A message from the Log Cabin Republicans of Dallas:
We are calling for something this moment desperately needs: unity over division and a return to respectful dialogue in our community.
This week, we have lost a national voice who believed in the power of conversation. Charlie Kirk stood firm in his convictions, but he always made room for others to speak. He welcomed challenges and disagreement.
That example of principled, open exchange is something our country urgently needs. And it is something we in the LGBT community should strive to reclaim.
This is not about whether you agreed with Charlie’s politics. This is about how we treat one another in moments of tragedy. The online reaction to his death has been heartbreaking. Too many voices, including from within our own community, have mocked, celebrated or dismissed the loss of a father, a husband and a friend.
That should never happen. Not here. Not anywhere. Empathy should never depend on political affiliation.
Since our first op-ed following the last election, we have been surprised by how many people from outside our political camp have reached out. Some are Democrats. Some are independents. Some have told us they are quietly considering a new political home. Many of them are afraid to speak up publicly.
But they are watching how we all behave right now.
The divisiveness needs to end. The pile-ons, the threats, the cancellations, the insults — none of this is making us better. None of this is making our community stronger. We need passionate disagreement, but we also need dignity. We need debate, but we also need respect.
Charlie Kirk modeled that. He did not shy away from opposing views. He faced them head on. And he did it in spaces where real people showed up.
He died doing exactly what he encouraged others to do. He was speaking to more than 3,000 college students, many of whom showed up to debate him, question him and challenge his beliefs. That is what democracy actually looks like.
For those who assume Charlie or Turning Point USA would have excluded people like us, the truth is the opposite. They supported us. They worked directly with the Log Cabin Republicans of Dallas and with the Dallas County Republican Party. We were not outsiders in that movement, we were invited in.
That matters. Because it proves that respectful disagreement and ideological diversity can exist within the same room. That is what dialogue should look like. That is what this moment demands.
In recent weeks, we have seen both hostility and grace within our own political culture. One moment, a member of the Stonewall Democrats was hurling petty insults at us at JR’s while we were simply trying to have a conversation. But we have also experienced quiet acceptance from older, more seasoned Democrats, people who have lived through real history and understand that disagreement does not make someone your enemy. They know that dialogue matters, especially when it is uncomfortable.
There are people who may not post. They may not argue online. They may not tell you what they are thinking. But they vote. Quietly. In the booth. And they are watching how we all carry ourselves, on both the left and the right.
That is something I say not just to progressives, but to my fellow conservatives, too.
To those who prefer outrage over outcomes, or tweets instead of action, we are not playing that game. We are out there. We are organizing. And we are not going away.
This is not the Republican Party of the past. We are building something broader. The coalition is growing. The tent is expanding. Some may call it a Unity Party. Others still call it the new GOP. Either way, it is a movement committed to inclusion, open dialogue and strength without hostility.
We do not have to agree on everything to work together for something better. We are not enemies. We are Americans. And we are strongest when we are willing to hear each other out, even when it is uncomfortable.
Here is one example: I believe the CHIPS Act was one of President Biden’s most important accomplishments. It was long overdue. We needed to bring chip manufacturing back to the United States for national security and long-term economic strength.
I can say that. Can you?
To anyone who feels politically homeless, unheard, or disillusioned by the last few years: We see you. And we welcome you to be part of something different.
To Charlie Kirk: Rest in peace, our friend and brother. From the Log Cabin Republicans of Dallas, we will do our part. We will take it from here.
