Anthony Luis Laureano Disla Was Talented & Happy

After the horrific attack on June 12 at the gay nightclub Pulse in Orlando, people across the country and the world grieve the loss of their loved ones and the tragic attack on the LGBTQ+ community of color. Orlando officials have worked to identify the 49 victims who were tragically killed on Sunday, and their names are being released to the City of Orlando website. Among Sunday's victims was 25-year-old Anthony Luis Laureano Disla.

Laureano Disla had studied communications at Universidad del Sagrado Corazón in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where he was born, according to the Orlando Sentinel. His family members told the newspaper that he loved to dance starting from a young age. "He was very talented. ... It was his passion," his cousin Ana Figueroa told the Sentinel.

Laureano Disla was at Pulse on Saturday night during the nightclub's themed "Latin Night," and was dancing with friends when the attacker entered the club. He was shot multiple times. His friends were hospitalized in critical condition but have since been stabilized.

Laureano Disla moved to Orlando three years ago to pursue dance and choreography, according to the Sentinel. He also performed in drag as Alanis Laurell, and the Facebook page Drag Around The World shared a statement in response to his loss on Monday morning.

It is with deepest sorrow that we report that a member of the Drag community has lost their life due to the shooting at pulse night club in Orlando Florida. Alanis Laurell has lost her life. Payers [sic] for her family and friends in this tragic time.

Alanis Laurell was a amazing [sic] performer and a beautiful person inside and out. She will be missed deeply. You are now a angel [sic] looking down at all of us.

"I want people to remember Anthony as someone who was very happy and very kind. This is just devastating for our family and his friends. ... He had a lot of close friends, and they are devastated. May he rest in peace, my lovely Anthony," Figueroa told the Orlando Sentinel.

Another of his cousins, Lucas Daniel Acosta D'Oleo, who was also at Pulse that night, expressed his sadness and loss on his Facebook page. He wrote, "What I have is an irreparable pain. I love you cousin," according to Heavy.

Image: Drag Around The World/Facebook