TRANSGENDERS MARCH FOR LGBT RIGHTS IN THE PHILIPPINES

Some 65 transgender people paraded in a park in Quezon City, Philippines on Sunday to celebrate International Day Against Homophobia and Transgenders.

Participants walked the two-kilometre (1.2 mile) route in resplendent evening gowns with extravagant head pieces and big smiles before awards were handed out for the best dressed.

The International Day against Homophobia and Transgenders marks the date that homosexuality was removed from the International Classification of Diseases of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1990.

But Soxy Topacio, the chairman of the Quezon City Pride Council, said more work needs to be done to ensure equality for gay, lesbian and transgender people.

AP Television

Quezon City, Philippines, 18 May 2014

1. Wide of crowd surrounding two transgender participants in the parade

2. Mid of transgender participant walking

3. Close of a participant

4. Mid of participant waving

5. Various of participants parading in evening gowns and elaborate head pieces

6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Francine Garcia, transgender activist:

"This event is made to stop the people from their phobia on homosexuals and transgenders. Transphobia, that is"

7. Participant smiling while walking

8. Participant with a fan, walking

9. Participant in white and gold dress walking with escort

10. SOUNDBITE: (Tagalog) Soxy Topacio, Quezon City Pride Council chairman:

"Though gays are now accepted, homophobes still exist. They are still having a hard time accepting gays and lesbians that excel in fields that they don't like."

11. Participant in green waving

12. Participant showing off pink dress with a floral motif

Over a thousand people took part in the annual Metro Manila Pride march on Saturday, celebrating and advocating for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Others (LGBTQ+) community in the capital of the Philippines.

This year's theme "Here Together" sought to foster an inclusive and supportive community, including non-LGBTQ+ people who stand up for those who are discriminated.

Nicky Castillo, Metro Manila Pride co-coordinator, said that his year's pride "is really about solidarity."

Aside from strengthening the community, the event also hopes to help fight against discrimination which is still an issue across various areas in the Philippines.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, who is known to be an advocate for the LGBTQ+, was invited to be a keynote speaker to inspire attendees.

Hontiveros was also responsible for filing the Anti-Discriminatory Act in 2016, a senate bill that sought to eliminate prejudicial treatment of the LGBTQ+ such as in employment and education.

Currently, the bill still has not been passed into a law.

The march went on peacefully and participants were in high spirits, despite a few Christian protesters showing up in the area with their banners calling to "trust Jesus".

Marikina City, Manila 24 June 2017

1. Participants holding (English) "Here Together" banner for the pride march

2. Participant holding up rainbow flag

3. Placard reading (English) "LBT (lesbian, bisexual and transgender) well-being matters"

4. 'Team Rainbow' sign held up during march

5. People marching in the Metro Manila Pride march

6. Nicky Castillo backstage

7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Nicky Castillo, co-coordinator of Metro Manila Pride:

"We were thinking we need to rally more of our allies to speak up and stand up for LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) rights. So 'Here Together' is really about solidarity."

8. People from abroad march at the Metro Manila Pride

9. Child waving flag and participating at the march

10. Attendees dressed up in traditional clothes in block colours to make those of a rainbow at the march

11. Senator Risa Hontiveros speaking on stage

12.SOUNDBITE: (English) Senator Risa Hontiveros, guest speaker at Metro Manila Pride:

"We are still fighting against certain limitations, constraints, even threats to the lives and rights of LGBT persons."

13. Gay couple posing in front of "Here Together" backdrop

14. Participants take pictures under giant rainbow flag

15. Amber Quiban posing for a photo

16. SOUNDBITE: (English) Amber Quiban, attendee of Metro Manila Pride:

"So I am here today to celebrate my pride. My pride which is my diversity from everyone. My pride which is my identity. And my pride which is myself - like, my real self that is not the ones being suppressed by community."

17. Small group of Christian protesters at the march holding a placard that reads (English) "Trust Jesus"

18. Participants march while holding giant rainbow flag

Some 65 transgender people paraded in a park in Quezon City, Philippines on Sunday to celebrate International Day Against Homophobia and Transgenders.

