The city of Lucena hosted the second Pride march in Quezon Province, with members of the LGBT community, as well as allies calling for the establishment of a safe space and the respect for human rights for all. This call of the event – led by LGBT organization EU Bahaghari – was particularly highlighted this year when the supposed venue, Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation, refused at the last minute to allow the event from taking place within its premises, forcing it to be re-scheduled and moved in Lucena City’s Pacific Mall premises.
According to Aaron Bonette, founding chair of EU Bahaghari and concurrent representative for youth issues of Outrage Magazine, this year’s march was “a call not only to LGBT people but all Filipinos… to struggle for everyone’s fundamental human rights and fight against the culture of violence, discrimination and impunity that still pervade Filipino lives.”
The march also particularly highlighted the need to end to extra-judicial and drug-related killings, and to condemn the burial of the late Pres. Ferdinand E. Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
Joining EU Bahaghari were youth and rights groups and formations, including Anak ng Quezon and Karapatan Quezon.
Future plans include the broadening of the Pride march, so that “we intentionally bring it outside the confines of the university (the former venue); and to involve as many of the members of the local community as possible,” Bonette said. “Pride is for everyone, and we should start ensuring Pride reaches everyone.”
ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF QUEZON REELS
