UP GO, UP PRIDE: The stories behind the rainbow at UP Pride March 2017

The Pride March at the University of the Philippines - Diliman on Friday comes at the heels of the news that the Anti-Discrimination Bill (ADB) has passed its second reading at the House of Representatives.

Despite inching closer to a possible victory, the mood at the march feels more vigilant than celebratory. Now more than ever, the community stands united in calling for the protection of LGBTQ+ rights and, in effect, all human rights.

On Friday, individuals and groups gathered to declare their love for equality and asserted the importance of passing the ADB. Members of religious organizations and straight allies joined the ranks.

These are their stories.

Jeric, gay

"Anuman ang kasarian mo...ladyboy, transgender, straight or kung ano ka pa man at sinuman ang sinasampalataya mo, nirerespeto ka ng LGBTS Christian Church ng walang pagtatangi, walang pahuhusga or kahit na ano pa mang diskriminasyon. As long as buhay 'yong pananampalataya mo, kahit kanina pa 'yan o kung ano pa man 'yan, pantay-pantay pa rin tayo.

"According to Reverend CJ Agbayani, siya 'yong founder ng LGBTS Christian Church at nag-aral talaga siya sa theological school, kahit n'ong unang panahon, mayroon na talagang mga katulad namin. Ang pananaw lang ng ibang tao at ng ibang mga sumasalungat dito is salot kami...which is wrong, kasi noon pa man mayroon na ngang mga katulad namin."

Jap, queer

"I guess nasasabi ng mga tao [na hindi importante ang Anti-Discrimination Bill] kasi they're speaking from a perspective of privilege. Siguro if they were in our shoes, they would think differently. Nasasabi lang nila na the passage of the Anti-Discrimination Bill is unimportant and irrelevant kasi they don't experience the discrimination that we experience first-hand.

"As long as may nadidiscriminate, as long as may nasasaktan, as long as may pinapatay based on their sexual orientation and gender identity and expression, it is not safe for people with diverse SOGIE to live in this country. We need a law like this to protect us and to ensure that our rights are asserted."

Ruben, bisexual and genderqueer

"When I went to study abroad, I didn't know anyone. By that time, I was already part of UP Babaylan, I was already kind of out here in the country with my friends and with my family. When I was in Japan, it was like a whole new thing again and I didn't know to whom I should come out.

"The first one that I came out to was 'yong kasama ko sa kabilang kwarto. He happened to be a Muslim, he came from Brunei. I was so scared.

"He said na parang lately umaalis ka sa amin, sa mga boys ganiyan, you're not mingling na with us. In the end I told him, 'sorry, kasi I'm bisexual and I'm scared na baka you wouldn't be accepting of me and you wouldn't be friends with me anymore and I wouldn't enjoy the whole exchange program.'

"And then he said no and told me that, in fact, he has gay friends and he showed me pictures on Facebook. From then on, parang mas naging super strong ako pagdating sa pag-out ko sa sarili ko.

"Coming out abroad 'yong talagang naramdaman ko na pagkabalik ko dito... d'on ko na-feel na anywhere I go, I could be out. Mas naging matibay ako sa pag-out ko o sa pag-accept ko sa sarili ko kasi it's a different step to come out to a stranger."

Sam, non-binary and genderqueer

"I realized I was gender queer a few years after I came out, I thought I was just bi or within the spectrum of bi and gay. Meeting a friend in the Philippines who is also genderqueer made me realize that I identify as genderqueer also and I feel that a lot of drag queens have influenced me in that aspect, because they kind of go into genderfuck. Especially with queens such as Helvetica, Loris, Vander, a lot of other queens, they don't just rely on conventional pretty — they go monster levels.

"Ironically, I have a dislike for horror movies, but I identify with a lot of like Maleficent, Ursula, all of the Disney villains. I think, just from drag queens, 'Ru Paul's Drag Race' has made a very profound effect on me, as well as The Boulet Brothers' Dragula.

"I just realized that I was genderqueer a few years ago and I haven't looked back since. I feel that there is a lot of confusion here in the Philippines, especially with the term 'bakla'. People use it as a sort of umbrella term and it kind of excludes several other groups and I kind of wanted to give my perspective and give representation to the groups which I belong to. So it's more on the status of representation and trying to correct language.

Danielle, non-binary and genderqueer

"When people have hate for the LGBT, I think a lot of it comes from ignorance. I grew up in UAE and there, and no one was out. I didn't know anyone that was out. So it's easy to imagine people in this community as the 'other'...as a set of stereotypes rather than actual people you know, but I think you'll find when you really get to know LGBT people, it's harder to hate them.

