World | Sun Jun 12, 2016 3:34pm EDT
Orlando club was sister's tribute to gay brother who died of AIDS
ORLANDO, FLA. | BY BARBARA LISTON
The co-owner of Pulse, the Orlando gay nightclub that became the scene of the worst mass shooting in U.S. history on Sunday, founded the club to honor her brother who died of AIDS and to support the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
Barbara Poma, whose brother died in 1991, opened Pulse in 2004 with business partner Ron Legler. The venue promoted gay rights and put on events supporting happenings in the gay community, ranging from Come Out with Pride to Gay Games, according to the club's website.
Pulse's patrons and others in Orlando's gay community were reeling on Sunday after a gunman killed 50 people and wounded 53 others overnight in what police said was a targeted, well-planned attack.
The shooter, who held off police for three hours before a SWAT team killed him, was identified as Omar S. Mateen, a Florida resident who might have had leanings toward Islamic State militants, a senior FBI official said.
Pulse is one of the Florida city's five gay bars, a hub for Latin music, drag performances, diva nights, bar dancers, drinks served by muscular bartenders and wild fun.
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