To commemorate the Stonewall riots in 1969, Metro Manila Pride March 2019 highlighted the root of Pride as a protest with the theme #ResistTogether. Despite the heavy rain, over 70,000 attendees called for equality and an end to discrimination at the Marikina Sports Center yesterday, June 29.
Photo by John Michael Santos
In its third year of hosting, Marikina City Mayor Marcy Teodoro signed the Anti-Discrimination City Ordinance in celebration of Pride March 2019.
“Nananawagan ako sa mga kasama ko sa mga lokal na pamahalaan, panahon na upang manindigan para sa pantaypantay na karapatan ng bawat mamamayan […] at sa bawat miyembro ng LGBTQIA+, ipagpatuloy natin ang laban, hindi lamang sa araw na ito,” he said.
Teodoro showed his support to the community by saying “Kaisa ninyo ako, kaisa ninyo ang Marikina City sa inyong laban […] Mahaba-haba pa ang laban upang ang SOGIE [Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression] Bill ay maipasa pero dito sa Marikina ito ang aming ambag.”
Addressing the injustices
Solidarity speakers from different clusters shared their sentiments and showed their support for the community.
Paolo Sumaya, editor of Bikol Bakla, an anthology of Bikolano gay, trans, queer writing, emphasized the role of arts and culture to the community saying, “We will never stop writing, painting, and saying because the world is a much better place when we resist together.”
Meanwhile, Ivan Joseph Gonzales of the University of the Philippines Engineering Student Council and Jessica Claire Buño of Lesbian Organization for Unity and Diversity shared the struggles faced by LGBTQIA+ and their firm support for the SOGIE Bill.
“Patuloy pa rin ang kahirapan at pasakit sa ating mga kapatid, nandiyan pa rin ang diskriminasyon […] Lahat tayo ay uhaw sa hustisya [dahil] sa kapabayaan at kabi-kabilang pagbatikos ng ating gobyerno,” Gonzales said, calling on everyone, members and allies alike, to fight together against the attacks.
“Ang kabataang LGBTQIA+ ay titindig upang maisabatas ang SOGIE Equality Bill, kapit-kamay tayong magmartsa para sa tunay na pagkilala at paglaya ng ating komunidad,” Gonzales continued.
Roy Dahildahil, co-founder of #MentalHealthPH, and Jaime Mikhail Mata of Positibong Pasigueño, discussed breaking stereotypes and discrimination in the community, as well as vulnerability due to the stigma.
“Being an LGBTQIA+ is not a mental disorder. […] Your sexual orientation, identification and expressions are not mental disorders. You [the LGBTQIA+] are not a disease that needs to be cured nor a mistake that needs to be corrected,” Dahildahil said in a speech.
Tetsu Komatzusaki of Pioneer Filipino Transmen Movement reminded the crowd about the real essence of Pride March, “We all have one goal, it is to fight for equality […] Pride is not just about flying colors, but is also a protest itself.”
Meanwhile, Mark Ryan Adas of Lumad kids showed his support to his fellow minorities and encouraged the audience to fight against oppression.
“Hindi lamang LGBT ang may diskriminasyon sa ating lipunan, pati rin kaming mga kabataang Lumad na pinapalayas sa aming sariling lupa,” he said.
Photo by Fritz Reyes
The cast of Philippine Educational Theater Association’s (PETA) hit musical play Care Divas Morisette Amon, Ryan Macasero, and Matthew Chang graced the event with song and dance performances.
The 2.5-kilometer march was forced to stop due to heavy traffic, safety and security reasons, and continued with the evening program having over 70,000 attendees, beating its own record of 25,000 participants in 2018.
Prominent people such as TV personalities Nadine Lustre, Iza Calzado, Janine Gutierrez, Angie Mead King, Mari Jasmine, filmmaker Samantha Lee, celebrity photographer BJ Pascual, Senator Risa Hontiveros, and Kabataan Partylist Representative Sarah Elago joined the march.
The celebration was concluded with a night of song, dance, and spoken word poetry performances by Ja Quintana, Sky Teotico, Eva Lee Queen, Juan Miguel Severo, Alfonso Manalastas, John Saga, Lady Gagita, Pinopela and DJ Katie Kace of Europride Vienna.
The annual celebration is organized by Metro Manila Pride, “a volunteer-based, non-profit organization that creates safe, affirming, informative, educational, and empowering spaces for LGBTQIA+ people in Metro Manila.”
