Pulse (nightclub)

Pulse

Company type	Nightclub
Industry	Entertainment, Nightlife
Founded	July 2, 2004 (2004-07-02) in Orlando, Florida, United States
Founder	Barbara Poma, Ron Legler
Defunct	2016 (2016)
Headquarters	Orlando , United States
Products	Nightclub services, dance venue, gay bar

Pulse was a nightclub, dance venue, and gay bar located in Orlando, Florida, established in 2004 by Barbara Poma and Ron Legler. On June 12, 2016, it became the location of the second deadliest mass shooting carried out by a lone gunman in U.S. history, resulting in 49 fatalities and 58 injuries.

Description

Pulse hosted themed performances each night alongside monthly educational programs aimed at the LGBT community. As described by Orlando Weekly, the club contained "three vibrant, pulsating rooms" featuring prominent drag performances and dancers. The venue’s three separate sections led Lonely Planet Discover Florida to refer to it as "three nightclubs," while their Florida travel guide labeled it "ultramodern."

The establishment was recognized by Top 10 Orlando as a "popular spot among Orlando’s gay community," and The Rough Guide to Florida praised its "excellent lighting and sound systems complemented by cabaret acts, drag shows, and erotic dancers." Pulse was the sole gay nightclub included in The Rough Guide to the USA for Orlando. The entire facility, including restrooms, was wheelchair accessible. Based on consumer feedback, Zagat awarded Pulse scores of 25/30 for atmosphere, 25/30 for interior design, and 22/30 for customer service.

History

Prior to becoming Pulse, the address at 1912 South Orange Avenue was home to Lorenzo’s pizza restaurant in 1985 and later Dante’s bar featuring live music by 1999; Dante’s closed its doors in January 2003.

Barbara Poma and Ron Legler opened Pulse on July 2, 2004. The name was chosen by Poma to honor her brother John, who passed away from AIDS in 1991, symbolizing his enduring "pulse to live on." The venue emphasized showcasing local performers and sought to be more than merely "another gay club." Legler, previously president of the Florida Theatrical Association, went on to establish two additional nightclubs near Lake Eola Park before relocating to Baltimore in 2014.

Over its first dozen years, Pulse became a central gathering place for the community, actively promoting HIV prevention, breast cancer awareness, and immigrant rights. It collaborated with organizations such as Come Out with Pride, Equality Florida, and the Zebra Coalition.

June 2016 massacre

On June 12, 2016, Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old Muslim extremist, carried out a mass shooting at the Orlando nightclub that left 49 dead and 58 wounded. During the attack, Mateen pledged allegiance to the terrorist organization Islamic State (IS), which later claimed responsibility through the Amaq News Agency. This tragedy held the grim distinction of being the deadliest mass shooting by a single gunman in U.S. history until surpassed in 2017. It also represented the most lethal act of violence against LGBT individuals in the nation and was the deadliest terrorist assault on U.S. soil since September 11, 2001.

In November 2016, city officials from Orlando agreed to purchase the nightclub property for $2.25 million with intentions to develop a memorial honoring those lost. However, owner Barbara Poma declined this offer in December of that year and instead launched the onePULSE Foundation in May 2017 to independently finance a Pulse Memorial and Museum projected to open in 2022.

On October 19, 2023, Orlando announced it had acquired the Pulse site with plans to demolish the existing building and erect a permanent memorial. As of June 2025, the structure still stands.

See also

• List of terrorist incidents in 2016
• Our Happy Hours: LGBT Voices from the Gay Bars