As my family comes together for Thanksgiving, it is hard not to think of families like the Wilfahrts

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. For most of us, it is a day for families to come together, celebrate, and be thankful. But for some families, it is a sad day which only serves to magnify the pain and loss of a beloved family member.

There is one family in particular I'd like to honor and thank for their unwavering support of the lgbt community and its allies and that is the family of Cpl. Andrew Wilfahrt, an openly gay soldier killed last February in Kandahar at the age of 31.

Andrew was an amazing son, brother, and soldier. His death left a huge hole in the lives of everyone he touched. And yet, in spite of their loss and with wounds still so raw and paralyzing, Andrew's parents, Jeff and Lori, have chosen to continue the fight for the rights their son was denied simply because he was gay. They have chosen to continue the fight for the rights and dignity of my son and the lgbt sons and daughters of millions of other parents. For this momma, there is no greater gift.  

So this Thanksgiving I want to honor and thank the Wilfahrt family for selflessly continuing to fight for rights their son never got to enjoy. There simply are no words to describe the magnitude of what they are doing.

Thank you Jeff and Lori.