see you saturday! the UPFI contingent might join forces with the official UP CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION contingent at the PRIDE MARCH. sama-sama mga taga-peyups!
for those who are wary of being OUTED BY MARCHING and for other REASONS FOR THE MARCH, read this:
2008 MANILA PRIDE MARCH 6 December 2008, 1pm, Remedios Circle, Malate, Manila, Philippines
>> Guidelines: Dealing with Media and Press <<
A few guidelines and tips to make your life easier when there are members of the Press hovering at the Pride March assembly.
Say NO if you don't want to be interviewed or photographed. Tell them politely and ask the assistance of the Marshals.You don't have to give in to the requests of the Press. 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!
The Press does not have the authority to stop the march either to take pictures or ask for an interview. They can interview your group BEFORE and/or AFTER the march.
When delivering your message, remember KISS -- Keep it simple, Sister! Keep it short and sweet!
If you are not sure of your answer, please refer the Press to the TFP Spokespersons. They are at the Registration Table at Remedios Circle.
Be Prepared. Take your time to gather your thoughts when answering questions. Remember that you are representing your group. Always emphasize that it is your opinion (or your group's) and not of the entire community.
10 Fast Facts About the 2008 Manila Pride March
1) What is the Pride March all about?
Pride marches (also known as pride parades, pride events, and pride festivals) started out as gay (and lesbian) freedom marches. These events celebrate sexuality, sexual orientation, and gender identity, as well as the rights, welfare, and culture of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgenders, intersexed, and queers (LGBTIQs).
Early on the morning of Saturday, 28 June 1969, LGBTs rioted following a police raid on a gay bar called the Stonewall Inn in New York City, USA. The Stonewall riots are generally considered to be the beginning of the modern LGBT rights movement, as it was the first time in modern history that a significant body of LGBT people resisted arrest and stood up for their rights to exist and celebrate life.
On 28 June 1970, the first anniversary of the riots, the Gay Liberation Front organized the first Gay Freedom March in New York City in commemoration of the Stonewall riots. Other marches were simultaneously held in California, USA and have continued around the world ever since.On 26 June 1994, the 25th anniversary year of the Stonewall riots, Manila became host to the first-ever Pride March in the Philippines and in Asia. This momentous event was organized by the Progressive Organization of Gays in the Philippines (PROGAY) and was co-sponsored by the Metropolitan community Church (MCC) Manila. On that historic day, Filipino LGBTs braved the rain to march from EDSA down to Quezon Avenue and around the Quezon City Memorial Circle as part of the global commemoration of the Stonewall riots.
In the years 1996, 1997 and 1998 it was ReachOut Foundation International that organized and produced the Manila LGBT Pride March. In 1999, Task Force Pride (TFP) Philippines was founded and has been carrying in it march, the passage of the Anti-Discrimination Bill (ADB) crafted by the Lesbian and Gay Legislative Advocacy Network (LAGABLAB) Philippines. The ADB, still pending in Congress, is authored and sponsored by former Representative Etta Rosales of Akbayan Party-list.
In 2005, at the height of the political crisis rocking the Arroyo Administration, concerned LGBTs came together to organize the First Philippine LGBT Freedom March. The March was aimed at thwarting threats to freedoms and liberties of Filipinos in general and Filipino LGBTs in particular. In response to the Administration’s twin policies of “no permit, no rally” and “Calibrated Pre-emptive Response” (CPR) to organized and peaceful dissent and assemblies, the LGBT Freedom March Organizing Committee formulated the theme “CPR: Celebrating Pride and Rights.” On 10 December 2005, individuals and members of groups and networks Task Force Pride (TFP) Philippines and PROGAY marched side by side in the spirit of unity, friendship, and militant glamour along the streets of España and Quiapo underpass all the way to the historical Plaza Miranda. To date, not only is the LGBT Freedom March of 2005 in Manila one of the most socio-politically relevant LGBT marches in Philippine history, it also remains to be the biggest and most diverse LGBT march in terms of participants and audience.
2) What is Task Force Pride (TFP) Philippines?In 1999, Task Force Pride (TFP) Philippines was officially founded as an organizing network of the annual Pride March in Manila. TFP is a network of LGBT groups and individuals, as well as of LGBT-friendly groups/individuals, that seeks to promote positive visibility for the LGBT community. This year’s Pride March is particularly significant as it marks TFP’s 10th year which coincides with the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR60) and the launch in Manila of the Yogyakarta Principles, an international declaration and instrument which affirms sexual orientation and gender identity and expression as part of fundamental human rights.
3) When and where will the 2008 Manila Pride March be held?
This year’s Pride March will be held on 6 December 2008 (Saturday), from 3:00 to 5:00 pm. On-site registration and assembly is from 1:00 to 2:30 pm at the Remedios Circle, Malate or you can pre-register your participation online at www.manilapride2008.com.
