Wednesday, June 12, marks three years since the mass shooting that stole the lives of dozens at Pulse, a nightclub in Orlando, Florida. It’s been three years, but for many of the survivors, the pain remains overwhelming. “We clam up and we close up because we have no one to talk to who understands,” said Sylvia Serrano. She said she hid in a club bathroom for her life. “People think, ‘You didn’t get shot so you’re OK.’ But I saw my best friend die.”
In additional to Serrano’s friend, 48 other people were killed. She said that adding to this tragedy is that the shooting targeted an already vulnerable population. “LGBTQ adults are more than twice as likely to experience a mental health condition and are at greater risk for suicidal thoughts,” the Tampa Bay Times reports. “The general population doesn’t always understand how the shooting was a terrorist attack on people already at risk.”
Survivors and their advocates continue to be triggered by shootings that have occurred throughout the nation in the three years since Pulse. The Tampa Bay Times article notes, “And then there’s this fact: Florida perennially ranks among the worst states in the country for mental health services and funding. Later this year, a key federal grant that has helped hundreds affected by the Pulse shooting will expire.”
Three years later, Republicans in Congress continue to block any legislation to address gun violence and gun safety. Following the Pulse shooting, nearly 200 House Democrats led a sit-in to demand action on gun reform legislation, something that would not happen until they retook the House after the 2018 midterms. Legislation passed by the House is now being blocked by Republican Mitch McConnell in the Senate.
Survivor Orlando Torres still needs help. Like Serrano, he hid for his life in a bathroom during the shooting. Now, terrified of using a shared restroom, he’s unable to work an office job. He works as a Lyft and Uber driver, but it’s not something that allows him to access therapy, which he again wants to do. “I just need something to correct me or put me in a straight line or put my mind or heart at ease,” he says.