Democratic Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, who was the first openly gay member of Congress from New York, came to the defense of Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, after it was unearthed that she worked for an anti-LGBT group.

In a statement, Maloney said people who have “worked actively against equality” must be held accountable, but he also stressed the important of granting forgiveness to those whose views have shifted and who have apologized.

"But I also understand how important it is that we encourage people to admit their error, grow, and evolve, as much of the country has done over the last two decades. That is exactly what Tulsi Gabbard has done," Maloney said. "She recognized the fault in her past views and the pain she was causing, and she has apologized. She admitted her error and has become a strong ally and close friend in Congress."

"Forgiving our former opponents when they stand with us spreads love and builds strength," he said. "As a community, LGBTQ people should not confuse forgiveness with weakness nor substitute recrimination for healing."

Gabbard, who announced last week her campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020, apologized Monday for her work with the Alliance for Traditional Marriage in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The political action committee supported conversion therapy and sought to oppose lawmakers who endorsed same-sex marriage.

"First, let me say I regret the positions I took in the past, and the things I said,” Gabbard told CNN, who first reported on Gabbard’s ties to the group. “I'm grateful for those in the LGBTQ-plus community who have shared their aloha with me throughout my personal journey."

Gabbard said that during the six years she’s served in Congress, she’s “been fortunate” to have worked to help pass legislation that ”ensures equal rights and protections on LGBTQ-plus issues.”

“Much work remains to ensure equality and civil rights protections for LGBTQ-plus Americans and if elected president, I will continue to fight for equal rights for all,” Gabbard said.

Maloney's statement emphasized that his statement was not an endorsement for Gabbard's presidential bid.