Imran Yousuf, the bouncer from Pulse Orlando who is credited with saving countless lives during last week’s terror attack, will serve as honorary grand marshal of Houston’s LGBT Pride parade on Saturday.
The 24-year-old Yousuf, who’s Hindu and served with the Marines in Afghanistan, reportedly risked getting shot to open a back door at Pulse in the midst of the shooting, allowing 60 or 70 people to escape.
Yousuf will appear in the Houston parade alongside a 20-foot-by-30-foot LGBT Pride flag bearing the names of the 49 people killed in the attack. Attendees will also have a chance to sign the flag and meet Yousuf.
“The flag will be delivered to the Orlando Pride Parade,” Pride Houston announced on its website. “It will signify that the Houston LGBT Community and our Allies stand together, and stand strong. We stand against hate and stand for love. We stand with Orlando. #WeAreOrlando.”
CBS News reported last week that Yousuf was making his last rounds when the first shots rang out.
“Three of four shots go off and you could tell it was a high caliber,” he said. “Everyone froze. I’m here in the back and I saw people start pouring into the back hallway, and they just sardine pack everyone. … And I’m screaming ‘Open the door! Open the door!’ And no one is moving because they are scared. There was only one choice. Either we all stay there and we all die, or I could take the chance, and I jumped over to open that latch a we got everyone that we can out of there.”
Watch CBS News’ report below.
