Originally published in the Deseret News.

The young man in his twenties seemed insistent to speak with me. I had just finished participating on a post-election panel where I expressed my deepest-held feelings about president-elect Trump. I decided to own my feelings and let them show. I told the crowd I was insulted and hurt. Trump had deeply offended my sensibilities as a woman. My hurt was magnified on election night when I realized so many fellow citizens didn’t feel the same way.

The inquisitive young man tracked me down through the crowd after the panel ended. He clearly wanted to talk. He waited while I exchanged business cards and spoke with a few other folks in the audience. Then he and I stood face to face. He posed the question, “I just have to ask you. What is it you find so offensive about Donald Trump. I really want to understand.”

His question took me aback. Was he really asking this? Could he not see it? Was he that detached from the way I and millions of other women felt? Could it be that a well-meaning and earnest young man wants to understand but doesn’t know how to understand? Could the distance between men and women of goodwill in this country really be that far apart?

I took a deep breath and began my response. My words chased after the thoughts in my mind. Trump has offended many marginalized groups; I felt compelled to speak on behalf of the one in which I belong.

I described how I felt when I watched the Access Hollywood tape. A candidate for the highest elected office in the land discussing how he had moved on a married woman “like a bitch,” but couldn’t get there. Then the worst part … “When you’re a star, they let you do it … you can do anything.”

I told him how I’ve felt in the workplace when a male superior treated me inappropriately. Many women have felt this worse than I have, but I’ve felt it enough to know the pain it causes.

I shared with him the elation I felt in the Murray Costco store when I read this newspaper’s house editorial asking candidate Trump to step down. They said, “The idea that women secretly welcome unbridled and aggressive sexual advances of powerful men has led to the mistreatment, sorrow and subjugation of countless women for far too much of human history.” I told him in my view the Deseret News got it right.

I described how I felt when I, like others on the University of Utah campus, got a text on Halloween from the U. police. They were seeking a suspect in an aggravated rape of a woman that occurred in broad daylight in a campus parking lot.

I told him about the fear I felt a few days later while walking from my night class to my car. It’s an apprehension I carry with me, like many women, almost anytime I walk in the dark.

I described my dear mother, who has now passed. I conveyed the values she taught me and how I knew she would not approve of our new president-elect’s words or actions.

And I told him I was a mother of a lovely daughter. How could I ever rationalize this candidate’s fitness to serve to her even though he ran against another imperfect candidate?

I told him I’m a Republican woman. My training in economics and my years of public service have taught me to favor limited government, free enterprise, responsible regulation and individual responsibility. I shared my optimism for the prospects of Republican control of the U.S. House, Senate and presidency. I think we have a shot at passing meaningful tax, regulatory and health care reform. I want this to happen.

I told him I want one more thing to happen. I want Donald Trump to apologize. I want him to stand up and say to the women of America — daughters, granddaughters, sisters, wives and mothers — I was wrong. I need him to confront his serious mistakes of the past and signal a better future. I need him to say, “I’m sorry.”