From Shara M.

Hello, mga mahal! Happy Pride!

First of all, thank you all for existing. Evil people may have tried to make you question and doubt yourselves or even wipe your existence off this earth, but I want you all to know that we see you. We appreciate you all, and we recognize you and your contribution to the betterment of society.

I find it ironic that this community, which is greatly deprived of love, has some of the most loving people I know. Thank you for always choosing love over hate. Thank you for always being the bigger person.

You didn't have to be that way though. And we are sorry for that. We are sorry for our siblings who who have hurt you, chastised you, and failed to accept and support you.

We are sorry on behalf of those who choose to deprive you of your fundamental rights to be whoever you are and to love whoever you want.

We are sorry that this world hasn't been that kind to all of you. This may not ease the pain, but I hope that it's a start, at the very least.

Please know that you have allies in a lot of us who support you all the way. If your family cannot accept you, we are your family. Family doesn't have to just to be those related to you by blood. They may be those who are accepting and just truly love you unconditionally.

It shouldn't be 'I love you despite of who you are,' but it should be 'I love you BECAUSE of who you are - you wonderful, magnificent, beautiful you.'

We are your family. And we love you all. DO NOT EVER be ashamed of who you are, because that is what makes you the beautiful and lovable person that you are.

Do not let these nasty voices and opinions of people who don't know any better to keep you from being who you want to be and from loving who you want to love.

NEVER apologize for who you are. You are loved. You are appreciated. You are honored.

We know that these words of affirmation are not enough. We need concrete action to be done. We need movement. No quarantine can ever stop us from fighting for you guys. Nothing can ever keep us silent. We are with you in this fight for equality and to trump hate. We will keep fighting with you and for you.

Please never stop being the fabulous humans that you all are. You are all precious and we are one in protecting you and fighting for your lives and your rights. I am hopeful that one day, SOGIESC-based discrimination will be gone and we will all live in perfect harmony.

Until then, we are with you. We will keep fighting.

We love you all.

Keep safe always. Happy Pride! We honor you today -- and everyday.