Gay man killed in San Bernardino massacre saved 4 people

[Photographer]

http://thepridela.com/2015/12/gay-man-killed-in-san-bernadino-massacre-saved-4-people/

A memorial service was held Saturday Dec. 5, 2015 for Larry Daniel Kaufman, 42, a gay man who was killed while working at a coffee cart inside the Inland Regional Center for people with disabilities in San Bernardino. He was gunned down when Syed Farook and Tashfeen Malik attacked the facility killing 14 and wounding dozens more.

The attack is being investigated as an act of terror and groups affiliated with Daesh have claimed credit.

Daniel Kaufman is a hero.

He was in the hallway of the facility as the shooting began. Daniel, always more concerned about everyone around him than himself, began screaming “Get out! Go! Get out now! Hurry!” He began pushing people out of harms way, urging them to the safety of the door before he was shot and killed.

He is credited with saving 4 people’s lives, according to sources close to Ryan Reyes, Kaufman’s surviving partner. Reyes will tell Daniel’s story this week on the Dr. Phil show.

Daniel was always the one person among his wide circle of friends that everyone turned to for a quick, uplifting chat when they were having a bad day or wanted a laugh. Many of those loved ones gathered at Irwindale, California’s Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area on Saturday to remember Daniel.

Friends gathered to share memories of Daniel, laughing and crying as they shared intimate exchanges with him, remembering their final contact and their favorite things about him.

His partner of three years, Ryan Reyes, retold Daniel’s favorite stories. Daniel, he said, lived to make people laugh. He loved to get that reaction from people.

Daniel, a practicing Wiccan, was a regular participant at the Renaissance Fairs who also loved scary movies and comic books. He was looking forward to Star Wars and had recently met Carrie Fisher, who played Princess Leia in the original Star Wars films

More at the above link. RIP, Daniel.

[katsy]

1. .

[hifiguy]

2. .

Last edited Mon Dec 7, 2015, 04:14 PM - Edit history (1)

[flamingdem]

3. Sounds like a very good person

[KittyWampus]

4. There are several beautiful photos and more info at the link

Thanks for sharing. Glad to have clicked through to the link.

[Photographer]

5. Hoping that most do. n/t

[LittleBlue]

6. So sad

A Star Wars fan who didn't even get to see the new movie.

Hero. RIP

[Photographer]

7. I don't know why, but that hit me hard as well.

[Quantess]

8. If this offends anyone, please make yourself known.

[LuvNewcastle]

19. People are getting offended by obituaries now?

That's just extra sad.

[MerryBlooms]

9. A lovely man.

A hero.
We are so much less without him.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

10. Not a christian. Apparently god-fearing monotheism is not necessary for people to do great good. nt

[Arugula Latte]

29. Indeed.

We know this is the only time and the only life we'll have.

[liberalnarb]

11. Wonderful person

Why is his sexuality relevant though?

[Chan790]

12. Look at the source...

thepride is LA's LGBTQ news-weekly. His sexuality is relevant to the publication in so far as part of their mission, in addition to reporting news from the LA area of particular interest to the LGBTQ community, is to highlight news of the lives of LGBTQ individuals.

[Photographer]

13. Thank you.

[LiberalElite]

15. His murder was part of ABC's coverage -

they interviewed his surviving partner which was broadcast on Good Morning America. I took this as a good thing for LGBT visibility and acceptance. I don't think this MSM interview would have been possible even a few years ago.

[zwyziec]

14. We are all pan-sexual...

Why must we make devisive distinctions?

Gay, straight, what does it truly matter?

What differnce does it make to anyone?

Daniel was a hero, period.

People loved Daniel for who he was, a caring human being, period.

Daniel saved four people and probably more, period

In an instant Daniel saw danger to others, period.

In that instant, Daniel's immediate impluse was to care for others. Period.

Daniel didn't ask if they were christian, muslim, gay or straight.

Honor David for these!

Daniel, you are now in peace among nature.

[LiberalElite]

16. ^^^^THIS^^^^

[Omaha Steve]

18. Edited

Last edited Mon Dec 7, 2015, 09:23 AM - Edit history (1)

It has been pointed out this is insensitive and I'm changing this reply.

K&R for the story only!

OS

[Bluenorthwest]

47. The difference, straight people, is that your society discrimiantes against us, legally in 29 States

There are about 1500 hate crimes against LGBT every year. Before you straights start in with 'why mention he's gay' you need to level the playing field and remove the need for our community to overcome the negative bullshit spread by your straight religious and political figures, including your own Pope Frank, who berates us as you cheer.

It is proper to memorialize a gay man as a gay man. Sorry if you don't care for it.

[Omaha Steve]

49. Where the hell did that come from?

I think it is great PR.

The post was about some day we might be able to drop the LGBT label and consider all people equals.

OS

[Bluenorthwest]

50. It is not a divisive distinction to call a gay man a gay man, Steve.

My post is very clear as is the one you are responding to which claims it is divisive for the gay press to say a gay hero was gay.

