Los Baños raises the rainbow banner for the 6th time.
University of the Philippines-Los Baños (UPLB) observed the Southern Tagalog Pride March 2016, the sixth time this happened in the first class urban municipality in the province of Laguna.
Organized by UPLB Babaylan, the university’s LGBT organization, the annual gathering was backed by UPLB University Student Council, CEAT Student Council – University of the Philippines Los Baños, UPLB College of Development Communication Student Council, UP College of Forestry and Natural Resources Student Council, College of Human Ecology Student Council , UPLB Gender Center, and UPLB Office of the Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs – OVCCA. Outrage Magazine was the media partner.
According to Tonette Aclan, who helms UPLB Babaylan, this year’s gathering was a way to show that “we are not afraid”; with being afraid still a common experience among members of the LGBT community, considering the discrimination they may encounter in various situations. Aclan added that being able to hold Pride “makes the campus safer for people like us.”
Two main issues were pushed by this year’s gathering. On the one hand, there’s the integration of LGBT issues in mainstream issues, highlighting intersectionalities. For Aclan, “straight or LGBT, sa atin ito (Pride is ours)”.
On the other hand, there’s the need to continue pushing for the passage of the anti-discrimination law to “end gender discrimination”.
But for Aclan, “education is the key to all these – in facing discrimination, in facing hate.”
UPLB Babaylan is continuing with the educating with SOGIE 101 trainings/workshops; and discussions on HIV and AIDS.
Organizational sponsors for this year’s Pride included The UP Community Broadcasters’ Society Inc., UPLB Sophia Circle, Kapatirang Plebeians UPLB Curia, Umalohokan Inc., Unesco Club UP Los Baños, UP Alliance of Development Communication Students and UP Chi Epsilon Sorority.
