post at the "The Venue," on Friday, June 17, 2016 in Orlando, Fl. Pistol, left waits to perform during the Amateur Burlesque night with the Lady's of the Peek a Boo Lounge,first public event since the Pulse nightclub shooting. Officers have have been dispatched to events since the shooting.

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ORLANDO, FL- JUNE 17: Audience and performers during Amateur night with the Lady's of the Peek a Boo Lounge show their support for Pulse Victims with symbols of strength and love at "The Venue," on Friday, June 17, 2016 in Orlando, Fl. The establishment opened its doors that evening for the first time since the Pulse nightclub shooting, donating a portion of the proceeds to the Pulse Employee Recovery Fund.

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"Pistol," is embraced following a preformance during the second act of Amateur night with the Lady's of the Peek a Boo Lounge, hosted by Blue Star at "The Venue," on Friday, June 17, 2016 in Orlando, Fl. The establishment opened its doors that evening for the first time since the Pulse nightclub shooting donating all the tips.

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ORLANDO, FL- JUNE 19: Evan Fagin, 30, middle, is embraced by friends, Rusty Smith, left, Jonathan Vargas, middle left, and Sarah Winger at the Sloppy Taco Palace on Sunday, June 19, 2016 in Orlando, Fl. Evan noticed it was nearing 2am, one week since the Pulse nightclub shooting, the deadliest mass shootings in U.S. History. The group were regular patrons of the establishment.

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ORLANDO, FL- JUNE 20 - Evan Fagin, 30, middle, and Sarah Winger, left, join with tens of thousands at a candlelight vigil at Lake Eola, one week after the Pulse nightclub shooting on Sunday, June 20, 2016 in Orlando, FL. "I felt like I had to come," said Fagin