As part of Orlando United Day, the City Beautiful hosted several events, one of which honored the lives lost in the shooting through music and dance at Lake Eola.
But, for those deeply entrenched in the LGBTQ community, getting through Monday was, at times, a challenge.
- Monday show has been in the works for months
- History Center has special exhibit through June 17
- PULSE REMEMBERED: One year later
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"I might not make eye contact, because I don’t want to melt in tears on stage," said Andrea Canny, the musical director for the production. "I can’t save somebody’s life medically, but I can put a bunch of singers together, so this is what I’m doing."
Canny has been working on wrangling choirs and perfecting the show for months. Sunday night, she tediously proofread the 49 victims' names to be read on stage, pairing them with pictures.
Monday morning, she was guiding flower and chair deliveries to the amphitheater, meeting with other producers and directing run-throughs of performances.
"We want it to be a huge hug, and a mission of love that we’re showing Orlando we are not going anywhere," she said. "We are staying here, still here for you, for the families.”
But getting through it is still difficult.
"It’s like ripping off the Band-Aid, over and over and over again," she said. "We all have our moments."
Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith feels the same way.
For those deeply entrenched in #LGBTQ community, getting thru today is difficult, but musical director Andrea Canny says tonite's about ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Dq5rmMTdwl
— Julie Gargotta (@juliegargotta) June 12, 2017
The first LGBTQ Latino legislator from Florida visited Orlando's Pulse exhibit at the History Center with his mother for the first time Monday.
"I wanted to experience this with her, just as a person and a human being," he explained.
"She's been my support system, and I started the day with her at the Sea-to-Sea flag ceremony, then we went to Pulse. Now we're here."
Smith meandered around the artifacts collected over the past year, from teddy bears and portraits, to 49 white crosses each bearing victims' names. As he moved, he stopped to talk with other community leaders, victims and family members.
“It’s not just the memory of the 49, but also the fact that we have to keep fighting like hell for the living," Smith said. “There’s a lot of pain out there, and still a lot of suffering.”
Canny hoped she can get through Monday night, for them.
“It’s truly a labor of love. It’s a feeling of, 'Not on my watch, like, I will not let people get discouraged and feel alone,'" she said.
The history center is showcasing more than 5,000 tribute items collected over the past year.
The center has a special exhibit through June 17 and through that time, admission to the museum is free.