ORLANDO, Fla. – The "Angel Action Wings for Orlando" was permanently relocated Tuesday afternoon to the GLBT Community Center of Central Florida.
The Orlando Shakespeare Theater said the Angel Wings were originally constructed by community volunteers to help shield mourners from anti-gay protesters during the funerals of Pulse massacre victims.
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"Orlando's Angel Wings have become an inspiring image of love and unity in our community," said Jim Helsinger, artistic director at Orlando Shakespeare Theater. "We have been honored to use them to pay tribute to those who lost their lives because they chose to love openly and wholly. In the end, love always wins."
The Angel Wings have since been used at the Beautiful Together benefit concert held at the Dr. Phillips Center and other local and national community events, which includes the recent Orlando Come Out with Pride Parade, the theater said.
The center agreed to assume responsibility of the Angel Wings because of the performance schedule of Orlando Shakes. The theater said the center will manage the future use of the Angel Wings.
"The center is very honored to accept responsibility for the Angel Action Wings for Orlando," said Terry DeCarlo, executive director of the center. "Personally knowing the history of the wings, what they stand for and their specific mission, the center is prepared to take on this assignment and will treat the wings with the utmost respect."
All funds raised to support the care of the Angel Wings were also passed along to the center, the theater said.
"The center will also be creating a community Angel Force made up of individuals who will be trained and dispatched to special events where the wings are needed," DeCarlo said.
The theater said in addition to the 49 sets of Angel Wings provided to the center, two sets of Angel Wings were also donated to the Orange County Regional History Center for a new community display.
"It has been a privilege to be the guardians of the Angel Wings over the past several months," Helsinger said. "We look forward to seeing them shed light and love in our community in their new home at the center."