everything pride march - come on let's join us! hehe

to quote jodie foster my love--who by the way is just inches away from coming out yeheeeeeeeeeeeey--in the sci-fi film CONTACT: "WE'RE GOOD TO GO! I'M GOOD TO GO!"

good to go na ang LESBIAN GAY BISEXUAL TRANSGENDER PRIDE MARCH 2007. bukas na ito, sabado, december 8 (birthday ni mama mary at national lesbian day sa pilipinas). mangyayari ito sa malate, rajah sulayman park in front of malate church.

check out the route:

ayus to!

bilang miyembro ng task force pride organizing network, naatasan akong magbitbit ng tfp banner, so nasa unahan ang byuti ng lola niyo.

pero bilang kasapi rin ng biggest all-women contingent bukas, nakadamit puti ako at blue bandanna kasama ang dose-dosenang byanakers sa patch ng earth na ito bukas.

eto yung final edit longer version ng Pride9 video na chinorva ko. nakapaloob na rin yun shorter version diyan.

ilang paalala mula sa ating mga kaibigang magmamartsa:

Tomorrow’s the big day. Please don’t forget the following:

• Bring your Lola’s colorful, vibrant, and humungous umbrellas. A little trivia – one of the reasons why the Pride March was moved from June to December is to avoid the rainy season (the main reason is that we want it to be part of the December commemoration of the human rights week). But it never fails to rain during our parade, so if you’re not really after that wet look, bring umbrellas.

• Bring your friends, LGBT or not. The march is an inclusive expression of diversity and solidarity. The more, the manyer, the happier! Don’t forget to register, and ask for assistance should you wish to take part in a contingent. There will be marshals during the parade to assist you.

• Make sure that you would feel comfortable during the march. Check the route of the March. Wear comfortable clothes. While it is your choice to wear high heels, please remember that a true beauty queen understands that the price of beauty is poverty and a little suffering. As for your hairdo, consider a friend’s motto: the higher the hair, the closer to God.

• The media will be there. While we need their help to convey our message to a broader audience, please remember that journalists have the obligation to practice ethical coverage of our event. If you don’t wish to be interviewed, SAY NO. Ask the assistance of the marshals to bring them to the designated spokespersons for the parade. If they ask you to kiss your partner but you feel you don't want to, then DON'T DO IT! It's your prerogative. Use your better judgment!

• There will be a cultural program after the Pride March. We have performances for you, from poetry reading to drag shows. There also post-parade activities: A Pride Mass organized by the Metropolitan Community Church Philippines on December 9, 2007 at 5 PM. Club Government is also organizing the official post-parade party on December 15, 2007. The Ms. U! Bowling Pageant, which is regularly organized by TLF Share Collective (and its non-profit partner, the Bowlibining Charities), will take place on December 16, 2007. More details at www.pridemanila.wordpress.com/events.

eto ang mga official prs.

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LET THE WOMAN-LOVING WOMAN’S VOICE BE HEARD!
JOIN US MAKE HERSTORY!

“The woman-loving woman’s voice must be heard. We must claim our place in the LGBT community, yet ensure that our unique voice as women is heard loud and clear”, said Angie Umbac, President of the Rainbow Rights Project (R-Rights), Inc., when asked why her organization is spearheading the mobilization of the biggest all-women contingent in the 2007 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride March. “We are doing this to define and claim the space for lesbian, bisexual, and queer women in the Philippines”, she added. R-Rights is a group of LGBT lawyers and legal advocates that provides a legal resource center and policy think tank for the LGBT community.

R-Rights is joined by Radar Pridewear, Lunduyan ng Sining, and the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Philippines (UUCP) in this massive effort to organize as many women as possible to march in Malate, Manila on December 8, 2007. The group would like to have the widest representation of lesbian and women’s organizations in the march. Close to eighty women are set to march in support of the fight for visibility and empowerment. They will be joined by straight supporters who recognize the struggles of the woman-loving women community in the country.

“We, at Lunduyan, would like to see gay women represented in all facets of society. It is high time that lesbian, bisexual, and queer women become visible not as sexual deviants but as positive role models for today’s youth”, explained Peach Natividad, Core Member of Lunduyan ng Sining (Sanctuary of Art), a group of young and active woman-loving women that believes in the artistic ability and beautiful vision of lesbians.

According to Rebie Ramoso, Proprietor of Radar Pridewear, “We must remember that December 8 is National Lesbian Day, and it is only fitting that we celebrate this day with a tribute to our identity as woman-loving women. We are also one with Task Force Pride’s theme for this year’s pride march, `Got Pride!’ Lesbian, bisexual, and queer women will be marching with pride not only for their individual achievements in their respective fields, but more importantly, for our collective milestones as an invaluable sector in society.” Radar Pridewear is the first alternative lifestyle line for women in the Philippines.

“The Unitarian Universalist Church of the Philippines will be marching with the theme, `UU Supports LGBTs!’”, explained Tet Gallardo, an active member of UUCP Quezon City. UUCP is a progressive, inclusive, non-dogmatic religious tradition with roots in liberal Christianity. The religious group is an avowed supporter and advocate of LGBT rights worldwide.

Interested parties may contact the organizers at 0917 8870501. Participants are requested to wear plain or predominantly white shirts to the march. Masks will be provided for those who are not out and do not wish to be identified.

Be part of herstory! Join the all-women contingent this Saturday!


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Pinoys got pride, not prejudice:
LGBT Pride March gets bolder and prouder in 2007

The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community will, once again, show off their pride and diversity at the annual LGBT Pride March.

