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Orlando businessman starting scholarship fund for gay students to honor Pulse nightclub victims

Posted at 8:01 AM, Mar 14, 2017
and last updated 2017-03-14 10:05:42-04

An Orlando businessman is raising money for scholarships for gay students in order to honor the 49 patrons killed during the Pulse nightclub massacre.

Barry Miller said Monday the fund would award 10 scholarships each year, each worth $4,900.

Students would have to self-identify as "out," attend an institution of higher learning fulltime and have a 3.0 GPA.

Pulse survivors or family members of victims who died will be given special consideration. Miller is working with the GLBT Community Center of Central Florida and the Central Florida Foundation on The 49 Fund.

Gunman Omar Mateen pledged allegiance to the Islamic State during the attack at the gay nightclub in Orlando last June 12. The deadliest mass shooting in recent U.S. history left 49 people dead and dozens more wounded.