A Florida man, named Michael Stephen Wilcox, has been arrested on federal charges for allegedly threatening an LGBTQ+ pride event in Orlando. According to WFTV , the threat was posted in a Facebook comment that included a meme of a gun being loaded, accompanied by the ominous words, “can’t expect God to do all the work.” This threat emerged in connection with the Goblin Market, an LGBTQ+ art festival held at the Central Florida Fairgrounds and advertised as Orlando's largest, free gay pride event.

The timing of Wilcox's arrest last Friday was notably close to the event in question. It also nearly coincided with the ninth anniversary of the Pulse nightclub shooting, a tragic chapter in Orlando's history. According to FOX 35 Orlando , the authorities have yet to state Wilcox's motives behind the ominous post explicitly .

The sentiment of the LGBTQ+ community in response to this event was encapsulated by Tatiana Quiroga, executive director of Come Out with Pride, who told FOX 35 Orlando , "To know that there are people out there that are actively trying to hurt folks like myself and families like ours, it's not just disappointing, it's terrifying."

Wilcox currently faces a charge of transmitting an interstate threat to injure, which could lead to him serving up to five years in jail if convicted.