All roads to LGBT Pride will lead to Cebu City this December 1-3, with the Queen City of the South hosting the first-ever Visayas-wide Pride festival and the 4th LGBT National Conference.
Themed “Pasigarbo sa Pagkatawo (Behold our Identity)”, the event eyes to “host – for the first time – a Visayas-led national celebration of LGBT Pride via the festival; just as it will provide a venue for us to look closely where we are in facing the continuing challenges in the LGBT movement so we know what else needs to be done to hasten our social inclusion,” said Roxanne Omega Doron, head of Bisdak Pride Inc., which is co-organizing the event with Outrage Magazine, the only LGBT publication in the Philippines.
EVENTS LINED UP
This early, there are already numerous events lined up for “Pasigarbo sa Pagkatawo”.
Kicking off the event will be 4th LGBT National Conference from December 1-3, which will gather LGBT community leaders and members to identify key issues that continue to affect the local LGBT community, particularly vis-à-vis the past three national conferences. This will be the first time that the national conference will be held outside of Luzon; and the first time that an organization not from Metro Manila will be helming it.
According to Michael David dela Cruz Tan, publishing editor of Outrage Magazine, of particular interest in this year’s gathering is the “bringing of a ‘national’ discussion out of Metro Manila to ensure not only better representation, but bigger participation of those who would otherwise continue to be ignored”.
Tan was the documenter for the 3rd LGBT National Conference held in 2013 by USAID and UNDP; and the writer of the Being LGBT in Asia: Philippines Country Report, which delved into the LGBT issues tackled during the 2013 gathering.
“To win the fight for social inclusion means ensuring we reach as many people – LGBT or not – as possible. And this is a rare opportunity to do that,” Tan said.
The discussions in “Pasigarbo sa Pagkatawo” will include LGBT community organizing to help local LGBT communities stand up for themselves; disaster risk management, particularly with LGBT people among those affected and yet not served when calamities strike; livelihood workshops; role of religion in making an all-inclusive society; and LGBT participation in State moves, such as federalism and the Bangsamoro Basic Law.
But there will also be celebratory events, including theater performances, photo exhibits, events related to the International World AIDS Day (December 1) and International Human Rights Week, among others; with a Pride march and parade capping the festival, happening on Dec. 3.
For those interested to have their events listed as part of the festival, contact the secretariat of “Pasigarbo sa Pagkatawo”.
COME ONE, COME ALL
‘“Pasigarbo sa Pagkatawo’ was designed to strengthen the ranks of the LGBT community, as well as institute activities that will enhance strong collaboration of all sectors,” said Doron. As such, “we eye for this to be a success – and it will be.”
So come December 1-3, head to Cebu City for “Pasigarbo sa Pagkatawo”.
FINAL SCHEDULES OF ACTIVITIES FOR “PASIGARBO SA PAGKATAWO” WILL BE POSTED ONCE FINALIZED.
BE PART OF “PASIGARBO SA PAGKATAWO”.
FOR SPONSORSHIP OR PARTNERSHIP PACKAGES; AS WELL AS FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST TO ATTEND THE EVENTS LINED UP FOR “PASIGARBO SA PAGKATAWO”, CONTACT Bisdak Pride Inc. (+639176732288) or Outrage Magazine (+639287854244, +639157972229).
