Each weekend through June, cities across the globe celebrate LGBT history and culture with a colorful Pride parade. Last weekend, thousands attended a Pride parade in the Philippines. Like all Pride-goers, they sported rainbow attire and held triumphant signs. But there were some unusual attendees at this year's parade: a group of local Christians, holding signs that read "I'm Sorry."
The Christian group marched in the parade with banners that explained, "We're here to apologize for the ways that we as Christians have harmed the LGBT community."
"I have looked down on you instead of honoring your humanity," the banners read. "I've rejected and hurt your family in the name of 'family values.'"
Other Christians in the group made homemade signs with messages like, "Jesus didn't turn people away – neither do we."
Pride attendees were so moved by the apologetic signs that they took photos and shared them to social media. The emotional images quickly went viral.
Jamilah Salvador, 19, saw the signs as she entered the stadium at Marikina Sports Center, where the parade ended.
The signs admitted to former bias against LGBT people, with heartfelt apologies for the church's mistakes.
The sight of these messages made Jamilah emotional, so she posted the photos to Twitter, she told BuzzFeed News.
"God loves you, so do we," read one sign.
"I used to be a Bible-banging homophobe, sorry!!" read another.
The Christian group is from the Church of Freedom in Christ Ministries, an Evangelical and Pentecostal church in Makato.
Other Pride attendees were moved to share their photos of the Christians' signs, too.
"I cried so hard," said one parade-goer.
They weren't the only ones moved by the signs. As the photos went viral, others were extremely touched by the group's apologies, too.
Not all Christians are so accepting of LGBT individuals.
So people were overjoyed to see this Christian group speaking out.
Some people think the group's signs reflect the true spirit of Christianity.
"This is how it's supposed to be," one user said.
Others simply admire the group members for their actions.
Owning up to a change of heart isn't easy.
But there's unbelievable power in apologizing.
And it's never too late to say, "I'm Sorry."
