LGBT activists in the Philippines marked the IDAHOT 2014, starting in the first week of May.

The Grand Reunion

Dubbed as a pre-launch of IDAHOT celebration in the Philippines, “The Grand Reunion: (L)ets (G)et (B)old (T)onight” party on May 3 was organized by LGBT Pinoy, Association of Transgender People in the Philippines and TransMan Pilipinas. Taking place in one of Manila’s famous clubs, and featuring icons from the country’s LGBT community, the party aimed to infuse the awareness of the Day within the Philippines’ LGBT communities and allies.

Young Queer’s Fashion Show performance at the Grand Reunion Party

Progressive faith communities take action

Faith-based organization, Metropolitan Community Church of Quezon City, Aurora, Cubao Center, were also amongst those who commemorated the Day. On May 14, they held another pre-IDAHOT event through faith-themed discussion titled “Embodying IDAHOT: Facing Biases & Inner Biatches Towards Personal Transformation & Effective Social Action.” On the Day itself they also screened LGBT-related short movies to church members.

Still in the theme of faith, Kapatid LGBT of Quezon City also marked the Day by inviting LGBT activists and allies from different communities in Manila and nearby provinces to hold a public march at Welcome Rotonda on May 16.

Student groups join the IDAHOT 2014

Student organizations were also actively involved in the commemoration of the Day. Among them was EU Bahaghari, a student organization of Enverga University whose vision is to support LGBT students to be at the future forefront of the LGBT movement. The organization produced a joint statement, together with other student student organizations, in support of equal rights for LGBT people. They also launched a “Pride Pedestrian Lane” in Lucena City, and organised a Gender Empowerment discussion and film screening.

HSBC Philippines’ staff wear purple

HSBC Philippines also marked the Day by encouraging its employees to wear purple on the last working day before the Day (Friday, May 16).

HSBC Staff Poster encouraging staff to wear purple for IDAHOT 2014

Another action of the Day took place in a form a beauty parade. “Trans-Santacruzan,” was mounted by Ganda FIlipinas, Association of Transgender People in the Philippines and TransMan Pilipinas. The name Trans-Santacruzan is a play on ‘Santacruzan’, a festival which is traditionally held in the month of May to express the Marian devotion of Christians in the Philippines. An estimated 70 transgender men and women, including supermodel Geena Rocero, joined the parade.

The Trans-Santacruzan Parade | Courtesy of Ganda Filipinas

Art project and exhibition

GANDA Filipinas is also a partner of “Revelations,” a collaborative art exhibit featuring the work and images of LGBT artists and individuals. The exhibit opened at 9 p.m. on 27 May 2014, Tuesday at 71 Gramercy to mark the Day and the 10th anniversary of one of the very first LGBT-themed shows on TV (GMA 7) “Out!” and as part of the push for the passage of the Anti-Discrimination Bill (ADB) sponsored by Rep. Kaka Bag-ao among others in Congress and by Senator Bam Aquino in the Senate.

TAGAY for IDAHO

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) people and straight allies joined business owners on May 17 at Cubao X in a toast to celebrate their commitment to create safe spaces.

Participants at TAGAY for IDAHO !

“We live in a world where we NEED to safeguard our freedom.  Ours is a world that unfortunately discriminates against diversity – and so we need to protect that at all costs.” said Sandy Beltran of The Reading Room who opened the program as representative of the business owners. Beltran added that “acceptance is for most of the masses not an instinctive mindset, rather one nurtured by environment, education, and relationships.”

Cubao X business owners then signed a commitment to continue their practice of acceptance and nondiscrimination. The signing was immediately followed by the celebratory toast. Similar toasts against discrimination were simultaneously held in Baguio, Bacolod, Cebu, and Davao.

In his closing remarks, Ron de Vera, IDAHO Spokesperson, reiterated that “business owners, people in a position of power, have a responsibility to respect the rights of those who work for them as well as those they work for.” “Policy change is not the only solution to eliminating discrimination. But it is definitely a step in the right direction” said de Vera.

The event also marked the launch of the Safe Space Campaign, a program that aims to eliminate discrimination through policy change.

This year’s IDAHO celebration concluded with “Hayag,” a collection of coming out monologues staged by DAKILA at Boho Sarapsody Bistro.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Ron de Vera

Spokesperson, IDAHO Manila Network

09209087012 / rondevera@gmail.com

Embrace diversity, fight stigma and discrimination against lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgenders 

Two training seminars were held in Manila: The first, in conjunction with the Commission on Human Rights and the US Embassy in Manila, was a three-day workshop entitled “If You Prick Us, Do We Not Bleed? – A Gender Sensitivity and Human Rights Training on LGBT Issues”. The training involved about 30 representatives from government agencies and civil society and was aimed at equipping government agencies and civic groups with the appropriate perspective, knowledge and skills on handling human rights issues based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

The second was a Policy Study Session at the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), where for the first time LGBT issues will be tackled in relation to DSWD mandates and the social protection framework.

LGBT activists took to the streets of Manila in a march to the Commission of Human Rights to present an updated list of murdered Filipino LGBTs. The event was held in memory of the 156 Filipino LGBTs who have been murdered since 1996 – 16 of those in 2012 alone. Activists called on the government to acknowledge that hate crimes against LGBT people, and the homophobia and transphobia underpinning them, are serious problems that must be given due attention; to ensure that government agencies take the lead in addressing the growing number of LGBT hate crimes; and to demand that the government help raise awareness about hate crimes against LGBT people.

Activists also held an LGBT Grand Rally for the Passage of the Anti-Discrimination Bill and the National Day Against Homophobia Bill. The third annual Flores De Mayo LGBT Pride march was also held in Manila with the theme “Stop Bullying: Save Our Children”. The event was aimed at raising awareness about discrimination and promoting visibility, acceptance and LGBT pride.

Stressing that the promotion of equality was everyone’s issue, activists also launched the “I dare to care about equality” photographic campaign, calling for everyone to take a more proactive stance in fighting discrimination.

In addition, activists in Cebu staged the Rainbow Friendship Games.