UP BABAYLAN – In our country, members of the LGBTQI community continue to be marginalized, harassed, violated, and discriminated against based on their sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC). On top of systems of discrimination, especially during this pandemic our community, along with other vulnerable minorities, suffer from the failure of the government to respond to health and economic crises and other human rights violations.
This UP Pride 2020, UP Babaylan and other LGBTQI and human rights organizations will come together to register calls for equality and human rights and continue the clamor for the immediate passage of the SOGIE Equality Bill at the Equality Rally on October 30, 2020 (Friday), 3:00-6:00 PM. The Equality Rally will be inviting LGBTQI activists and allies to give solidarity speeches, as well as feature LGBTQI performers.
“Together these individuals and organizations prove that the COVID-19 pandemic is no hindrance to the call for equality, non-discrimination, and respect for human rights.” says Venus Aves, this year’s UP Pride 2020 Head.
The event will feature speakers, including allies and youth orgs, such as the Philippine Anti-discrimination Alliance of Youth Leaders (PANTAY), the University of the Philippines Diliman USC, and individuals like Cong. Sarah Elago, Kabataan Partylist Representative and Paolo Pangilinan, from the acclaimed online series ‘Gaya sa Peliukula’. Attending Friday’s rally will also be members from among the country’s leading LGBTQI youth organizations such as UP OUTLaws, Bahaghari National, UPM Bahagsari, UPLB Babaylan, and many others in “a show of solidarity and unity in the midst of the crises we face” says Bela Rivera UP Babaylan’s Punong Babaylan.