This colorful event will be on December 8, 2007 in Manila’s monumental gay-friendly Malate area. Assembly time is at 3 p.m. at the Rajah Sulayman Park (near Malate Church, facing Baywalk). The parade will go around designated Malate streets and will end up at the Rajah Sulayman stage area where a brief cultural program will be held.

This year’s Pride March theme is “Got Pride!” It is a statement that every proud LGBT person states when asked of their identity – the emboldened decision, passion, and dedication to identify as a person who is true to his or her self, no matter how hard the struggles may be which come with that identity.

LGBTs always get questioned—or worse, harmed and maligned—because of these identities. Prejudice like homophobia and discrimination is very much alive whether in the families or workplace. But pride overrules prejudice any given day. Pride in being, and pride in loving: loving personas that defy societal expectations and norms, and loving one’s self for staying true to their character and principles. Pride is not about being different from the rest of society; it is about happily living and loving within a peaceful society.

The statement could also be a question: “Got Pride?” Stated as such, it becomes a question that is larger than all of us. It is a call to provoke Filipinos, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity, to look beyond stereotypes and understand that pride is inherent in all of us. Pride is an extension of our dignity, and it should evoke honor in who we are.

The Pride March is organized by Task Force Pride (TFP) Philippines, a network of LGBT and LGBT-friendly groups and individuals that seek to promote positive visibility for the LGBT community. Founded in 1999, it is the official organizing network of the annual Pride March. Its member organizations include AKBAYAN Party-list, Ang Ladlad Party-list, TLF SHARE Collective, Inc., U.P. Babaylan, STRAP Philippines, Lesbian Advocates of the Philippines (LeAP!), Womyn Supporting Womyn Center (WSWC), Metropolitan Community Church Manila (MCC) and individuals.

This year’s Pride March partners and sponsors are EZ Lubricating Jelly, Frenzy Condoms, Palawan Bar, Radar Pridewear, Wise Inc., and Government Bar.

For more information, please contact any of the following TFP members:

Eva Callueng (0919 464 1186); Ging Cristobal (0926 684 3831)

Email: tfpmanila@yahoo.com, Website: www.pridemanila.wordpress.com

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Dignidad, 'di diskriminasyon:
LGBT Pride March mas matapang, mas makabuluhan sa 2007

Muli na namang magpapakita ng kinang, sining at galing ang lesbian, gay, bisexual at transgender (LGBT) community sa taunang LGBT Pride March.

Ang magarbo at makulay na paradang ito ay magaganap sa December 8, 2007, Sabado, sa gay-friendly Malate sa Maynila. Ang pagtitipun-tipon ay magsisimula ng 3 p.m. sa Rajah Sulayman Park (malapit sa Malate Church, harap ng Baywalk). Mula roon, dadaan ang parada sa designated routes at muling hahantong sa Rajah Sulayman stage area kung saan isang masayang programa ang magaganap.

Ang tema ng Pride March 2007 ay “Got Pride!” isang deklarasyon ng pagkatao ng bawa’t miyembro ng LGBT community, isang matibay na pagkilala sa karapatan. Isa rin itong paninindigan sa pagkakaroon ng tapat at makataong pagkilala, kahit kaakibat nito ay mga pagsubok sa iba’t ibang larangan.

Ang mga bakla, lesbiyana, bisexual at transgender ay laging kinukuwestiyon ang pagkatao, kung di man inaalipusta o sinasaktan. Iba’t ibang mukha ng diskriminasyon ang kanilang nakakasalamuha sa pang-araw-araw na buhay. Pero laging taob ang diskriminasyon sa dignidad sa anupamang pagsubok -- dignidad sa pamumuhay ng tama, pagmamahal ng tapat, at pakikipagsapalaran ng makabuluhan. Ang pagkakaroon ng “pride” ay pagkakaroon ng siguradong estado at desisyon sa pamumuhay ng mapayapa kasama ang buong lipunan.

Puwede ring maging katanungan ang “Got Pride?” Isa naman itong paghamon sa ating lahat. Isa itong panawagan sa bawa’t Filipino, anupaman ang sexual orientation o gender identity, na lampasan ang pagtingin sa stereotypes, intindihin at unawain na tayong lahat ay dapat mamuhay nang may dignidad. Ang pamumuhay ng may pride at may dignidad ay pamumuhay ng tapat at malaya.

Ang Pride March ay inoorganisa ng Task Force Pride (TFP) Philippines, isang network ng LGBT at LGBT-friendly groups at mga indibidwal na layuning isulong ang positibong imahe ng LGBT community. Itinaguyod noong 1999, ito ang opisyal na organizing network ng taunang Pride March. Ang mga miyembrong organisasyon nito ay AKBAYAN Party-list, Ang Ladlad Party-list, TLF SHARE Collective, Inc., U.P. Babaylan, STRAP Philippines. Lesbian Advocates of the Philippines (LeAP!), Womyn Supporting Womyn Center (WSWC), Metropolitan Community Church Manila (MCC) at mga indibidwal.

Ang Pride March 2007 partners at sponsors ay EZ Lubricating Jelly, Frenzy Condoms, Palawan Bar, Radar Pridewear, Wise Inc., at Government Bar.

Para sa karagdagang impormasyon, kontakin ang sumusunod:

Eva Callueng (0919 464 1186); Ging Cristobal (0926 684 3831);

Email: tfpmanila@yahoo.com Website: www.pridemanila.wordpress.com.