Iloilo City will be having its first LGBT Pride celebration this June 25 at The Excursion Café, Jaro, Iloilo City, from 6:00PM onwards. Themed “Su-GAY-lanon”, the event will not only be a gathering of the Ilonggo LGBTQIA community, but also an expression of solidarity with the #PulseOrlando victims.
June is widely regarded as the LGBT Pride month, marking the spark of the modern LGBT movement via the Stonewall Riots in 1969.
In the Philippines, there is an annual LGBT Pride March in Metro Manila, also done in June. Other Pride events are held in the cities of Davao, Bacolod, Tacloban, Quezon and Baguio, among others.
“Su-GAY-lanon” comes from the Hiligaynon term “sugilanon”, which means “to tell a story” or “to share something in a conversation”. The Iloilo Pride celebration will, therefore, involve events that will highlight the local LGBTQIA community’s stories, with various mini-events within already lined up for the gathering.
PRIDE Talks will gather LGBTQIA advocates to share their stories of struggle as members of the community. PRIDE Flicks will show films that deal with hate crimes and other life hurdles that members of the LGBTQIA community go through. PRIDE MUSIC will exhibit the talents of local comedians, performers and drag queens. PRIDE TRIVIA a “little twist” in the event’s program, with the flashing of bits and facts about the LGBTQIA movement since its birth in the late 1960s. PRIDE FOOD will be served by the Excursion Café staff and crew. And PRIDE RAFFLE will give a chance to everyone at the event to go home with prizes.
For more information, call (+63) 9999285163 or visit https://www.facebook.com/events/276034212786911/.
