Utah Lt. Gov. apologizes to LGBT: ‘My heart has changed’

Cox admitted that as a white, straight, Republican male, he was not the expected person to be talking. According to a transcript of the tribute, first reported by KSL, he said Sunday’s massacre that left 49 dead and 53 others injured moved him to apologize for his past thoughts and actions.

“I grew up in a small town and went to a small rural high school,” he said. “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 years, Cox said he has met with various people from the LGBT community, and that has shaped and softened his feelings toward them.

“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,” he said. “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.”

According to Cox, the country now finds itself at a crossroads, “a crossroads of hate and terror.”

He then quoted both Muhammad and Jesus separately in calling for “less politics and more kindness.”

“May we try to listen more and talk less,” Cox continued. “May we forgive someone that has wronged us. And perhaps, most importantly, try to love someone that is different than us. For my straight friends, might I suggest starting with someone who is gay.”

Cox then ended his tribute with a quote from Lyndon B. Johnson following the death of President John F. Kennedy, before telling Orlando that, “On behalf of the 3 million people of the state of Utah, We Are Orlando. We love you. And I love you.”

Read the full transcript of Cox’s speech here.

And view the tribute via the Salt Lake Tribune, starting at 38:32 here.