Luis Vielma, a victim of the senseless tragedy in Orlando, is being remembered in the best way possible – as a Harry Potter fan. Fandom at its best is there to serve as a collective group of individuals that lift each other up and appreciate each member through their shared interests.
And that’s exactly what the Harry Potter fandom did for Luis.
Funko Pop! vinyl figures are staple in the nerd community. They are collected, cherished and displayed in the homes of many – often never leaving the box. To be honored in this way might be confusing or trivial to some, but to a person that identifies as one of us, it matters. And that’s what makes it so special.
As reported by Huffington Post, we have Brandon Anderson to thank. He ordered a blank Funko figure that allows creative enthusiasts to design their own character. After reading in a Facebook group that Vielma should get his own Pop!, Anderson made it happen. Luis was an employee at Universal Studios inside The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and a huge fan.
When J.K. Rowling discovered his passing, she tweeted this.
Luis Vielma worked on the Harry Potter ride at Universal. He was 22 years old. I can’t stop crying. #Orlando pic.twitter.com/Nz2ZCWxNsS
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 13, 2016
The actions of one fan honoring another in remembrance highlights the best parts of what fan communities really represent. Never forget Luis, or any of the victims of the massacre in Orlando. Never forget that the LGBTQ community needs allies from all walks of life to shine lights on their stories that need to be heard. And if you don’t identify as a part of that community, never forget that it’s not about you. It’s about being present, not being silent, and helping where you can help. Luis Vielma was a part of my fandom family. And even though I never met him, I loved him because we both love something we could share together.
Tag a Facebook friend that needs to read this.