The route of this year’s March is: Remedios Circle - Remedios Street - Mabini - Pedro Gil - Ma. Orosa Street. The March will be followed by the coronation of Miss Queen Philippines, the official Pride Queen of the 2008 Manila Pride March, and a brief cultural program showcasing both LGBT and LGBT-supportive talents. The March will culminate in a street party along Maria Orosa Street by the Orosa-Nakpil Courtyard.
4) Why will the 2008 Manila Pride March be held in December?In 2003, TFP decided to move the Manila Pride March to December primarily to make the event closer to the 1-10 December Human Rights Week, which includes World AIDS Day, International Lesbian Day, and International Human Rights Day. In addition, the Pride Season was also expanded so that pride celebrations in Manila start in June (the International Pride Month) and culminate in the Pride March on the first Saturday of December.
5) What is the theme of the 2008 Manila Pride March?
This year’s Pride March pays tribute to: Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Loves, Our Selves. Thus, the 2008 Manila Pride March is expected to be the most visually spectacular to date. Participants are encouraged to put on our best fairytale and fantasy costume, design our float accordingly, and help transform the streets of Malate into a bursting display of rainbow colors and pride. The March is open to all human rights- and equal rights-believing individuals regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity.
6) Why should Filipino LGBTs come out and celebrate Pride? Coming out or “coming out of the closet” describes the usually voluntary public revealing of a person's sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Being "out" is considered the opposite of being closeted and usually refers to sexuality and gender minorities. Coming out is an important process in a person’s coming to terms with her/his sexuality. It's hard not to come out. It's hard to feel fully good about ourselves if we have an important secret that we can't tell anyone. That kind of hiding reinforces the belief that there is something shameful or faulty about being LGBT. In truth, there is nothing wrong with being LGBT. There is something wrong with a world that makes us feel ashamed or afraid because of who we are. Acknowledging a part of ourselves that goes against what most people feel comfortable with is truly a brave thing to do. It doesn't mean that we’re not scared. Being brave is about continuing to do what we need to do -- in spite of the fear.
7) Why should families and friends of LGBTs and other straight people support the Pride March?
The Pride March is a celebration of equality among all persons regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Families and friends of LGBTs and other straight people should support the LGBT community and our cause because we want nothing more than equal rights – that is, to be treated by society with respect and dignity and to be free to love those whom we love.
Our message to our families and friends: do not fear the unknown. Get to know your family member or friend who just happens to be LGBT. We are the same gay father, lesbian daughter, or transgender son that you have always known and loved. Be involved in our lives but respect boundaries. All we want is equal treatment. You have taught us to demand to be treated with respect. That is all we are doing.
8) What does the rainbow flag signify? The rainbow flag, sometimes called “the freedom flag”, was popularized as a symbol of LGBT pride and diversity by a San Francisco artist in 1978. The different colors symbolize diversity and the flag is used predominantly at pride events worldwide in various forms including banners, clothing, and jewelry. For the 25th Anniversary of the Stonewall riots, a mile-long rainbow flag was created and post-parade cut up in sections that have since been used around the world.
Originally created with eight colors, the rainbow flag now consists of six colored stripes. Aside from the symbolism of a diverse LGBT community, the colors were designed to symbolize: red (life), orange (healing), yellow (sunlight), green (nature), blue (harmony), and purple/violet (spirit). It is most commonly flown with the red stripe on top, as the colors appear in a natural rainbow.
9) What terms are usually preferred to refer to members of the LGBT community?
The terms lesbian, lesbiyana, tomboy, gay men, bakla or bading are usually preferred to describe someone attracted to persons of the same sex. A bisexual is someone who is attracted to both women and men.
Transgender is an umbrella term for people whose gender identity and/or gender expression differs from the sex they were assigned at birth. The term may include but is not limited to: transsexuals, cross-dressers, and other gender-variant people. Many transgender people identify as female-to-male (FTM) or male-to-female (MTF). It is suggested that the descriptive term (transgender, transsexual, cross-dresser, FTM or MTF) preferred by the transgender person be used. Transgender people may or may not choose to alter their bodies hormonally and/or surgically.
A person need not have had any sexual experience at all to identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.
10) What terms are generally considered derogatory to members of the LGBT community?
Terms like “fag”, “faggot”, “binabae”, “AC-DC”, “homo”, “sodomite”, “queen”, “she-male”, “he-she”, “it”, “trannie”, “tranny”, “gender-bender” and similar epithets are generally considered derogatory. Because of the clinical history of the term “homosexual”, it has been adopted by anti-gay extremists to suggest that lesbians and gay men are somehow psychologically/emotionally disordered. Filipino gay men may fondly call each other bakla or bading, while Filipino lesbians may jokingly call each other dyke or tomboy and it will not be considered derogatory usage because some terms historically considered offensive have been reclaimed by the LGBT community to disempower hate speech. Hence, it is important to remember that the power of a word is always relative to the context in which it is used.