It is wrong for those of you in the majority to claim we are all alike while you are still treating us differently. You can not have the cake and eat it too.

Nebraska has no nondiscrimination laws to protect LGBT. That's the difference. Who made that difference? Not us.

[Omaha Steve]

51. Omaha and Lincoln have LGBT protections

Look at what we elected to US Congress and you will understand why red State of Nebraska has no LGBT protection laws. We haven't even expanded Medicare. Pro lifers don't care that this would save lives. Our Gov. is catholic BTW. I'm Presbyterian.

[Bluenorthwest]

52. I know why you have no good laws, straight people make laws creating a distinction between us.

Which is why it is wrong for straight people to then claim gay people are creating that distinction when we mourn our own as our own.

Please read the other responses to your pal who is calling us divisive for existing.

[Omaha Steve]

53. I edited the OP

After careful consideration.

OS

[Bluenorthwest]

54. We are never allowed even one day. Not for DOMA, not for funerals.

If it's not Westboro it is another version of that shit. DU should be better than this.

[Photographer]

17. Guessing you didn't go to the link or notice the organization that posted this?

[mathematic]

20. = "I don't see color"

Denying that sexual orientation exists does not mean you're enlightened. It simply means you're a different kind of bigot.

[Behind the Aegis]

36. Thank you!

+1

[brer cat]

43. +1 nt

[Bluenorthwest]

48. So very very well said.

I hope some of these posters take note.

[closeupready]

30. True, but our homophobic society DEMANDS division

on the basis of sexual orientation. Loads of ways public oath of allegiance to a romantic orientation to one gender or the other is policed.

[mythology]

34. It matters because there are people who still think gays are "weak" or "unmanly"

It matters because there are still people who attack gays or lesbians.

[Behind the Aegis]

37. Thank you!

+1

[dsc]

59. when it is a person doing the wrong thing

we always hear about him or her being LGBT, thus it seems fair to hear about those who do the right thing being LGBT. Many gays still grow up with no role models for entire classes. Quick name 5 gay men in big 4 team sports. Name 3 gay senators. Name a gay President. I could go on, but won't.

[Boomer]

21. Straight is always the default assumption

The only way to change perceptions of gay people (and Wiccans, too, for that matter) is to explicitly point out their contributions. Otherwise the majority culture will generally assume people are white, straight and Christian. This default assumption allows misperceptions about the good aspects of minorities to slide right away, unrecognized.

This man gave his life to save other people, the act of a hero. We've always had gay heroes, but we didn't always know it. When gays are painted as "degenerate perverts" we need to counter those images with real examples that are meaningful to a wide audience.

[Maven]

31. ^^ THIS

Perfectly stated.

[Behind the Aegis]

38. Well said!

+1

[beam me up scottie]

45. Precisely.

[erronis]

58. Very well said. However I don't think any of us are on the 0% or 100% of all the possibilities.

I know I have a tendency to be a male and a skin color that is mainly white. I think most religions are a piece of crock, but I also like hearing their viewpoints. Etchetera...

As many others have stated here and elsewhere, it seems to be in the interests of media and lower-empathy individuals to want to cluster everyone in nice packages in a multidimensional spectrum. We just aren't built that way and yes, we can change over time.

[KT2000]

22. A good man

what he did at the end of his life is called love. May Mr. Reyes find some peace in that.

[TexasMommaWithAHat]

23. His partner was on CNN for a few segments

He seemed like a truly remarkable person.

[Photographer]

24. I'm sorry I missed that.

[romanic]

25. What a great man and a true hero.

R.I.P. Mr. Kaufman.

[BeyondGeography]

26. Awesome couple

They should have had a long life together.

[TeeYiYi]

27. This thread needs a picture...

...or two.



RIP, Daniel.

TYY

[Hekate]

41. What a wonderful face he has. Love and joy shine through.

[Raster]

28. Rest in Peace, Daniel.

[Liberal_in_LA]

32. ..

[marym625]

33. A true hero

[Marrah_G]

35. Maybe he walk joyously into the Summerlands.

[Behind the Aegis]

39. ...

[Hekate]

40. He was Wiccan as well. May he rest in the Summerlands where all hurts are healed...

... until he is reborn through The Lady's cauldron. Blessed be.

[eridani]

42. Noticed that the article didn't add a definition of Wiccan

Assuming that readers will know means we've actually come a long way.

[beam me up scottie]

44. A good man, and a brave one.

[LostOne4Ever]

46. ...

[ProfessorGAC]

55. Saw His Partner On CNN

Was kind of tough to watch. Given this action by Daniel, and the demeanor of Ryan on TV, there's no doubt in my mind that Daniel was a hell of a guy.

[raouldukelives]

56. So sad. A true hero. nt

[DashOneBravo]

57. Brave selfless act

Rest in peace Mr Kaufman

[KamaAina]

60. Just like Mark Bingham on Flight 93

[Dont call me Shirley]

61. Daniel...