The city of Puerto Princesa in Palawan is scheduled to mark Pride on June 25, from 2:00PM. Due to the limitations imposed by COVID-19, however, the 2021 Puerto Princesa Pride will be held virtually/online.
Puerto Princesa City is one of the local government units (LGUs) with its own Anti-Discrimination Ordinance. “But we still have a long way to go in raising awareness on various issues such as discrimination and violence against the community,” said Amie Perez, media director of Roots of Health (Ugat ng Kalusugan), which is organizing this years gathering.
Perez added that COVID-19 and its consequences on human rights and provision of basic services highlight “the more reason to celebrate and commemorate Pride.”
“The LGBTQIA community continues to experience discrimination at work, school, in health care, and even in their own homes, and the pandemic has made this even worse. Many of us have lost opportunities to connect as a community, especially with the still ongoing community quarantines,” Perez said.
Themed “RAVAARRN: Revolt Against Violence, Activate Allies, Rise as a Rainbow Nation”, the online event will feature SOGIESC 101 discussions, performances from local drag artists, and messages from LGBTQIA advocates and organizations from all over the country.
Watch “RAVAARRN: Revolt Against Violence, Activate Allies, Rise as a Rainbow Nation” in Facebook, via USAPANG K.
Aaron Bonette is a batang beki - a "cisgender gay man, if you will", he says. He established EU Bahaghari in Enverga University in Lucena, where he was one of the leaders to mainstream discussions of LGBT issues particularly among the youth. He is currently helping out LGBT community organizing, believing that it is when we work together that we are strongest ("Call me idealistic, I don't care!" he says). He writes for Outrage Magazine to provide the youth perspective - meaning, he tries to be serious even as he tries to "party, party, party", befitting his newbie status.
