Pete Sessions described Pulse, which branded itself as “Orlando’s premiere gay nightclub”, as a place for young people on Tuesday.
Daniel Newhauser, a reporter for the National Journal, quoted the Texas representative: “It was a young person’s nightclub, I’m told. And there were some [LGBT people] there, but it was mostly Latinos.”
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More than 300 people were attending Saturday night’s Latin music event at the club when Omar Mateen opened fire with an assault rifle and handgun, killing 49 people and wounding 53 more.
Orlando survivor writes poem
Mr Sessions’ representatives later reportedly said that he was “confused” over the fact that straight people and those of Latin American descent had also been at Pulse.
His alleged comments sparked outrage as reports spread on social media, causing an avalanche of comments on the Republican’s official Facebook page.
“You are a disgusting piece of work,” one commenter wrote.
Bobbie Halegewelle added: “’Latino’, ‘gay’, and ‘young people’ are not mutually exclusive terms. LGBTQ folks come from ‘all walks of life.”
Mr Sessions’ office has not yet responded to The Independent’s request for a comment.
Before the attack, Pulse’s website described the club as the “hottest gay bar in Orlando”.
In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims
Show all 30
In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims
1/30
People gather at a vigil in solidarity for the victims of the Orlando nightclub mass shooting, at Taylor Square in Sydney
EPA
2/30
Brett Morian, from Daytona Beach, hugs an attendee during the candlelight vigil at Ember in Orlando
AP
3/30
People and members of the gay community holding the peace rainbow flag gather for a vigil near the Beaubourg art center in downtown Paris
AFP/Getty Images
4/30
A man places a hand print on a makeshift memorial in a parking lot near the Pulse nightclub in Orlando
AFP/Getty Images
5/30
People attend a candlelight vigil for the victims of the Orlando attack against a gay night club, held in San Francisco
REUTERS
6/30
People place candles by a statue of Abraham Lincoln during a candlelight vigil for the victims of the Orlando attack against a gay night club, held in San Francisco
REUTERS
7/30
Tel-Aviv city hall lit up with rainbow flag colors in solidarity with Florida's shooting attack victims
AP
8/30
Juan Mantilla (L) stands with his partner during a vigil in memory of the victims of the Orlando mass shooting, in Miami Beach
AP
9/30
A couple shares a kiss as they embrace each other under a pride flag while residents of San Francisco and the Bay Area gather to mourn, honor, and remember the victims of a mass shooting at a LGBT nightclub in Orlando
EPA
10/30
Austin Ellis, a member of Metropolitan Community Church, carries a cross with a sign in memory of the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting as he marches in the 2016 Gay Pride Parade in Philadelphia
Getty Images
11/30
A rainbow flag flies at half mast on the Space Needle in Seattle, in honor of the victims of the nightclub shooting in Orlando
AFP/Getty Images
12/30
People at the LA Pride event in West Hollywood, write signs and light candles showing solidarity with victims of the mass killings in Orlando
AP
13/30
In reaction to the mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida people hug outside the Stonewall Inn near a vigil for the victims in New York
AFP/Getty Images
14/30
A woman offers free hugs in Washington, in reaction to the mass shootings at a gay club in Orlando
AFP/Getty Images
15/30
A U.S. flag is flown at half staff at the White House after the Orlando mass shooting
Getty Images
16/30
A man lays flowers on a rainbow flag in front of the embassy of the United States in Madrid, to pay tribute to the victims of the shooting of Orlando
AFP/Getty Images
17/30
The Michael Fowler Centre is lit in rainbow colours by the city council during a candle lit vigil across the road at Frank Kits Park in Wellington, in remembrance of victims after a gunman opened fire in a gay nightclub in Orlando
AFP/Getty Images
18/30
Participants hold candles during a vigil at Frank Kits Park in Wellington, in remembrance of victims after a gunman opened fire in a gay nightclub in Orlando
AFP/Getty Images
19/30
Vixon Noir (R) consoles Trashina Cann, both of San Francisco, during a vigil at Harvey Milk Plaza in the Castro district of San Francisco
AP
20/30
People gather in the Castro District for a vigil for the victims of the Orlando shooting at a gay nightclub, in San Francisco
REUTERS
21/30
