It’s not often that a post on a Christian blog makes me tear up.
A group of Christians got together last weekend and went to the pride parade in Chicago. They were there to wave signs and make their presence known and expose the homos to message of Jesus Christ. But unlike most self-identified Christians who show up at pride parades, these guys didn’t come to condemn. They came to apologize.
I spent the day at Chicago’s Pride Parade. Some friends and I, with The Marin Foundation, wore shirts with “I’m Sorry” written on it. We had signs that said, “I’m sorry that Christians judge you,” “I’m sorry the way churches have treated you,” “I used to be a bible-banging homophobe, sorry.” We wanted to be an alternative Christian voice from the protestors that were there speaking hate into megaphones.
What I loved most about the day is when people “got it.” I loved watching people’s faces as they saw our shirts, read the signs, and looked back at us. Responses were incredible. Some people blew us kisses, some hugged us, some screamed thank you. A couple ladies walked up and said we were the best thing they had seen all day. I wish I had counted how many people hugged me. One guy in particular softly said, “Well, I forgive you.”
Watching people recognize our apology brought me to tears many times. It was reconciliation personified.
My favorite though was a gentleman who was dancing on a float. He was dressed solely in white underwear and had a pack of abs like no one else. As he was dancing on the float, he noticed us and jokingly yelled, “What are you sorry for? It’s pride!” I pointed to our signs and watched him read them. Then it clicked.
Then he got it.
He stopped dancing. He looked at all of us standing there. A look of utter seriousness came across his face. And as the float passed us he jumped off of it and ran towards us. In all his sweaty beautiful abs of steal, he hugged me and whispered, “thank you.”
Here’s the whole post. I’m almost afraid to dig into this story—the Marin foundation’s website is here—because I don’t want start clicking around only to discover that these guys came to pride to deliver the same old love-the-sinner-hate-the-sin message, only with a smiley face this time instead of a “God Hates Fags” sign. More info and “I’m sorry” t-shirts available at the “Love Is An Orientation” website.
If this catches on—if repentant Christian bigots start showing up at pride parades across the country and they don’t believe that being gay is a sin—these guys are gonna be the new PFLAG moms.
Thanks to Slog tipper Wayne.
UPDATE: It was too good to be true. It’s the same old love-the-sinner/hate-the-sin bullshit in a brand new bag. From God Hates Fags… to God Hugs Fags—but He’s still gonna send ’em to hell to be tormented by demons for all eternity unless they repent, blah blah blah. It’s progress, I guess, but I doubt that guy in the underpants realizes just what he’s wrapping his arms around. More at Bilerico.
Hello. I’m Tristan and I’m the guy in the white unerwear. As an atheist I will say that even though I am a non-believer I still found the gesture amazing. I cried about the kindness that these people were capable of. I think it is one of the most beautiful acts of kindness I have witnessed.
To all of you who have commented in such an amazing light I thank you whole heartedly. The world is so large and to share such heartfelt feelings is awe inspiring. Thank you to the people in the world who love openly and have nothing to share but the beauty of humanity.
Tristan in #103: I suspect that a great many people in the crowd were in white underwear. Most of us just haven’t come out of the closet about it yet.
Everyone: I’m Jewish. We tend to emphasize actions over beliefs more than Christians do; that’s probably a factor in why I think that the fact that the Christian group was there apologizing is far more important than any ulterior motives or beliefs that they may have had. Consider: Do you care whether the person who marches you off to the camp and makes you wear a pink triangle is secretly sorry that he’s doing it?
Tristan in #103: I suspect that a great many people in the crowd were in white underwear. Most of us just haven’t come out of the closet about it yet.
Everyone: I’m Jewish. We tend to emphasize actions over beliefs more than Christians do; that’s probably a factor in why I think that the fact that the Christian group was there apologizing is far more important than any ulterior motives or beliefs that they may have had. Consider: Do you care whether the person who marches you off to the camp and makes you wear a pink triangle is secretly sorry that he’s doing it?
Whether everyone likes to admit it or not, the Bible DOES condemn homosexuality. You either have 2 options if you want to be consistent:
1. Accept the bible to be the infallible word of god, as is stated in the bible or
2. Stop calling yourself a Christian.
Trust me, nobody believes everything in the bible. This picking and choosing nonsense is the reason why slavery was legal for as long as it lasted. Now, finally, the LGBT community is getting some apologies, but you need to realize that the problem was the bible AND the believers in the bible. Both need to be discredited before the healing process can begin. Be the stronger person, unshackle yourselves from the dogmas of Christianity and be the more moral person.
This story brought tears to my eyes.. God is Love. in every shape and form.. with and for everyone… im still smiling and only wish i were in the middle of that embrace.. 🙂