Prayer Ribbons Memorial returns to Orlando as city reflects on ten years since the Pulse tragedy

The colorful ribbon installation honoring the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting is once again on display in Orlando, commemorating the tragedy's 10th anniversary.

Following the Pulse tragedy, Orlando received love from communities around the country and the globe. Ten years later, support is still coming to our community.

Artist Jay Critchley from the Provincetown Community Compact in Massachusetts is again sending colorful ribbons with messages of support that were created for our community after the tragedy on June 12, 2016.

The Provincetown Community Compact created the ribbon memorial in response to the tragedy, holding a ceremony at Provincetown Town Hall where each victim's name was read aloud and inscribed on a ribbon. An additional ribbon was dedicated to those injured.

Now, as Orlando reflects on ten years since the Pulse tragedy, and we remember the lives of the 49 angels, the prayer ribbons have returned to the city.

The ribbons will be on display in front of City Hall now through June 14, 2026.

The History Of The Prayer Ribbons

At the time of the Pulse tragedy, the community of Provincetown felt a special kinship with the city of Orlando and an urgency to respond to such unimaginable gun violence against the LGBTQ community. To honor the victims, The Compact arranged a ceremony at Provincetown Town Hall where each person’s name was inscribed in gold on a black ribbon and added to the Prayer Ribbons, a project of The Compact and the Provincetown Swim for Life. An additional ribbon was dedicated to those injured.

In November of 2016, The Compact was invited by Frank Billingsley, Chief of Staff to Mayor Dyer to bring this strand of the Prayer Ribbons to the city of Orlando. They were installed at beautiful Leu Gardens at a gathering of families of the victims and then outside Orlando City Hall.

In the invitation to The Compact in 2016, Mayor Dyer writes: “The Prayer Ribbons were another reminder for our residents that communities around the nation were standing with us during a difficult time. Having the Prayer Ribbons return to Orlando would help our city continue the healing process and provide another way to celebrate the unity of our community and inclusive communities like Provincetown.”

The Prayer Ribbons challenge us to live our lives more fully and joyfully. They create a visual statement that broadens and elaborates on Provincetown’s legacy as a community with an historic global reach of inclusion, and acknowledges that differences create richness.

Gotta Go Orlando is your local source for the latest entertainment news, events and things to do throughout Central Florida. Discover concerts, theater, arts & culture, nightlife, food & drink. theme parks & attractions, festivals, events, and more.

Before going to any events listed on Gotta Go Orlando, it's advisable to reach out to the organizer or venue to verify the event's status, as details, changes, and cancellations may happen.

Contact Us:

You can contact us here. To advertise with us, click here. To list your upcoming event, submit it here.

Newsletter:

Sign up for our newsletter and stay in the loop with all the latest news from Central Florida delivered daily to your mailbox.

Social Media:

Join the local conversation on X, Facebook, and Instagram, plus, for extended Orlando coverage, catch the latest on our YouTube channel.