Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 25) — Members of the LGBTQIA+ community, along with allies from different sectors, mounted events over the weekend to celebrate the Pride Month, with calls for the passage of the SOGIE Equality bill.
Queer Filipinos and allies in Metro Manila flocked at two events on Saturday. Pride PH organized “Love Laban” at the Quezon Memorial Circle, while Metro Manila Pride conducted “Tayo ang Kulayaan” at the Circuit Event Grounds in Makati City.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Sunday said the Love Laban crowd was estimated at around 110,000. Organizers claimed it was the “biggest Pride event in Southeast Asia.”
Drag queens, queer artists, and social media personalities performed throughout the day to entertain the crowd.
Various Pride events were also staged outside the Metro, like in the cities of Baguio, Biñan, Cebu, Dumaguete, and Mandaue.
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A protest
To mark the celebration of Pride Month in Quezon City, Mayor Joy Belmonte launched the Right to Care Card program, which will empower LGBTQIA+ couples to make health-related decisions on behalf of each other.
“We want all of our residents, regardless of sexual orientation, to be with their partners in critical moments, and we are taking this important step to assure the rainbow community that they are cared for, recognized and valued in Quezon City,” Belmonte said.
Groups have explained that Pride is primarily a protest. With their witty and colorful placards, attendees marched for equality and inclusivity.
Politicians pushing for the passage of the SOGIESC Equality bill – a proposed measure that seeks to protect individuals from discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics – also attended Pride events.
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Meanwhile, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called on Filipinos to continue supporting, respecting, and recognizing the LGBTQ+ community and their importance to society.
For Vice President Sara Duterte, “good things take time” as the LGBTQIA+ community waits for the passage of the bill.
The version of the proposed measure in the House of Representatives has already passed the committee level.
In the Senate, the bill was remanded to the committee on rules headed by Sen. Joel Villanueva. He is the son of CIBAC Rep. Eddie Villanueva, the founder of Jesus Is Lord Church Worldwide.
The senator already said he does not see any urgency in passing the SOGIESC bill.
Source: CNN Philippines | Jun 25, 2023 | 5:50:54 PM
