Petition may turn an Orlando shooting victim into the first LGBT 'Star Wars' character

An online petition to turn an Orlando shooting victim into the first LGBT Star Wars character is going viral.

Drew Leinonen passed away in the horrific Pulse nightclub shooting. His friend, Joshua Yehl, is trying to memorialize Drew by bringing him to life on the big screen.

Yehl started a petition to make Drew the very first gay character in a Star Wars movie. In an open letter Lucasfilm and Disney, Yehl requested they use Drew's "name or likeness" in the upcoming movie. He writes, "Drew was the most passionate Star Wars fan I'd ever met which is probably why he became my best friend."

The petition is close to reaching its goal of 5,000 supporters and has set off the hashtag #PutDrewInStarWars.

Click through the gallery below to see photos of Orlando victims telling their stories.

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