ORLANDO, Fla. — Friday marks 10 years since the tragic shooting at Pulse Nightclub that killed 49 people on June 12, 2016.
For survivors like Brandon Wolf, “It feels like yesterday and a lifetime ago at the same time.”
Wolf lost two of his friends that night — Juan Guerrero and Christopher Leinonen. In a recent trip to Orlando prior to the 10-year mark, he paid a visit to the former nightclub site.
“And what stuck with me was that over those 10 years, I haven’t been able to call them to tell them about all the exciting things I’ve been able to do. I didn’t get to share pictures of the first home I bought with them; there are vacations that they missed, and birthday parties they didn’t get to enjoy. That’s going to be the hardest part of 10 years,” Wolf said.
Wolf left Orlando in 2023 to work for the Human Rights Campaign and will soon move back to the city for a role with Equality Florida. He advocates for LGBTQ+ rights and education around firearms, telling Spectrum News he is proud of survivors for pushing and advocating for changes.
Last June, when families and survivors were allowed back inside Pulse before demolition, he chose not to enter, saying he’s been there enough times. He describes the 10-year mark as “bittersweet.”
“I think it (nightclub building) haunted people still being there, hollowed out, looming over the corner,” Wolf said. “So, I say bittersweet because on the one hand, it is devastating to see it gone, a space that I spent so much time in with the people I love the most. And I think it’s also probably a weight off of people’s shoulders to see some change happen in that space, to see the path cleared for a possibility of what’s next. I know that it weighed heavily on people.”
The city of Orlando is moving forward with plans to build a permanent memorial at the former nightclub site. Construction is expected to begin this fall.
“It’s past time to have a permanent memorial space where people can go and reflect, something that’s peaceful and reverent to not just the lived experiences of those who are directly impacted, but also the families of those who had their lives stolen,” Wolf said.
The city has planned a Pulse Remembrance Ceremony to honor the 49 angels and recognize the strength of first responders, families and survivors, too. Anyone in the community is welcome.
It will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 142 East Jackson St., in downtown Orlando.