Drab
Poblacion of Makati City, made more somber by a threat of downpour, got a
splash of rainbow colors when about 1,500 lesbians, gays, bisexuals and
transgenders (LGBT) with their heterosexual friends, families, supporters and
allies gathered for the annual Metro Manila Gay Pride March on December 8, 2012.
The
march was preceded by a commitment ceremony for both lgbt and straight couples
officiated by the United Universalists of Metro Manila in the morning at the
Makati City Hall quadrangle. Couples affirmed their love with the support of
families and friends even though legalizing gay marriage remains almost a taboo
subject in the Philippines. Simultaneously, a small bazaar was opened, offering
interesting products from food to fashion.
With
the theme “Sari-Sali: Pride in Action,” the march called on the government to
pass the Anti-Discrimination Bill, as well as on local governments to pass
anti-discrimination ordinances in their towns and cities, especially Makati
City, the country’s business district. In the country, only Quezon City in
Metro Manila and Cebu City in the south have anti-discrimination ordinances.
The
march also aimed to push for LGBT-friendly school policies from student
organizations; obtain the support and affirmation of acceptance from families,
friends and allies of LGBTs; and gather support from contingents and
individuals for LGBT representation in the government through the Ladlad
party-list organization and other LGBT-allied lawmakers and public servants.
The contributions of LGBT to the society were also highlighted, but overall,
the march promoted participation and inclusivity from all for gender equality.
Numerous
and diverse groups participated and showed support including advocacy groups
Amnesty International Philippines, Take Back the Tech Philippines and Gabriela
National Alliance of Women in the Philippines; and political organizations
Bayan Muna and Akbayan. The Philippine Commission on Human Rights was also
represented.
Comprising
the bulk were LGBT groups, including Boys Station Family Organization, Dangal
National Network, Elite Circle of Men, Full Contact International, Galang
Philippines, Gay Geeks, Home for the Golden Gays, Just us Kissing, Lesbian
Activism Project, Lesbian Alliance Bagbag, Lesbian Alliance Movement: Lakas ng
Kababaihan Para sa Karapatan, Men’s Locker Room, Metro Bi Out Society/Boys to
Men’s Clan Circle of Bi, One Bacardi Organization Manila, Pink Rockers, Pinoy
FTM, Pinoy g4m, Progressive Organization of Gays in the Philippines (Progay
Philippines), Proud Campaign Philippines, Proud To Be lgbt Campaign, Queer
Archers’ Alliance, Rainbow Rights Project, Society of Transsexual Women of the
Philippines, Love Yourself, Metro Guyz Society, Transman Pilipinas, University
of the Philippines (up) Babaylan, Up Spectrum, up Spectrum Manila and
University of the Philippines Los Baños (uplb) Babaylan.
Non-LGBT
supporters included the Rotaract Club of Makati Legaspi, Lunduyan ng Sining,
Tarlac Bailas Organization, Tiklop Society of the Philippines, Kultura Riders
Club and Filipino Freethinkers. The Philippine Atheists and Agnostics Society
(PATAS) was a very active supporter. At one side, there were also religious
delegations the Unitarian Universalist Church of Manila, Ekklesia Tou Theou
(Church of God) and the Philippine Fellowship of Metropolitan Community
Churches. The office of the Makati City vice mayor Romulo Pena Jr. also showed
support.
This
year, the pride march saw increasing participation by the business sector led
by Thomson Reuters, which has its admirable Pride at Work policy, promoting
safe and equitable work environment for all employees regardless of gender;
workplace diversity; and awareness programs. Also notable were the
participation of JP Morgan Chase Company, Bayleaf Spa and Accenture.
The
march started at the Makati City Hall quadrangle at three in the afternoon,
accentuated by balloons, confetti, flowers, extravagant costumes, banners,
placards and a giant rainbow flag. LGBT families brought their kids and babies
along. Drag queens were in their resplendent gowns and costumes. Some gay men
went sexy. Masseurs from Bayleaf Spa served as eye candies. Riders brought
their motorbikes. Some offered free hugs.
“It
is time for the LGBT community to move out of its niche and gain mainstream
acceptance,” said Jade Tamboon, owner of the Web site PinoyG4M.com, the
secretariat organization of this year’s Pride March.
The
march went through F. Zobel, J.P. Rizal, Nicanor Garcia, Kalayaan, Pililla,
Hormiga, Angono and Morong streets, proceeding without any major hitches. There
was just a handful of moralists, surprisingly very young, hardly noticeable
except for their judgmental and condemning placards that read “Sexual
immorality, the road to AIDS and hell;” “Jesus can change you! LGBT;” “Warning!
God will judge the sexually immoral! Hebrews 13:4;” “It’s not OK to be gay!
It’s a sin!” and “Ang nilikha ng Diyos ay
lalaki at babae, hindi bakla at tomboy, Genesis 1: 27 (God created man and
woman, not gay and lesbian).” Fortunately, these were overwhelmed by messages
of love, acceptance, support, understanding, peace, action and positivity.
After
the parade, there was a program at the quadrangle where leaders delivered their
messages. Gabriela promoted its campaign One Billion Rising Against Violence
Against Women. There were also performances by Tao Aves, percussion group
Brigada, Nyctinasty, the Shocking Details, Lougee and the Cherry Bums, the
Cellar Doors and others.
The
street market was open into the night with interesting finds such as artisanal
ice cream by Sebastian’s with amusing flavor names, “unconventional” dolls from
Oliver Makes Dolls, bags with witticism from Hirit Bags, art works and
accessories from Blot Art Studio, etc.
The
Metro Manila Gay Pride March has been held for 18 years now, making it the
oldest in Asia. The first Philippine Gay Pride March was held on June 26, 1994,
organized by ProGay Philippines and Metropolitan Community Church, in Quezon
City. The next marches were mostly held in Malate, Manila, considered to be the
country’s gay district, and in June, like in most of gay parades around the
world, in commemoration of the historic Stonewall Riot. Since 1999, when Task
Force Pride Philippines (TFP), a network of LGBT and LGBT-friendly groups and
individuals, was established, it took on the responsibility of organizing the
Metro Manila Gay Pride March. In 2003, the pride march was moved from June to
the December to coincide with related human rights activities such as Human Rights
Week, World AIDS Day (December 1), Philippine National Lesbian Day (December
8), and International Human Rights Day (December 10).
