Huntsman’s Civil-Union Stance May Prove Political Liability.
I certainly hope not. Check out this Great Article.
Reading this reminded me of what a good, kind and solid people he and Mary Kaye are. Thought Reed's letter to them deserved a re-post. Enjoy.
Dear Friends Jon and Mary Kaye,
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU.
It's not always easy to do the right thing. It's not always easy to blaze trails. It's not always easy to defend and protect those who so often lack defense and protection.
It's not easy being the voice of light in the darkness.
But you have done just that...and I believe the world will follow.
After all we are all children of light--and when it is shone in the darkness, we all eventually follow.
The general public has not always known the fullness of our friendship.
I'll never forget the night when I told Mrs. Huntsman about my own personal truth.
For more than a year I had been the main-stage speaker for the POWER IN YOU program, telling Utah youth the stories of other kids and helping them to understand the damaging power of labels and words--including the word FAGGOT.
I wrote the Power in You theme song, which was recorded by Collin Raye in Nashville and was about to debut to a packed audience at the E center.
I had done it all while keeping a secret from you. That secret was that I am a gay American...a gay child of God, who shared a life with a partner while raising a child.
On the night of the concert, I knew that I could not be there and share in the amazing power of the night, and the amazing public nature of the evening--without first telling you my truth.
I was too afraid to tell you my truth by phone...so I sent you an e mail trying my best to describe my story. In that e mail I told you that I knew that your association with me could potentially be a political liability and that if you didn't want me at the debut evening with Colin Raye, I would understand.
I'll never forget your immediate response as long as I live. My phone rang off the hook from you.
You said: "Call me. You will be there with us tonight. And so will Greg, your partner. And you will be with our family the entire night."
You would not take no for an answer and told me that my story WAS of value to young people and MUST be told.
I'll never forget walking in to the special reception before the concert. It was the picture of Utah power brokers. Your guest list scared me to death. But there we were. My son. My partner. And me.
I'll never forget what happened next. From the back of the room, Governor Huntsman spotted me & cut through the crowd making a bee line to us in the doorway.
There in front of all of those people, I extended my hand to greet the Governor. He said: "Not tonight."
For the briefest of seconds I thought he meant that he couldn't shake my hand because of my coming out.
But then he showed me his character. His compassion. His spirituality.
In front of everyone, he embraced me.
And then he embraced my partner and my son.
You were leaders that night in compassion. And you have been the presence of compassion in my life ever since.
Months later, when our son Wesley Cowan died in a senseless tragedy, I remember haltering in my desire to ask you officiate and preside over the funeral, worried that you would face criticism from the public for doing so.
But Wesley Cowan deserved the best. He deserved a hero's funeral and you are one of my hero's. So I asked. And you generously changed your entire schedule to accommodate my request in the darkest hour of my life.
There in that chapel, there was no politics, and only love when you spoke the words: WESLEY WAS THE SON OF REED COWAN ... and HIS PARTNER GREGORY ABPLANALP.
You may not know this, but I have been approached in the years since then by countless people who were struck and TOUCHED by your bravery in something so simple as to preside at the funeral of a little boy raised by two fathers.
In these actions and instances--and in your brave stand on civil unions, you have personified one of my favorite calls from Jesus Christ:
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you
rest.”
Through your leadership, through your humanity--you have pulled me in--pulled all of us in---and for the briefest of moments you have given us rest.
And for that...you have my eternal thanks and friendship.
May the people of your state and the nation realize that gay people are children of God deserving of the same protections, dignity, love and respect as our forefathers intended for all when they said we all have a right to pursuit of happiness God intends for ALL citizens.
Ever your friend,
Reed Cowan
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