As a move against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and expression (SOGIE), LGBT community groups from all over the Philippines slated National Day of Outrage, a nationwide protest action, on October 24. This day is being set aside “to honor the life of Jennifer Laude; and to bring attention to the injustice of her death and others like her.”
Protest actions will happen simultaneously on October 24 at 4:00 PM at Quezon City (UP Sunken Garden), Cebu City (Fuente Osmena), General Santos City (Plaza Heneral Santos), and Legaspi City (venue TBA). There will also be a solidarity event at Leiden in The Netherlands. Meanwhile, students at the Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies at Mahidol University and concerned individuals in Thailand organized a discussion-forum on gender-based violence and violence against women and LGBT people, also on October 24.
The National Day of Outrage was organized by: Society of Transsexual Women of the Philippines (STRAP), CURLS Cebu,Gender and Development Advocates (GANDA) Filipinas, PinoyFTM, Association of Transgender People in the Philippines, Rainbow Rights Project Inc., TLF Share, GALANG Philippines, UP Babaylan, Outrage Magazine, Philwomen on Asean, Task Force Pride (TFP) Philippines, Babaylanes, Akbayan LGBT, FEIST Magazine, MCCQC – Metropolitan Community Church of Quezon City, DAKILA, USC UP Diliman, and SHINE Gen. San.
“This was organized to provide space for the LGBT community and its allies not only to express their collective anger over Jennifer’s death, but also their aspirations,” said Naomi Fontanos, executive director of GANDA Filipinas, a human rights advocacy organization led by transgender women in the Philippines. “Jennifer Laude’s passing is a pivotal moment in our nation’s history as her death exposed the historical marginalization of LGBT people in the Philippines, and therefore should be a platform to call for badly needed social change.”
The National Day of Outrage is also premised on the idea that Jennifer, and others like her, did not die in vain.
Similarly, “it is a call to action specifically for the Philippine government to address violence and discrimination in our society. It should be viewed as an extension of the movement to change the culture of violence in the Philippines, to protect and promote human rights and to advocate for peace,” Fontanos added.
For those attending the National Day of Outrage, wear white and bring candles and rainbow ribbons.
For those who wish to organize National Day of Outrage activities in their areas on October 24, coordinate with justiceforjennifer@gmail.com, tlfmanila@gmail.com or pat_bringas@yahoo.com.
