They’re talked about, admired and, at the same time, reviled for who they are. Every year they take to the streets to fight for gender equality.
I wanted to find out more about them, after seeing a flyer posted on campus—an invitation to join the annual Quezon City (QC) LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) Pride March.
It was a rainy December afternoon when I arrived at Rembrandt Hotel on Tomas Morato Avenue, the meet-up point. I was introduced to Jaemi Berara, Maja Andres and a few members of the UP Babaylan, an organization anchored on the belief that all persons should be equal regardless of race, nationality, religion, sex or sexual orientation.
Some 700 people showed up for the march, a celebration of color, culture and gender equality, with the theme “Equality, Walang Labis, Walang Kulang.”
“I wanted to participate for diversity and for the LGBT community to be politically recognized in the Senate and in Congress,” said Berara, a 20-year-old student from De La Salle-College of St. Benilde, as we waited for the pelting rain to subside.
She agreed with the beliefs of Manila-born Geena Rocero, now a New York-based transgender woman who describes herself as a “model with a cause.” For Rocero, the LGBT community in the Philippines is culturally celebrated but not politically recognized.
“Nandito ako para mag-enjoy,” said the flamboyant Umahrice, a 23-year-old transgender woman from QC. “Ang saya pumunta sa ganitong events, kasi walang nagdi-discriminate sa akin,” she said, smiling as one of her friends hung a collar of feathers around her neck for the parade.
Dressed in red with glam accessories, Umahrice strutted down the wet streets of QC while gamely posing for photographers.
Awareness
For the past 20 years, pride marches in the Philippines have been raising LGBT awareness not only in the country but also in Southeast Asia. The QC LGBT Pride March, which coincided with the city’s 75th jubilee, included a float competition and a culminating program.
This year, various LGBT groups from Quezon City, Mandaluyong and Ilocos Sur marched together from Tomas Morato to QC Memorial Circle. They were garbed in colorful attire, proudly displaying their advocacies.
They were quite a sight for pedestrians and motorists caught in a momentary traffic jam as the parade passed. But, as with all pride parades, the participants also had to take criticism in stride.
A couple of anti-LGBT protesters lined up on one side of the street, calling for the LGBT community to “go back to God.”
A woman held up a poster that read, “It’s not okay to be gay. It is a sin.”
There was a foreigner who shouted at the top of his lungs, declaring that sexual immorality has led to AIDS and, therefore, to hell. He ended by saying that only Jesus Christ could save the LGBT community from sin and hell.
Such are the myriad demotions that fan the embers of a deep-seated social issue in a Catholic nation as the Philippines.
“I fight for equal rights, opportunities and privileges for LGBTs,” said Kris Pasion, a 26-year-old from the Ilocos Sur chapter. She believes this pride march is an eye-opener for social acceptance. “Everybody should be accepted regardless of his or her sex, motives and personality. After all, we are equal in the eyes of God.”
She then quoted Pope Francis when he said we should not judge a person by his or her own doings, but by his character and contributions to society. “The LGBTs have a lot of contributions to society, but they are not recognized by other sectors of the government,” she concluded.
Antidiscrimination
Julianne Andrada, a member of the government agency National Youth Commission (NYC), said the organization played a role in drafting an antidiscrimination ordinance, particularly in Naga, Cebu and now, QC. “We were part of the organizations that lobbied for and checked the ordinances. Recently, QC passed the revisions for its antidiscrimination ordinance,” she pointed out.
Authored by Councilor Mayen Juico, this progressive ordinance aims to protect LGBT citizens from discrimination, added Andrada.
The case of Jennifer Laude did not go unnoticed. Throughout the march, several posters screamed justice for Laude, a 26-year-old Filipino transgender woman who was brutally murdered, allegedly by a US Marine.
“Hindi naman niya kasalanan. May karapatan din siyang mabuhay dahil siya ay isang tao,” said Melonie Santiago, a 32-year-old transgender woman and representative of the town of Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur.
The march ended at QC Memorial Circle, where the culminating program was held. It featured a diversity fashion show with LGBT models and supporters wearing various clothing lines.
After the program, the QC LGBT Rainbow Awards were handed out. To qualify for the award, an organization must have successfully promoted LGBT rights and awareness in the Philippines.
“I got home wet, tired, and with a hoarse voice. So worth it,” tweeted 18-year-old Mitzi Lou Ancog, a friend of ours who helped lead the Mandaluyong chapter on the march.
That was what all of the participants felt: tired but fulfilled, determined to support gender equality and LGBT rights for as long as it takes.