The Orlando shooting shook the LGBT community, their allys and their friends. It was the largest shooting by a single gunman in American history.
In the wake of the tragedy, the 49 victims have been named and remembered worldwide through vigils and services.
Stories of solidarity and support have poured in and now in a new short film celebrities honour the victims by detailing their personalities.
“Stop the Hate,” an 18-minute film launched by the Human Rights Campaign and directed by Ryan Murphy, speaks to that dynamic combination. The film features 49 celebrities, including Lady Gaga, Kerry Washington, Caitlyn Jenner, Demi Lovato and Jane Fonda. In the moving piece, an image of each victim is shown before a celebrity provides some insight into the background and personalities of the victims.
“We want to ensure that what we do is effective,” Human Rights Campaign president Chad Griffin told The Hollywood Reporter. “It’s on all of us to know each and every one of them by name and for their legacies to, in part, spur change on important issues.”
The film comes following the heart-breaking revelation that one victims family refused to claim their son’s body.
The Orlando Latino reported earlier this week:
“All the Pulse nightclub shooting victims’ bodies have been released to next of kin. Even the shooter’s body has left the Orange County Medical Examiner’s building off Michigan Avenue, according to information released this week.
“We effectively and efficiently completed the identification, notification and autopsy process within a 72-hour period – a monumental task,” according to an earlier statement by OCME, which worked with the Florida Emergency Mortuary Operations Response System to complete the gruesome task.
But it was touch and go for one particular shooting victim whose father didn’t want to claim the body. Because the son was gay. Because the father was ashamed.”
Watch the video below:
