June is celebrated as Pride Month by members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community in the country. But behind the colorful parades and events is a continuing struggle for acceptance. Let’s explore the story surrounding the event and find out why it is worth celebrating not just by the LGBTQ community but also the wider public.
The History Behind Pride Month
The Pride Month celebrations trace its history back to the first Pride Marches that happened in several US cities during the month of June of 1970. The marches served as a remembrance of the Stonewall Riots, a series of violent clashes between the police and gay customers of a local inn. These riots brought into the forefront the discrimination the gay community had been experiencing.
Eventually, the Pride Marches that sprouted after the initial ones coalesced into a bigger event. Pride Month would remain largely community-based events until US President Bill Clinton officially declared June as such in 1999.
Pride Month in the Philippines
In the country, the first Pride March happened in 1994. It was organized by Pro-Gay Philippines and the Metropolitan Community Church and was the first first pride march organized in Asia. The event would then be followed by the 1996 Metro Manila Pride March, which would bring in together a large part of the LGBTQ community. Following the tradition, the local LGBTQ community also celebrates the June Pride Month since then.
Pride Month and the Issues Facing the Philippine LGBTQ community
In the Philippines, people show more tolerance than acceptance. Members of the local LGBTQ community still face a lot of issues and challenges. Discrimination is one of the biggest here as it permeates into almost every aspect of daily life, including work and social interactions.
Writer and gay rights advocate Stephen Norries Padilla says that discrimination is a recurring issue that has made their efforts to be accepted by society difficult. Padilla recalled his struggle while finding work. In one instance, he already passed the examinations and preliminary interviews. During the panel interview, he was asked about his sexual orientation, which he believes is the reason why he never got the job.
Along with discrimination is the problem of harassment comes in a variety of forms, such as the verbal abuse that Padilla constantly receives on social media. It can also lead to more violent incidents like the murder of transgender woman Jennifer Laude in 2014.
Fight with Pride
To address these issues, members of the local LGBTQ community have sought the enactment of laws that would protect them and others. One of the most significant moves is the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Expression (SOGIE) Bill introduced in 2017. The SOGIE bill would have enacted mechanisms that will protect LGBTQ people from discriminatory practices, such as:
- Denying access to basic services and utilities.
- Revocation of professional license based on gender.
- Revocation of recognition based on gender.
- Harassment by authorities
Unsurprisingly, there is a strong opposition coming from more conservative parties against the bill. As such, it has yet to be passed despite the strong support from many cause-oriented groups.
Padilla said that continuing challenges like these make the celebration of Pride Month even more relevant. He argues that it isn’t just about proudly identifying and celebrating as a member of the LGBTQ community but also raising awareness about the issues the community is facing.
Pride Celebrations Online
The COVID-19 pandemic may have stifled a lot of plans, but this won’t stop the community from creating fab events on digital. There may not be a march, but there surely is a celebration.
Global Pride 2020, an international organizing committee for this year’s Pride celebrations will be hosting a simultaneous online celebration on June 27. The virtual celebrations will happen on the organization’s Facebook page and will feature performances by many artists and messages from prominent LGBTQ rights advocates.
In the local scene, Metro Manila Pride (the organizers of this year’s march) has lined up several online activities leading to the June 27 online parades.
These events are open not just for members of the community but also for those who share the call for equality. The team also shares information about various LGBTQ issues as a lead up to the event.
Even the National Museum is participating in the celebration of Pride Month by displaying the Gay Pride flag in its complex. The Museum stated that this is its way of raising awareness about the struggles of the community. It also said that it seeks to make a more inclusive experience for all visitors.
Pride for All
Celebrating Pride Month isn’t just for members of the LGBTQ community. Even those who identify themselves as straight can join if they believe in the fight for equality and acceptance for everyone regardless of sexual orientation. And Padilla said that people can show their love and support for friends and family who are part of the community by helping educate others about the issues and getting them to join the campaign.