We could just have told you that people taking part in the parade were happy to see them, but we thought this picture would do so much more than words ever could. This is what forgiveness and acceptance looks like.
Happy smiles all around, and a warm, unreserved hug that says 'I accept you' - and that comes from both sides. It was a major step for people who've shunned the LGBT community their whole lives to walk down to a Pride parade and put themselves on display like that, and there was no guarantee that the community would accept them. Years of hurtful words could have made them ignore the apology, or even worse, refuse it. But love won out on the day, and this picture is a beautiful record of a man who's completely comfortable in his own skin both forgiving and being forgiven by someone who's ready to accept and respect him for who he is.