I am the father of three beautiful children, two young adults and a teen. One of them is LGBTQ with a beautiful partner. Mrs. Clinton's appalling comment yesterday made me stop and reflect. My condolences go to every person hurt by her comment; especially to those who lost loved ones and friends. She callously raked open barely healed wounds for millions of folks. My well wishes and prayers go out to you for healing. And justice.

My child had the luxury of growing up in tolerant Canada. Had access to good education, especially on health and social justice. Could come out safely, at dinner with her family and by email to the extended family, none of whom blinked. Could meet and date freely in college and move in together into their first apartment, and soon back home together for further study. One day there might be a wedding. Or not. Their free choice. Those of you who lived through the 80s had none of this. You had to live in the haunted shadows. You had to deal with catastrophic loss without help, without recognition, without the grace of a public rallying to your side. The opposite was true. You were hounded in your grief, denied your very humanity, driven to despair by apathy and traumatized by persecution.

That things may be better now here and there is no comfort to you. Today your grief is again laid bare. That the future could make things better most everywhere is no comfort to you today. Today the pain is strong. It is no comfort to you that the life of my child is night and day different from what you lived through. Today you will be looking at old photos and laying flowers on the graves of your loved ones.

I thank you for your sacrifices. I'm a veteran; I know what it feels like to be thanked for sacrifice. You don't. You lost the same number of people as had perished fighting in Vietnam. No one has thanked you for your sacrifice. So I do that today. I salute you and your sacrifices. I pray that you would be touched by love and grace through the g-d in whom we live and have our being. I wish for you recovery and healing and the promise of a morrow.

Peace be with us, if we work for it with peaceful hearts.
gerrit