remembering pulse
Marking the 10th anniversary of the Pulse Massacre, 49 young people murdered in a gay club in Orlando, Florida. Orlando is celebrating with its own memorial today. "Statue in the Square" seems appropriate.
I was taking care of my mom in Florida after surgery when I got the news. I bottled my anger out of habit since I was maintaining a "don't-ask-don't-tell" closet with family and job at the time. I walked out of the rehab center and told my partner, "I can't do that anymore." We tried to give blood, but the local blood centers were (thankfully) full.
Tempest came out and changed their name just as I was starting social transition. The leading alternatives to keep my initials were Kale and Kudzu. 😂