When Colin Sheehan began planning #Branford4Orlando last June, he had no idea where his message of solidarity was about to take him. He also had no idea there was a North American Gay Volleyball Association (NAGVA).
“I never knew there was a NAGVA,” he recalls, referring to the association’s peculiar-sounding acronym. So when a member of the association, Martha Leshine, approached him asking for help with an upcoming tournament in Orlando, Sheehan was momentarily confused.
“I was like ‘What? You want me to play volleyball?’ recounts Sheehan. “She was like ‘No! I want you to produce our party!’”
On Sunday, June 12, Orlando suffered one of the largest massacres in American history at the hands of Omar Mateen, who killed 49 and wounded 53 in his attack on Pulse, a popular gay nightclub in the area.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, Sheehan led the charge in organizing and promoting #Branford4Orlando, an evening-long event hosted on the Branford Green in solidarity with those affected by the shooting — both in Branford and beyond. The event not only featured a number of speeches and musical performances, it also marked the debut of the rainbow-lit town hall and library, which remained that way for an entire week.
Like #Branford4Orlando, the NAGVA party was intended as a way for its attendees “to come together and show their support for the Orlando community,” as Sheehan said in one description for the event.
Branford Connects
That Leshine had ended up connecting with Colin over this common goal was largely a coincidence. Leshine had not been in town for #Branford4Orlando. (Though her family has lived in Branford for several generations, she now lives in Massachusetts.) Her first interaction with Sheehan had, in fact, taken place at the Owenego Inn, where Sheehan and his partners at Seaview Productions were hosting a performance by the Broadway Boys as a part of their Broadway in Branford series.
“I just fell in love with his personality, his demeanor, everything about him,” she recalls.
Never one to turn down the chance to pursue his true love of charity and the spotlight, Sheehan promptly agreed to Leshine’s proposal. In a matter of time, he had booked a venue (Renaissance Orlando at Seaworld), three-celebrity stand-up comedians (Alec Mapa, Jackie Beat, and Julie Goldman) and a celebrity host (Scott Nebban) for the tournament’s scheduled date of Nov. 12. He also found someone down in Orlando (“who does pretty much what I do here”), Andrea Canny, to co-produce the event with him.
However, in early October, Hurricane Matthew pushed Orlando Pride to the same day as the tournament, which was subsequently canceled. Sheehan promptly got in touch with Come Out With Pride (the organization behind Orlando Pride) to see if he could incorporate the show into the day’s festivities instead. They agreed; the show, cleverly named “Stand Up For Orlando,” is now listed as an official “Come Out With Pride” event.
“I decided to keep the show going, because the comedy show could stand alone,” explained Sheehan. He has since relocated the show to a venue closer to the downtown area where the pride festivities will take place.
In an effort to show support for those most affected in the community, Sheehan will be granting free admission to victims and first responders of the shooting. On the show’s website, those who cannot attend the event are encouraged by Sheehan to make a donation to support this effort.
Additional profits from the show will be given to Pulse of Orlando, a local, grassroots non-profit created “to reach out with expeditious allocation of funds for the victims, survivors and families of the Pulse tragedy; to recover through local survivor navigation and advocacy; and to rebuild our united Orlando community,” as the organization states on its Facebook page.
As of Nov. 1, everyone who makes a donation will be automatically entered into a lottery to win a pair of tickets to see HAMILTON on Broadway. They will receive one entry per $25 donation.
Sheehan hopes that the Branford community will join him in his efforts to reach out to those affected by the tragedy. “I know that Branford is a small community, but they’re amazing at giving back and supporting each other,” he said.
“It’s truly going to be a historic pride in Orlando, and I’m excited to be a part of it,” he concluded.
Leshine, for her part, is excited to see where the project will go, even if it will no longer be tied to the North American Gay Volleyball Association.
“I really believe that most of what Colin touches ends up being successful,” she said. If her prediction proves true, then Orlando is in for a memorable weekend.
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