WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) — the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization — remembers the lives of the 49 people, most of them young, LGBTQ+, and Latinx, who were killed in an act of LGBTQ+ hate seven years ago. The commemoration comes with a commitment to honor them with action, just days after HRC declared a State of Emergency for LGTBQ+ Americans as anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and legislation ratchets up at the state level across the country.

HRC President Kelley Robinson released the following statement:

“We must always hold in our thoughts, minds, and hearts the memory of the 49 lives taken seven years ago in Orlando, and we will continue to carry their spirit in our movement. The violence of that night sought to disrupt our sense of community—targeting a place of safety for our community, a place where that offered a sense of love and belonging.

“Tragically, in the seven years since Pulse, the surge of far right attacks on LGBTQ+ families has driven our community’s feelings of safety and belonging into a state of emergency. The dangerous transphobic, homophobic, and xenophobic rhetoric that contributed to the massacre at Pulse is being amplified today by extremist politicians who are using the levers of government to attack their LGBTQ+ constituents. These attacks, when combined with our nation’s leaders’ paralysis on gun violence, represent a deadly recipe for LGBTQ+ Americans.

“American institutions' inability to grapple with hate, against the LGBTQ+ community and otherwise, is an ongoing threat to our livelihoods—with anti-LGBTQ+ political rhetoric fueling the passage of 76 discriminatory laws and violent threats and attacks in places we learn, dance, work and find community. We are truly living in a state of emergency. As we remember the bonds created at the Pulse Nightclub and the lives lost to hate, we must honor them with action as we fight justice for LGBTQ+ people everywhere.”

Honor Them With Action -- honorthemwithaction.org -- is organizing a day of action to bring visibility to the Pulse shooting, to celebrate Pride unashamedly, and to commit to fight for a world where no one has to fear being themselves.

On June 6, HRC declared a National State of Emergency for LGBTQ+ people, following an unprecedented and dangerous spike in anti-LGBTQ+ legislative assaults sweeping state houses this year. More than 75 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been signed into law this year alone, more than doubling last year’s number, which was previously the worst year on record. The dizzying patchwork of discriminatory state laws -- creating increasingly hostile environments for LGBTQ+ people -- also prompted HRC to release an impact report and downloadable guidebook for the LGBTQ+ community — including health and safety resources, a summary of state-by-state laws, “know your rights” information, and resources designed to support LGBTQ+ travelers as well as those already living in hostile states. For more, visit http://hrc.im/warning.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ+ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.