Words by Tess Becker
With the polarization that we experience today it's important to remember that people can learn, change and grow from their previous mistakes, as is evident with a Colorado man showing up to Denver’s Pride holding a sign reading, “Recovering bigot, I am sorry! Free hugs.”
The man and his sign were captured on TikTok.
“To own up to your discriminatory beliefs and say: ‘I hear you, I see you, and I’m sorry’, is top tier. Everyone could learn something here,” the TikTok poster said.
A photo of the man’s sign made it onto Twitter where people talked about how Pride is a perfect time to make amends for previous misdeeds.
According to Denver Pride, the event was attended by more than 500,000 people.
Charity check-in
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
GLAAD. GLAAD is a massive LGBTQ+ advocacy group that helps fight for queer people across the US. Consider donating.
The Trevor Project. They focus on suicide prevention and mental health support for queer youth. Support them here.
Lambda Legal. This organization helps fight in the courtroom for queer people. Find out more.
