Bacolod stages 3rd LGBT Pride parade

By: Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD CITY – Tribu Duag (Tribe of Colors) in partnership with Humanist Alliance Philippines International (HAPI) organized the third Pride March here Saturday, June 22, to call for equal treatment and acceptance.

Some 200 lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender/transsexual, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) individuals from various humanist organizations such as Dakila Akbayan, Gabriela, Empowerment for Students of LGBT Bacolod, Teleperformance LGBT, LGBT Taculing Chapter, and Deaf LGBT Community of Bacolod, among others, marched from Fountain of Justice at the Old City Hall to 10th Lacson Street to highlight the voices of the long-marginalized Filipino LGBT community.

“This year marks a special milestone for LGBT activism as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, which set the precedence for LGBT rights to be fought for and promoted worldwide,” event organizer Gino Lim Lopez said.

Most of the members and volunteers from Tribu Duag this year are from Youth for Climate Hope Bacolod, Lopez said.

Tribu Duag which was founded on the 10th day of June this year, was initiated by a group of young, passionate, and driven Negrosanons who wish to see a more inclusive and just society. The name reflects the unique, unlimited “City of Smiles” inclusivity and acceptance no matter the gender, race, religion, background, or any affiliation, for they believe everyone is capable of love and understanding.

This year’s theme is the “Return of Pride”, after the activity went on a four year hiatus for some reasons, Lopez said.

He said the first city-wide parade was in 2012 and it was followed by another activity organized by HAPI Bacolod in 2015.

We decided to bring it back, since we believe that Bacolod City, as the “City of Smiles”, is a hospitable and welcoming city to people of all creeds, Lopez said.

Pride, after all, is a protest at its core, as the LGBT community vies for equal rights of all people, no matter the background, creed, race, religion, SES, or affiliation, he added.

Lopez said the event was also made possible through the support of Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr., who authored a resolution allowing them to hold the activity over the weekend.

The group also calls for the passage of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) Equality bill and Same-sex Civil Union.

Our event also aimed to be environmentally-conscious, by using placards, flaglets, and more made out of recycled materials, he said.

The group during their march formed a human flag, displaying the LGBT flag in chronological order.

With the successful conduct of the pride parade, Lopez said they are planning to make it as an annual activity every June.