Hundreds of members from various progressive groups and their allies joined the Stonewall Philippines Pride March held on Recto Avenue, Manila on June 26. The march, led by Bahaghari, were blocked by the police and was unable to reach Mendiola.

According to Bahaghari, the march embodied the spirit of the historic Stonewall Manila, which was launched on June 26, 1994 and led by the Progressive Organization of Gays in the Philippines (Pro Gay) and the Metropolitan Community Church. This event marked the first pride march in the Philippines and in all of Asia, where participants fought for issues such as independence and economic, social, and political rights.

The protesters carried rainbow flags and placards calling for the passage of the SOGIE Bill, a living wage, jobs, genuine land reform and national industrialization, an independent foreign policy, freedom for Palestine and other causes, as well as photos of martyrs from the LGBTQ+ community such as Alex Dolorosa, Chad Booc, Ryan Hubilla, and Ali Macalintal.

During the program, Bahaghari chairperson Reyna Valmores Salinas explained the meaning of pride as protest and the demands of the LGBTQ+ community. Various groups expressed support for the community and called for genuine gender equality, the fight against poverty, and an end to the government’s wars and corruption. Director Joel Lamangan also delivered a statement about the important role of LGBT people in society and the need to hold the state accountable for ongoing blatant corruption.

The groups organized various cultural performances. Highlights included a drag performance by Gabriela She Lang to Katseye’s song ‘Gabriela’ and Maria Chrisina’s rendition of ‘rolling in the deep’ in front of the police. In the final part of the program, participants paid high tribute to martyrs of the revolution such as Kal Peralta, Ciela May Pacaldo, Joe Lapira, Wendell Gumban, and Dee Supelanas.