The portraits of fifty-four faces are on display in the McClung Museum Community Gallery. On June 12, 2016, forty-nine of them died after a gunman opened fire in the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida. Five more were killed during a shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs, Colorado on November 19, 2022. During Pride Month 2023, we are honoring these individuals in our Community Gallery, acknowledging that they were specifically targeted for their presence in LGBTQ+ inclusive spaces.
Behind every headline about a shooting there are regular people who love and were loved. Gun violence has deeply affected our communities, causing the sudden and heartbreaking loss of friends, children, parents, neighbors…These fifty-four faces are just some of them.
Below is a selection of resources aimed at assisting individuals in navigating and processing the trauma brought on by incidents of gun violence.
- Shora Foundation
- Change Center
- YWCA Knoxville and the Tennessee Valley
- UT’s Student Counseling Center – for UT Students – Call 865-974-HELP 24/7 to consult with a mental health professional.
- For UT Employees – 1-855-Here4TN (1-855-437-3486) or visit www.Here4TN.com
- Talking to Children About a Shooting (The National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
- Parent Resources (Sandy Hook Promise)
- Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Families and Educators (National Association of School Psychologists)
- Resources for Victims and Survivors of Gun Violence (Everytown Support Fund)
- Gun Violence: Prediction, Prevention, and Policy (American Psychological Association)
- From Healing to Action: A Toolkit for Gun Violence Survivors and Allies (Giffords)
If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of self-harm,
call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.
Please note: These resources are provided for public convenience and do not imply any association or formal partnership between the mentioned parties and UT entities.