This June 2023, LGBTQIA organization Bahaghari announced its campaign for a PhP750 wage hike across-the-board, the passage of the SOGIESC Equality Bill, and the pursuit of government policies for pro-Filipino instead of pro-foreigner development.
“What does it mean to be an LGBTQ+ Filipino today? It is to be plunged into a country that is currently marred by soaring prices and stagnating wages. It is to be confronted with a new Marcos admin that has—and let’s state it bluntly—seemingly nothing but anti-LGBT, anti-Filipino, pro-foreigner policies prioritized. All these, on top of the daily discrimination and gender-based violence we face, over which the new admin has remained radio silent,” said Reyna Valmores, Bahaghari’s chairperson.
“Kaya ngayong Pride, dapat lang lumaban tayo. Dapat lang mag-ACCLASAN tayo para sa kongkretong tugon sa mga problema ng LGBT: dagdag-sahod, SOGIE bill, soberanya, at karapatang pantao,” Valmores added.
In pursuit of this campaign, Bahaghari participated at the Metro Manila Pride March and Festival in Makati City and Quezon City Pride Festival, and directly led major Pride activities, particularly Southern Tagalog Pride, Metro Baguio Pride, and Central Luzon Pride.
“On this year’s Pride, Bahaghari is leading and participating in numerous Pride marches that also mark the first year of Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s presidency. At present, Marcos’ supermajority Senate is keeping the SOGIE Equality Bill rotting, with Sen. Joel Villanueva refusing to allow the bill to prosper in his committee. Meanwhile, ‘corrections’ on the anti-poor, anti-LGBT Maharlika Investment Fund can be done through Viber, a blatant disregard for transparency and democratic processes. Pride is a means for our demands to be heard,” Valmores continued.
Still, Bahaghari called on the LGBTQ+ community to intensify its voice beyond Pride month: “Let us sustain our demands as we confront the Marcos Jr. administration this year at his upcoming 2nd State of the Nation Address,” Valmores ended.
