“He was a kind and loving man,” Jason Howell said about his friend who was one of the 49 gunned down on Sunday at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, in what has been described as the worst mass shooting in United States history.
In Nigeria and other parts of Africa where anti-gay sentiment is rife, Edward Sotomayor Jr., the victim being mourned by Howell, may not attract public sympathy. When the story of his death is told, though, all that negative sentiment is likely to vanish.
As revealed by CNN, Sotomayor died trying to shield his boyfriend from a hail of bullets — not a feat likely to be pulled off by many of those opposed to his sexual orientations. And according to his friend, Sotomayor would still be alive had he not risked his life to save his boyfriend.
Friend says Eddie Sotomayor took bullet in back getting his boyfriend out safely. Died in hospital #PrayForOrlando pic.twitter.com/NagY8tytMW
Advertisement— Angela Taylor WESH (@AngelaWESH) June 12, 2016
Nicknamed ‘Tophat Eddie’ for the black top he always donned, the 34-year-old was one of the first victims identified in the mass shooting at Pulse. Until his death, he was a brand manager for the LGBTQ online travel agency, ALandCHUCK.travel.
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SUPER BRIGHT
Sotomayor Jr. was not just kindhearted, he was “super-bright”.
“He was super bright” says Ferguson, who owns the travel company where the deceased was national brand manager. “He was an attractive young guy. Being in his 30s, he had accomplished so much.”
The Sarasota resident, who had recently returned from Cuba after coordinating the first-ever gay cruise to the island nation in April, was also described as a delightful young man who wanted everyone around him to be happy.
“He was with his boyfriend and they sent me a video text from the dance floor at Pulse, trying to get me to come over from where I was at,” Ferguson added.
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ADVENTUROUS AND FEARLESS
“He had travelled to so many places in the world; he loved traved,” Ferguson added.
He was aware of the dangers facing gay travellers but he never let fear stop his adventures.
“What I will say, over and over again, was he was a person who said, ‘We cannot be afraid,'” said Ferguson. “I know his friends are going to be the exact same way… we are not going to be afraid.”
LOVED BY MANY
Since his confirmation as a victim on Sunday, numerous friends and well-wishers of his have been expressing their shock and paying him tributes.
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While one described him as “one of the funniest and nicest guys ever”, another said he was a “kind, thoughtful and sweet man” who was also a “hard-worker”.
He was just always part of the fun,” David, his cousin, said.
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