The Success of the 2016 Metro Manila LGBT Pride Parade
The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community of Metro Manila Philippines emphasized their appeal for acceptance and equality when they took part in the Pride Parade around the country’s national park Luneta on 25 June 2016. The twenty second annual parade was participated by a number of organizations and individuals who have communicated their cause through shouting chants and holding colourful placards with slogans urging for the end of prejudice and inequality. The rainbow coloured flags which represented the wonderful and harmonious diversity of this community were prominently visible all throughout the parade.
Celebrating this event on this particular date was so timely and was very symbolic, as this date is close to the day of commemorating the first ever protests by the LGBTs that took place in Stonewall New York in 1969, that the LGBTs around the world were celebrating the pride parade almost at the same time. The parade also took place a couple of weeks after the terrible hateful terrorism happened in Orlando Florida USA which targeted primarily the LGBTs, thus making this parade a timely reminder to everyone that hatred against certain sector of society does not bring any positive results. It was also an opportune time to celebrate this parade, for in a couple of weeks, the newly elected leader and the newly elected lawmakers of the country are going to begin their official tasks. And thus this parade’s messages were being addressed to those newly elected officials, whose jobs are to make sure all sectors of the community would enjoy the same rights, including the right to marriage. The Philippines is one of those countries in the world where same sex marriage is not yet legal.
But despite the peaceful messages of the LGBTs in this parade, present during the march were some isolated protests organized by the religious people whose theme was about hatred and condemnation of the LGBTs. These protests were initiated by the members of certain Christian religious groups. But their messages of hate were drowned by the loud chants shouted by the sea of LGBTs and their supporters crowding the streets around Luneta Park.
The 2016 Metro Manila LGBT Pride Parade culminated at the Lapu Lapu monument of the Luneta Park with singing and dancing participated by popular LGBT entertainers. Never had the park been surrounded by so many colours, costumes, music and dancing which the LGBTs can only make through their enthusiasm. And the quest for acceptance will not end in this parade, but it will go on with more smiles, colours, music and peaceful messages motivated by the LGBT community’s pursuit for equality.
By Roderick Tubil
Asuccess it was indeed. The 22nd Manila Pride March had the biggest attendance ever, and old and new groups joined in the parade. Many new faces appeared this time, with people from religious backgrounds, daring to come out and leave their faith system. So all in all it was clear to observe a development in the positive direction.
By Thomas Fleckner
Meeting with Kristofer King, one of the rewarded Filipino actors.
Meeting Sunny Garcia, a well known fabulous artist in The Philippines
Its always a pleasure to meet Red Tani at every Pride March, the founder and lead of the Filipinofreethinkers
Old and new faces
This time lgbtBUS and PATAS marched together
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