MANILA, Philippines - Gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transexuals and their supporters paraded around the streets of Quezon City wearing fabulous costumes and riding colorful floats to celebrate gay pride on December 4.
Collectively known as LGBT who are tolerated within the Philippine society, they are pushing for legal rights, including coverage in civil partnership, protection against discrimination at work, in school and hospitals, among others.
This year's theme is "One Love" to highlight that "we are all one humanity who shaare the same love," explains Rica Paras, a former reality show Pinoy Big Brother housemate who is currently the vice president of STRAP, or Transexual Women of the Philippines.
"We are in the streets because we want to declare that we exist while, at the same time, asking for compassion and sympathy [because] we are marginalized and we are seeking a quality life," Paras added.
"We are in the process of making sure that the anti-discrimination bill is passed in congress to protect the LGBT community," Paras stressed to ABS-CBN News.
Gatherings of the LGBT members and supporters are crucial to the efforts in pushing legislation like the Anti-Discrimination Bill, stressed Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro Casiño.
"The anti-discrimination bill has been stalled in the past... But, as we have seen tonight, the LGBT community and their supporters are growing in size. I think that, eventually, we will reach a critical mass for legistators to reconside their earlier positions against any bill respecting the rights of the LGBTs," he explained to ABS-CBN News.
"Congress has a macho culture. Despite its posturing that it is a democratic institution, in many ways, it is still difficult to push for democratic legislation. Plus, the fact also that the Philippines, being a predominantly Catholic country, [brings in] a religious aspect [into the congressional debates]. These are the things we are up against," he said.
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