A couple joins residents of San Francisco and the Bay Area to mourn, honor, and remember the victims of a mass shooting at a LGBT nightclub in Orlando
EPA
22/30
Mourners pay tribute to the victims of the Orlando shooting during a memorial service in San Diego
AFP/Getty Images
23/30
The Orlando Eye observation wheel lights up in rainbow colors, to remember the people killed and injured in the Pulse nightclub shooting
AP
24/30
People sit by the water with candles during a vigil in a park following a mass shooting at the Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando
REUTERS
25/30
Members of The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence carry a sign of remembrance for mass shooting victims in Orlando, at the 46th annual Los Angeles Gay Pride Parade in West Hollywood
REUTERS
26/30
Former Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra and Shawn Lang of Hartford embrace after Segarra spoke, during a vigil organized by the state's Muslim and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities, on the steps of the state Capitol building in reaction to the mass shooting in Orlando
AP
27/30
The City Hall Building is lit in the rainbow colors in New York, in reaction to the mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando
AFP/Getty Images
28/30
One World Trade Center is lit in the rainbow colors in New York, in reaction to the mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando
AFP/Getty Images
29/30
People hold a vigil after the worst mass shooting in U.S. history at a gay nightclub in Orlando, in front of the White House in Washington
REUTERS
30/30
A man lays down 50 roses to honor each victim of the gay Orlando night club shooting as people gather outside of the Stonewall Inn as a vigil is held following the massacre
Getty Images
1/30
People gather at a vigil in solidarity for the victims of the Orlando nightclub mass shooting, at Taylor Square in Sydney
EPA
2/30
Brett Morian, from Daytona Beach, hugs an attendee during the candlelight vigil at Ember in Orlando
AP
3/30
People and members of the gay community holding the peace rainbow flag gather for a vigil near the Beaubourg art center in downtown Paris
AFP/Getty Images
4/30
A man places a hand print on a makeshift memorial in a parking lot near the Pulse nightclub in Orlando
AFP/Getty Images
5/30
People attend a candlelight vigil for the victims of the Orlando attack against a gay night club, held in San Francisco
REUTERS
6/30
People place candles by a statue of Abraham Lincoln during a candlelight vigil for the victims of the Orlando attack against a gay night club, held in San Francisco
REUTERS
7/30
Tel-Aviv city hall lit up with rainbow flag colors in solidarity with Florida's shooting attack victims
AP
8/30
Juan Mantilla (L) stands with his partner during a vigil in memory of the victims of the Orlando mass shooting, in Miami Beach
AP
9/30
A couple shares a kiss as they embrace each other under a pride flag while residents of San Francisco and the Bay Area gather to mourn, honor, and remember the victims of a mass shooting at a LGBT nightclub in Orlando
EPA
10/30
Austin Ellis, a member of Metropolitan Community Church, carries a cross with a sign in memory of the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting as he marches in the 2016 Gay Pride Parade in Philadelphia
Getty Images
11/30
A rainbow flag flies at half mast on the Space Needle in Seattle, in honor of the victims of the nightclub shooting in Orlando
AFP/Getty Images
12/30
People at the LA Pride event in West Hollywood, write signs and light candles showing solidarity with victims of the mass killings in Orlando
AP
13/30
In reaction to the mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida people hug outside the Stonewall Inn near a vigil for the victims in New York
AFP/Getty Images
14/30
A woman offers free hugs in Washington, in reaction to the mass shootings at a gay club in Orlando
AFP/Getty Images
15/30
A U.S. flag is flown at half staff at the White House after the Orlando mass shooting
Getty Images
16/30
A man lays flowers on a rainbow flag in front of the embassy of the United States in Madrid, to pay tribute to the victims of the shooting of Orlando
AFP/Getty Images
17/30
The Michael Fowler Centre is lit in rainbow colours by the city council during a candle lit vigil across the road at Frank Kits Park in Wellington, in remembrance of victims after a gunman opened fire in a gay nightclub in Orlando
AFP/Getty Images
18/30
Participants hold candles during a vigil at Frank Kits Park in Wellington, in remembrance of victims after a gunman opened fire in a gay nightclub in Orlando
