Pulse survivor Brandon Wolf's memoir traces his path from outsider to activist and healer
By
Femi Redwood
Crackling crust, pillowy middle. The kind of bagel that earns a second cup of coffee.
Summary
Brandon Wolf's memoir recounts his journey from growing up as a Black queer outsider in rural Oregon to finding community in Orlando, surviving the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting, and transforming his trauma into activism. The article explores how Wolf's coming-of-age story resonates universally as a tale of healing, resilience, and finding purpose after tragedy.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledBrandon Wolf grew up in a small town in Oregon—a community so rural they held 'Drive Your Tractor to School Day.'
Being both Black and queer, he felt like an outsider and was often reminded of it, like the time he was called the N-word as a child and when classmates and community members held an anti-gay rally at his high school.
In search of a more welcoming home, like many young queer people from small towns, Wolf found solace elsewhere: the diverse city of Orlando, Florida.
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