UP Pride 2017 celebrates love and equality
Hundreds of people gathered for a day of pride to celebrate and recognize the rights of the LGBT community at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman on September 15.
A huge rainbow arch is displayed behind the famous Oblation sculpture. Photo by Kristine Macasiray/THE FOURTH
UP Diliman held its 10th Pride March with the theme “We love equality!”
The pride march welcomed everyone who wanted to take part in the movement. Rainbow flags, rainbow banners, and a huge rainbow arch greeted attendees as they entered the campus.
Its goal was to assert that there should be safe spaces for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) community and to campaign for love and acceptance, and inclusion and diversity for everyone.
“Ganon naman yung idea ng LGBT [community], especially since we promote the idea of diversity based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression (This is the idea of LGBT [community], especially since we promote the idea of diversity based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression),” Punong Babaylan Vince Liban said in an exclusive interview with The Fourth.
UP Babaylan is an advocacy student organization that supports the LGBT community. Its members are responsible for the annual event. This year marked the group’s silver anniversary.
Nicholas Sia, External Public Relations Officer of UST Hiraya, the first Intersectional Feminist Organization in the University of Santo Tomas, persuaded the LGBT community that they should be always proud of who they are: “’Wag kayong mahiya kasi hindi kayo nagiisa. Marami tayong nandidito [na handang] samahan kay,” (Fret not for you are not alone. There are a lot of us who are willing to come with you.)
UP Babaylan calls for ADB passage
“We want the ADB to be passed. For 18 years it [has] been pending in [the] Congress, and I think it’s time that we campaign for it outright,” Liban said.
The Anti-Discrimination Bill (ADB) which seeks to protect the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) against discrimination and hate assaults was filed by Dinagat Islands Representative Kaka Bag-ao. It was passed by the Congress on its second reading on September 14. And was later on passed on its third and final House reading on September 20.
Liban also added that this year had the most number of attendees compared to the previous years that UP Babaylan has organized for Pride.
The first UP Pride was held in 2008 with around 25 members who marched inside the campus. It was only last year when it has become an official event of UP.
