The George’s fundraiser for Orlando Raised over €10,000 in aid of Equality Orlando

The George’s fundraiser event for Orlando held on Friday 15 July 2016 raised over €10,000. The proceeds of this fundraiser will go to Equality Orlando. Dolly Grip took to Twitter following the event to congratulate those who took part in the fundraiser and helped them reach their target.

Over €10,000 raised last night @TheGeorgeBar Well done and thank you for your generosity. #LoveWins pic.twitter.com/DRHtoPOdUz

— Dolly Grip (@MsDollyGrip) July 16, 2016

At the event, Dublin drag queens and king Phil T Gorgeous, Dolly Grip, Bunny, Davina Devine, Shirley Temple Bar and Veda performed, DJs Conor Behan, Karen Reddy and Stephen Dowling spinning tracks, and an auction was held selling off art and other items to help them reach the substantial figure of €10,000.

Our fundraising auction for Orlando tonight has prizes galore n your fave drag acts! Plz RT https://t.co/a77CSOv8Hr pic.twitter.com/05Lwbzekjv

— The George Dublin (@TheGeorgeDublin) July 15, 2016

Here’s some of the pieces that were up for auction:

We have so much amazing stuff to auction off for Eqaulity Orlando! This is merely a taste. Stop by if you're around pic.twitter.com/cDSaPjYtQN

— The George Dublin (@TheGeorgeDublin) July 15, 2016

The George had another online fundraiser for Orlando last month where they raised over €800 for the same cause.

Was Orlando A Hate Crime?

The Orlando mass shooting of June 12 2016 left forty-nine dead and fifty-three injured in Pulse nightclub situated in Orlando, Florida.

FBI officials are stating that this was not a hate crime against the LGBT community. “While there can be no denying the significant impact on the gay community, the investigation hasn’t revealed that he targeted Pulse because it was a gay club,” an official has said.

However, reports of the shooter’s sexuality would indicate that this was not just “an attack on all Americans”, as Florida governor Rick Scott has alleged.

Florida commissioner Patty Sheehan who is gay has countered Scott’s theory: “That’s what they want the narrative to be, and that’s nonsense. We need to have hate crimes on the books for LGBTs.”

If you weren’t able to make it to the event on Friday but still want to contribute to The George’s Equality Orlando fund, you can do so here.

The investigation into the Orlando mass shooting is still ongoing, however, we may never know the motivations behind the gunman’s actions.

Do you think it was a hate crime against the LGBT community, or instead an indictment of American culture as a whole?

(Image: The George)