PHOTO COURTESY OF MCC-MB
Metropolitan Community Church of Metro Baguio (MCC-MB) concluded the 1st Cordillera LGBT Arts Festival with a series of trainings and workshops targeting LGBT artists. Participants underwent a four-day workshop on human rights, culture, sexuality, spirituality and HIV and AIDS. They were also mentored in the fields of theater, poetry writing and visual arts.
According to the festival’s project head, Pastor Myke Sotero, the festival hopes to raise awareness on issues affecting the LGBT community, particularly the growing HIV epidemic among young people in Baguio City.
“We need fight stereotyping and stigma affecting our community and think of creative ways of self-expression to be able to educate society on social issues,” Sotero said. “LGBT people are known for their love for arts and creativity and we need to maximize this potential among our young artists who are LGBT.”
As part of the festival’s workshop and training output, participants mounted a public showcase of their works at the Rainbow Barracks, 4th floor, NRC Bldg., Abanao St., Baguio City. A highlight for the two-day showcase is a theatrical presentation entitled “Burnham Stories”, which tackles the life and journey of ordinary LGBT people in the city.
