This Utah Republican Publicly Mourning Gay Orlando Victims Will Make You Ugly Cry

[niyad]

Get your tissues now right now go get them

This Utah Republican Publicly Mourning Gay Orlando Victims Will Make You Ugly Cry



Wonkette is occasionally unkind to people of the Republican persuasion. Occasionally. But there are times, like this week in the wake of the Orlando shootings, when we all need to be a little more human, even to people we disagree with. (Unless they’re being evil dicks ABOUT the Orlando shootings, in which case fuck them.) But this is a Nice Time piece, yes it is, and it is about the white Republican lieutenant governor of Utah, Spencer Cox, who gave one of the most heartbreaking and uplifting speeches we have ever heard at a vigil for Orlando held in Salt Lake City.

. . . . .

Here’s the transcript, in case you are at work or on your mom’s AOL free trial and can’t get video to play:

Thank you for being here tonight on this very solemn and somber occasion. I begin with an admission and an apology. First, I recognize fully that I am a balding, youngish, middle-aged straight, white, male, Republican, politician… with all of the expectations and privileges that come with those labels. I am probably not who you expected to hear from today.

I’m here because, yesterday morning, 49 Americans were brutally murdered. And it made me sad. And it made me angry. And it made me confused. I’m here because those 49 people were gay. I’m here because it shouldn’t matter. But I’m here because it does. I am not here to tell you that I know exactly what you are going through. I am not here to tell you that I feel your pain. I don’t pretend to know the depths of what you are feeling right now. But I do know what it feels like to be scared. And I do know what it feels like to be sad. And I do know what it feels like to be rejected. And, more importantly, I know what it feels like to be loved.

I grew up in a small town and went to a small rural high school. There were some kids in my class that were different. Sometimes I wasn’t kind to them. I didn’t know it at the time, but I know now that they were gay. I will forever regret not treating them with the kindness, dignity and respect — the love — that they deserved. For that, I sincerely and humbly apologize.

Over the intervening years, my heart has changed. It has changed because of you. It has changed because I have gotten to know many of you. You have been patient with me. You helped me learn the right letters of the alphabet in the right order even though you keep adding new ones. You have been kind to me. Jim Dabakis even told me I dressed nice once, even though I know he was lying. You have treated me with the kindness, dignity, and respect — the love — that I very often did NOT deserve. And it has made me love you.

. . . . .

http://wonkette.com/602990/this-utah-republican-publicly-mourning-gay-orlando-victims-will-make-you-ugly-cry

[AuntPatsy]

1. heartfelt words, it's never to late....