AFP/Getty Images
19/30
Vixon Noir (R) consoles Trashina Cann, both of San Francisco, during a vigil at Harvey Milk Plaza in the Castro district of San Francisco
AP
20/30
People gather in the Castro District for a vigil for the victims of the Orlando shooting at a gay nightclub, in San Francisco
REUTERS
21/30
A couple joins residents of San Francisco and the Bay Area to mourn, honor, and remember the victims of a mass shooting at a LGBT nightclub in Orlando
EPA
22/30
Mourners pay tribute to the victims of the Orlando shooting during a memorial service in San Diego
AFP/Getty Images
23/30
The Orlando Eye observation wheel lights up in rainbow colors, to remember the people killed and injured in the Pulse nightclub shooting
AP
24/30
People sit by the water with candles during a vigil in a park following a mass shooting at the Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando
REUTERS
25/30
Members of The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence carry a sign of remembrance for mass shooting victims in Orlando, at the 46th annual Los Angeles Gay Pride Parade in West Hollywood
REUTERS
26/30
Former Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra and Shawn Lang of Hartford embrace after Segarra spoke, during a vigil organized by the state's Muslim and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities, on the steps of the state Capitol building in reaction to the mass shooting in Orlando
AP
27/30
The City Hall Building is lit in the rainbow colors in New York, in reaction to the mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando
AFP/Getty Images
28/30
One World Trade Center is lit in the rainbow colors in New York, in reaction to the mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando
AFP/Getty Images
29/30
People hold a vigil after the worst mass shooting in U.S. history at a gay nightclub in Orlando, in front of the White House in Washington
REUTERS
30/30
A man lays down 50 roses to honor each victim of the gay Orlando night club shooting as people gather outside of the Stonewall Inn as a vigil is held following the massacre
Getty Images
The page is now black with a statement from owner Barbara Poma mourning the horrific assault on “a place of love and acceptance for the LGBT community”.
The club is holding a fundraiser on Wednesday night at Southern Nights, an LGBT-friendly club in Orlando, where all proceeds will be given to staff members unable to work since the attack.
Pulse has remained closed as investigations continue and has not announced if, or when, it will reopen.
During the attack, a rushed message was posted on its Facebook page. “Everyone get out of pulse and keep running,” it said.
On Wednesday, there was a message of defiance: “We will not be defeated.”
Mateen reportedly laughed as he shot randomly into dancers in the crowd before taking hostages in the early hours of Sunday morning.
People hold a vigil for the Orlando shooting victims. (Mandel Ngan/Getty)
The 29-year-old was shot dead in a gun battle with police who stormed the premises following a three-hour stand-off.
His attack was the worst mass shooting in US history and the deadliest terror attack on American soil since 9/11.
The shooting has sparked an outpouring of grief and solidarity with the LGBT community around the world, seeing thousands gather for vigils in London and other cities.
Mateen’s wife, Noor Salman, could soon be charged in connection with the plot amid reports she knew of Mateen’s plans.
Isis claimed responsibility for the shooting, calling the gunman “a soldier of the Caliphate”, but there was no indication that the terrorist group had contact with the gunman or directed the atrocity.
“It does appear that at the last minute he announced allegiance to Isil (Isis) but there is no evidence so far that he was in fact directed by Isil or that it was part of a larger plot,” Barack Obama said.
The President called the massacre "act of terror and an act of hate" against the LGBT community.
As well as pledging allegiance to the leader of Isis, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, Mateen expressed admiration for the Boston bombers and the first American suicide bomber in Syria.
There have been conflicting reports of possible motivations for his attack, with his former wife saying he was mentally ill and his father telling media he had been angered by seeing two men kiss, while acquaintances claim Mateen was himself gay but felt unable to be open about his sexuality.
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