Puerto Rico dedicates their first LGBT monument to Orlando victims

Puerto Rico’s first LGBT monument has been dedicated to the 49 victims of the Orlando shooting.

Carmen Yulín, the mayor of Sun Juan, unveiled the monument earlier this month during San Juan’s Pride celebration and then took to Facebook to share photos of the event.

During the celebration, Yulín said, “Today, we celebrate life. We must work together to eradicate discrimination and homophobia.”

“We must raise our voice for justice, and the equality of each of us who are human. We must aspire to have a country where everyone is equal, and no one is judge for who they love.”

Out reports that 23 of the Orlando victims were Puerto Rican and their names are listed on a plaque at the base of the monument.

Alongside the list of names is Lin-Manuel Miranda’s 2016 Tony Awards speech that reads, “This tribute to life strengthens our commitment to fight hate – the product of homophobia – with love and respect. Our slogan resounds in all our hearts: Love is love, is love, is love…”

The monument, built out of rainbow coloured columns, is located in San Juan’s Third Millennium Park and was created by Alberto Del La Cruz.

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