"A lot of Christians might say, for example, that they will love the person but hate the sin or that they love you but they don't support your lifestyle. And that's actually where I came from several years ago, because I felt like since that's what I was taught that the Bible said, that's what I had to believe in...and it didn't mesh with my understanding as I got to know people in the LGBT community of a loving and accepting god...a god who is love.

"Once you understand that sexual orientation or gender identity aren't choices that people make...well for me, I found that it was...I couldn't in good conscience not support the LGBT community."

Pastor Joseph, gay

"Of course people of faith are also part of the community. I'm not sure how many but I think, just my assumption, majority of people here were raised in a Christian or Roman Catholic family, so spirituality is still very much part of many LGBT people's lives. So it is important that an affirming church is also present in the Pride March.

"I was raised Roman Catholic, but I am now serving in Metropolitan Community Church. As early as second year high school I remember saying these words specifically to God: 'God I am like this, whether you like it or not, this is me, you accept me for who I am.'

"Of course at the time I was not yet theologically savvy. At some point in 2010, I found Metropolitan Community Church and it is an LGBT affirming church. And there I was able to reawaken my calling to the ministry, because at a very young age I wanted to be a priest.

"I felt I had a calling to be a priest, but because I'm gay, I knew that the Catholic church cannot openly accept an openly gay man...gay boy. So when I found MCC, I found that I can be gay and pastor.

"MCC helped me theologically and biblically to find out that God does not condemn LGBT. We have theological, biblical basis to say that at the heart of it is about love. Jesus says, 'love one another as I have loved you. By this, you will be known my followers if you have love for one another.' So you will not be known as a Christian if you know Bible verses like Manny Pacquiao or if you give 10 percent to your church. You will not even be known as a follower of Christ if you are a Christian. Jesus just says, 'love one another and by that you will be known to be a follower of God.'"

Joey, pansexual

"As someone who belongs in the LGBT community, I get a sort of happiness that I cannot get anywhere else. By marching, I am showing that I am fighting together with so many people for equal rights for everyone. That's why I think it's important for me to be marching here today.

"Aside from the happiness that I cannot get anywhere else, this is my way of fighting for everyone's rights. The very first time I joined pride parade or I marched was at UP Manila. It was, I forgot the date, but it was the very first Pride March at UP Manila. I was a freshman and I decided to go with my friend and we decided to cosplay as Prince Gumball and Marshall Lee. I was Marshall Lee and she was Prince Gumball and when we were marching I thought it was exciting but then I didn't think it would be such a big deal to me because it's 'just a march.'

"But then, when we marched, I just felt like I belonged, like there was nothing wrong with me. For someone who lives in a world where people keep saying, 'oh, that is wrong, that's not normal', it just felt so beautiful to be there and be myself."

Megan, straight

"Equality should be for all, not just for people like me who are straight, but also for those who are lesbians, gays...basically the whole LGBT community. I'm here to promote love for everybody, because love shouldn't just be based on gender, it should also be based on what we feel and for who we feel it for. That's why I'm here."

Betsy, pansexual

"For me, when I say pansexual, I say I like all genders but it's also in the sense that I especially look at one's personality or like when some people say 'hearts not parts'. So they look first on what they see inside rather than what one looks outside.

"You can't always say male or female, because there are people who are not just male or female. I'm gender fluid, it's a big part of my identity and I want others to know and to realize that there are also other people out there other than these two common genders."

Jupa, cis male and straight

"We need this separate bill, because this a recognition on the part of our legislators and on our part na there is discimination, na as much as we want to treat everyone equally, as much as I personally believe na we are all equal, I believe that our society is not yet there.

"Therefore, Congress needs to enact a bill that would cater to this inequality while we're going to that direction. For example, this ADB, this seeks to prevent discrimination sa office space na we believe is sobrang kailangan ngayon because ang daming instances ng pag-didiscriminate sa office.

"Actually hindi lang about gender 'yong sa ADB eh I believe na this is a necessary first step if you want to go in the direction of total equality.

"As a straight person, I want to show my support. I want to show the LGBTQI community na hindi lang sila nag-iisa. Na they are not surrounded by bigots, by misogynists, and by people who don't understand. Na may mga katulad ko rin na will always be there to support them, to protect them, to always fight for them, and 'yong ba sa laban nila na 'to, may kasama sila palagi. And that's why I always want to be present — actually, this is my third Pride March na, and 'yon din, part siya ng advocacy ko. I even encourage my friends and everyone na pumunta just to show our support.

"Ayaw ko namang i-take 'yong limelight doon sa battle nila from them but I just want to show them na I'm here, na you have people na can understand you and are there for you." — LA, GMA News

Minor edits were made to the responses for clarity and style.