The streets of Metro Manila were bathed in bright colors as members and allies of the LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual) community celebrated pride and commemorated those who fought and continuously fight for equality in this year’s Metro Manila Pride March.
The downpour did not deter the over 70,000 attendees—nearly thrice the number of participants last year, according to the event organizer—to express themselves and to #ResistTogether and protest discrimination.
“This wasn’t the easiest of Pride Marches. The weather wasn’t on our side. Despite the contingencies we had planned and implemented, we had to do our best to make sure that everyone was able to march,” said Metro Manila Pride in a Facebook post.
Pride parades across the globe commemorate the 1969 Stonewall uprising in New York City, a pivotal moment in LGBTQ+ movements marked by a series of demonstrations against a police crackdown on Stonewall Inn, a popular gay bar in Manhattan.
Taking their stand in the street
Among the thousands who participated in this year’s Pride marches was the student organization BHIVE (Benilde Hive).
The first LGBTQIA+ org of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde organized a march with students, faculty, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community, dubbed “Spreading Love with Color.”
The parade saw rainbow banners, streamers, and flags which showcased the participants’ different identities. It served as step toward the advocacy to call for equal rights and to end the discrimination against the members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Advertising and public relations agency Ogilvy Manila likewise showed support for the community when its employees joined the 70,000-strong Metro Manila Pride March on June 29.
“Ogilvy champions diversity and inclusion year round, starting with policies covering sexual orientation and gender identity,” the firm said in a statement.
Shining light on their colorful journey
In celebration of 25 years of LGBT+ inclusion within the company, multinational corporation Procter & Gamble Philippines sponsored World Pride and the Metro Manila Pride.
It is an ongoing journey of milestones and achievements from the LGBT+ community, and we are excited to be part of the celebrations,” said Louie Morante, P&G Asia Pacific regional brand manager.
The multinational company’s support to its LGBT+ community began in 1994 through its affinity group called GABLE or Gay, Ally, Bisexual, Lesbian, and Transgender Employees. GABLE is part of the company’s commitment to create a safe environment for all its employees regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression, among others.
Aside from sponsoring this year’s local Pride March, P&G Philippines hosted the P&G Pride Summit which featured TV host and author of Mama’s Gay Boy, Boy Abunda, who shared his coming out story and his experience in surpassing others’ bias.
Abunda also shared insights on how to create a culture and environment of equality. He started by sharing relevant historical accounts of various LGBT+ social movements to give the audience a better understanding and appreciation of their journey.
As an influential public figure, he also encouraged everyone to continue the dialogue on several issues that still recur to this day.
Finally, he celebrated the progress of the LGBT+ community, and highlighted the important role of allies in the journey toward full gender equality.
In a panel discussion, Bianca Gonzalez, BJ Pascual, Angie Mead King, Missy Maramara, Louie Morante, and Kat Quinon talked about their discovery journeys and coming out stories, and how they were able to maximize self-expression and achieve their dreams with the help of the allies in their lives.
During the Pride Summit, P&G also launched the sequel to “The Words Matter” film, titled “Out of the Shadows,” highlighting the courageous P&G employees who rallied against intolerance and turned the tide of prejudice.
