This amazing photo of a boy at an anti-gay march went viral for all the right reasons.
It's not the size of the man, but the strength of his gesture that matters.
On Sept. 10, 2016, a young boy faced off against thousands of anti-gay-marriage protestors.
Image by Manuel Rodriguez for Regeneración, used with permission.
Journalist Manuel Rodriguez captured this amazing photo during a Frente Nacional por la Familia march in Celaya, Guanajuato, in central Mexico. Frente Nacional is a nationwide pro-family organization that essentially condemns same-sex marriages.
Rodriguez says he initially thought the boy was just goofing around when he saw him stand in front of the crowd with his arms out.
But when Rodriguez interviewed the boy, who's about 12, the boy told him he has a gay uncle. He said he doesn't like the hatred his uncle faces from people like the ones he faced head-on in that march.
A sea of people march in the event held in Guadalajara, Mexico. Image by Hector Guerrero/Getty Images.
It's important to remember that the "machista" mentality unfortunately still runs rampant in Mexico.
Homophobia remains a big problem among Latino men, many of whom feel a cultural expectation to be the big, strong head of the household — something they feel is stereotypically contrary to gay culture.
But this incredible image is certainly one that speaks a thousand words. It shows that the younger generation is bringing a more open and accepting mentality into the mix in Mexico.
Yes, hate is a strong emotion. But love is even stronger. And it's love that made this boy take this huge stand against thousands of people.
We're born without judgments. And it's only after we begin to understand the world around us that we form prejudices and preconceived notions about people who lead different lifestyles than those we're used to seeing.
So let's lift this boy up as an example of what it means to choose love over hate.
To me, his grand gesture is proof that there's inherent good and acceptance in all of us. And that's worth celebrating.