Op-ed: Father of Fallen Gay Soldier Inspires With Run {minnesota state house}

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http://www.advocate.com/Politics/Commentary/Oped_Father_of_Fallen_Gay_Soldier_Inspires_With_Run/


A picture from the last time Jeff Wilfart
saw and hugged his son, Andrew.

While others in the military celebrated the repeal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy in joy, Jeff and Lori Wilfahrt celebrated in grief. That’s when documentarian Kristina Lapinski and I first met the parents of Corporal Andrew C. Wilfahrt, who died while stationed in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

After filming their interview for GAY U.S.A. the Movie at the historic first OutServe Conference in Las Vegas last year, we were both impressed by Jeff Wilfahrt, this unassuming man who has more than served his citizenry. He testified before the Minnesota state legislature against passing a constitutional amendment defining marriage as “between a man and a woman only,” campaigned for the repeal of DADT and lost his son in an American war. Yet his lifelong sense of parity compels him further, and Jeff Wilfahrt is now running for the Minnesota State House of Representatives in a candidacy that has national implications for equality.

Over the months, our relationship developed until now when our filmmaker plans to move in with the family for two weeks and document their unintended political campaign.

Wilfahrt is running in District 57B, a seat currently held by Republican Kurt Bills who is a staunch pro-lifer, a self acclaimed “non-environmentalist,” and voted for the anti-gay marriage amendment. He’s leaving the seat to run for U.S. Senate. Jeff Wilfahrt will campaign in a district with a reputation for being moderate, yet recent redistricting may have turned it red with Bills a clear Tea Party panderer.

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1. kick

[joeybee12]

2. KNR

[southernyankeebelle]

3. Win or Lose this is one classy dad.

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4. i know, right? nt

[HillWilliam]

5. K&R

Slowly, ever so slowly, we're gaining allies. Equality will follow.

I still hope the latter will be in my lifetime.