Southern Tagalog Pride march condemns 25th year without SOGIE equality law

LAGUNA, Philippines – The downpour did not dampen the blazing spirit of Pride in Southern Tagalog as advocates marched for LGBTQIA+ rights along Lopez Avenue in Los Baños, Laguna, on Saturday, June 27. If anything, their rainbow flags only shone brighter against the gloomy weather’s backdrop.

Clutching their colorful signs and banners, they called for the immediate passage of the SOGIE equality bill, which seeks to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics (SOGIESC), as well as age, class, status, ethnicity, color, disability, and religious and political beliefs.

It’s been 25 years since the bill was first filed. 

The bill would have to be refiled again for deliberation of the 20th Congress. This has been the cyclical fate of the bill since it was first filed in Congress.

The protesters wanted to reemphasize that the bill ensures equal rights and protection for all by penalizing discriminatory practices against any person. With the prevailing cases of SOGIESC-based violence in the country, they call for the prioritization of the bill.

Discriminatory acts prohibited under the bill include denying employment, education, healthcare, housing, or public services based on SOGIESC; imposing harsher penalties in schools; refusing legal recognition to groups; abusing persons deprived of liberty; and conducting baseless searches or forced procedures. It also highlights the protection of children from harm for expressing their SOGIESC.

One key message echoed throughout the march: “Pride is a protest.”

This year’s Pride centered on the continued fight for rights not just as a community but as Filipinos, stressed Lau Reyes, national spokesperson of KASARIAN: Alliance for Filipino LGBTQI+ Empowerment.

“Kita natin na after 25 years ay patuloy pa rin talagang hinaharang ang SOGIESC equality bill. Nandiyan din ‘yung iba’t ibang kaso ng diskriminasyon [at] abuso sa iba’t ibang miyembro ng komunidad. Actually, this year nga nakapagtala tayo ng apat na agad na pagpatay sa ating mga kapatid na trans woman. Very alarming siya,” said Reyes.

(We can see that even after 25 years, the SOGIESC equality bill continues to be deliberately blocked. There are also various cases of discrimination and abuse against different members of the community. In fact, just this year, we’ve already recorded four cases of trans women being killed. It’s very alarming.)

Challenge

Reyes also called out prominent LGBTQIA+ personalities Ricky Reyes and Renee Salud for their “very antagonizing” views on same-sex marriage and the fight for LGBTQIA+ rights, made in an interview with Tony Gonzaga on her YouTube channel.

In the interview, Reyes and Salud opposed same-sex marriage and the SOGIESC equality bill. They believe that it’s enough for the LGBTQIA+ community to be “tolerated” rather than given equal rights.

“Actually, very antagonizing siya especially sa malawak na hanay ng mga masang LGBT kasi marami sa masang LGBT ay hindi naman ‘yon agad ang ipinapanawagan. Nandiyan ang panawagan natin para sa nakabubuhay na sahod, panawagan natin para sa lupang panirikan. Pero siyempre kasama doon ‘yung panawagan natin para sa pantay na pagkilala at karapatan galing sa ating pamahalaan,” Reyes added.

(Actually, it’s very antagonizing, especially to the broader ranks of the LGBT masses, because many from the grassroots LGBT community aren’t necessarily calling for that as their primary demand. Our calls include a decent wage, the right to land and shelter. But of course, included in that is our call for equal recognition and rights from the government.)

Instead, he challenged them to be more empathetic to the struggles of their fellow LGBTQIA+ individuals, especially those in the grassroots.

“Ang gusto nating maiparating talaga sa mga kapwa nating LGBT na may pribilehiyo at kumbaga wala sa hulog ‘yung kanilang mga komento ay makipamuhay o kaya kumonekta sa mga ordinaryong LGBT,” said Reyes.

“Alamin nila ‘yung pang-araw-araw na pinagdadaanan ng mga ordinaryong LGBT. Ito namang mga panawagang ating inirerehistro ay hindi naman bigla na lang sumulpot. Meron itong mga konkretong batayan kung bakit tayo nagpapanawagan para ipasa ang SOGIESC equality bill, para ipaglaban ang marriage equality,” he added.

(What we really want to convey to our fellow LGBT individuals who are privileged and, in a way, out of touch as seen in their comments, is that they should try to live with or connect with ordinary LGBT people. They need to understand the daily struggles faced by the grassroots LGBT community. These calls we are raising didn’t just come out of nowhere — they are grounded in concrete realities which is why we are pushing for the passage of the SOGIESC equality bill and fighting for marriage equality.)

Spirit of protest in Pride

Ida Palo, regional coordinator of the Youth Movement Against Tyranny Southern Tagalog, also emphasized the spirit of protest in Pride.

“Ako ay nakikiisa sa Southern Tagalog Pride bilang tanda ng ating paglalaban dahil ngayon, mula naman na nag-umpisa ang rehimeng US-Marcos-Duterte, sunod-sunod talaga ang samu’t saring paglabag sa ating mga karapatang pantao hanggang sa paglabag sa International Humanitarian Law,” Palo said.

(I stand in solidarity with Southern Tagalog Pride as a symbol of our collective struggle, especially now, under the US-Marcos-Duterte regime, where there has been a series of relentless violations of our human rights — even extending to breaches of International Humanitarian Law.)

She cited cases of continued extrajudicial killings in parts of Calabarzon. “Kaya ito ang ating pinaglalaban ngayong Pride March, at ito ang patuloy pa nating ipaglalaban hanggang sa mga susunod pang mga buwan,” she added.

(That’s why this is what we are fighting for in today’s Pride March — and what we will continue to fight for in the months to come.)

The march was spearheaded by the UPLB Babaylan, a support group campaigning for the “inherent equality of all persons.” Event head Audrey Ysabella Dilla said in Filipino that they “stand in solidarity for the advancement of equal rights.”

They also organized a series of regional Pride Month events consisting of educational events about SOGIESC and LGBTQIA+ struggles in the Philippines, and a drag night.

In the educational discussions, instructor Darrion Flores from the same group pointed out the three main struggles of the community originated from three sources of discrimination: male supremacy, gender binary, and biological determinism.

Flores said that SOGIESC serves as a framework, not a fixed set of rules. He also noted the importance of upholding equality regardless of individual differences, and that labels can either reinforce oppression or liberation, depending on the use. – Rappler.com

Princess Leah Sagaad obtained her development communication degree at the University of the Philippines Los Baños. An Aries Rufo Journalism Fellow of Rappler for 2025, she is also the former associate managing editor for short form reporting of Tanglaw.