Mandaue LGBT sector sets Pride Month activities

A SERIES of virtual and physical activities will be organized by the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) sector of Mandaue City for the “6014 Pride 2021,” in line with the celebration of Pride Month.

On Friday, June 11, 2021, the LGBT Leaders in the city including lawyer Regal Oliva paid a courtesy call to Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes to discuss the sector’s upcoming activities for the month of June.

The LGBT sector of Mandaue City has been celebrating Pride Month for 10 years, except in 2020 as Covid-19 cases peaked at the time.

Since they are now allowed to organize activities, Oliva said they have come up with physical and virtual events to celebrate Pride Month.

The festivities will kick off with the Pride Bike Parade on June 13 at 5:30 p.m.

“Why are we doing bike? Because we do not want to walk. Walking will induce social distancing problems,” said Oliva.

The LGBT sector used to organize a Pride March where the LGBT members and allies marched alongside rainbow-colored floats on the streets of Mandaue City.

For the Pride Bike Parade, Oliva said as of writing, only 100 individuals have confirmed to participate in the activity.

She emphasized that there will be no gathering or overcrowding as the participants will start immediately upon their arrival at the starting point at the Mandaue City Hall where the organizers will distribute the route map.

The route will start at the Mandaue City Hall going to A.C. Cortes Ave., taking the U-turn slot of the Mandaue-Lapu-Lapu bridge, turning left to B.B. Cabahug St. straight to CIC Mandaue going to Parkmall and back to the Mandaue City Hall.

On June 14, Oliva said they will organize a community pantry in front of the Mandaue City Hall exclusively for the indigent LGBT members in Mandaue City.

She clarified that the LGBT leaders in each barangay have pre-selected the five indigent LGBT members who will be given a coupon to claim their goods at the community pantry.

They target to provide goods to 150 indigent LGBT members.

To make this help more sustainable, Oliva said they will provide livelihood training for indigent members as employment has been their problem.

On June 23, they will host a webinar on the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Expression (Sogie) Equality Bill, which they will be calling the Senate for passage and approval.

Until now, Oliva said the Sogie Equality Bill is still in the lower house of congress and also with the senate.

“We are just hoping and crossing our fingers that we get there because the Philippines has been very much tolerant. We are looking for the day that the Philippine government will finally accept the LGBT community by passing its laws. I hope that our generation will see the day that everybody will be equal by the eyes of the law,” said Oliva.

Aside from the webinar, the sector will also have its photo wall contest and a TikTok video challenge to be participated by the LGBT community in each barangay.

Oliva said these activities will be posted on their official Facebook page (Mandaue Pride March) and the winner will be announced on June 30. (KFD)