Participants walked the two-kilometre (1.2 mile) route in resplendent evening gowns with extravagant headpieces and big smiles before awards were handed out for the best dressed.

The International Day against Homophobia and Transgenders marks the date that homosexuality was removed from the International Classification of Diseases of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 1990.

But Soxy Topacio, the chairman of the Quezon City Pride Council, said more work needs to be done to ensure equality for gay, lesbian and transgender people.

AP TELEVISION

++NIGHT SHOTS++

1. Wide of crowd surrounding two transgender participants in the parade

2. Mid of transgender participant walking

3. Close of a participant

4. Mid of participant waving

5. Various of participants parading in evening gowns and elaborate headpieces

6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Francine Garcia, transgender activist:

"This event is made to stop the people from their phobia on homosexuals and transgenders. Transphobia, that is"

7. Participant smiling while walking

8. Participant with a fan, walking

9. Participant in white and gold dress walking with escort

10. SOUNDBITE: (Tagalog) Soxy Topacio, Quezon City Pride Council chairman:

"Though gays are now accepted, homophobes still exist. They are still having a hard time accepting gays and lesbians that excel in fields that they don't like."

11. Participant in green waving

12. Participant showing off pink dress with a floral motif

English/Nat

Gays and lesbians in the Philippines celebrated their second Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride March this weekend.

Decked out in colourful costumes, and carrying pro-gay banners, they marched around Manila's Malate district calling for a "truly free society".

The sound of beating drums led a very festive gay pride march in Manila on Saturday.

Some 300 gays and lesbians, wearing fancy costumes gathered together to signify unity among Filipino gays, bisexuals, lesbians and transgenders.

44 different homosexual organisations took part in this colourful parade replete with floats and cultural dances.

Their message- "stop discrimination".

They say members of their sector of the society should be allowed to pursue their dreams and each one should be regarded just like any other individual- regardless of their sexual orientation.

Among those who stood out in the parade is one participant who came wearing a police costume.

His message of protest was directed to the military and police forces of his homeland.

Recently, the Chief of the Philippine Armed Forces drew criticisms from the gay community after he was quoted as saying that there is no place for gays in the military.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"This would be a good venue for me to stage my own protest against the policy of exclusion. I want to tell them that not all gays and lesbians are you know, incapable of serving the military or the police force. I think that....just give us a chance and you'll see we can make good policemen and good military men."

SUPER CAPTION: Joaquin (Last name withheld)

This is the second parade of its kind in Manila and organisers say they will hold it every year in line with their desire for freedom of expression in a truly free society.

Manila, Philippines - 21 June 1997

1. Drums beating before march

2. Gays in bikinis riding float

3. Wide shot of march

4. Gays in various costumes during march

5. Gays dancing to beat of drums

6. Tracking of crowd watching parade

7. Gays in horse-driven carriages

8. Gays holding banners

9. More of gays in various costumes

10. Placard showing gender signs

11. SOUNDBITE: (English) Joaquin

12. Various top shots of parade

GAY PRIDE MARCH IN MANILA

Over a thousand people took part in the annual Metro Manila Pride march on Saturday ( 24 JUNE), celebrating and advocating for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Others (LGBTQ+) community in the capital of the Philippines.

This year's theme "Here Together" sought to foster an inclusive and supportive community, including non-LGBTQ+ people who stand up for those who are discriminated.

Nicky Castillo, Metro Manila Pride co-coordinator, said that his year's pride "is really about solidarity."

Aside from strengthening the community, the event also hopes to help fight against discrimination which is still an issue across various areas in the Philippines.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, who is known to be an advocate for the LGBTQ+, was invited to be a keynote speaker to inspire attendees.

Hontiveros was also responsible for filing the Anti-Discriminatory Act in 2016, a senate bill that sought to eliminate prejudicial treatment of the LGBTQ+ such as in employment and education.

Currently, the bill still has not been passed into a law.

The march went on peacefully and participants were in high spirits, despite a few Christian protesters showing up in the area with their banners calling to "trust Jesus".

Marikina City, Manila 24 June 2017

1. Participants holding (English) "Here Together" banner for the pride march

2. Participant holding up rainbow flag

3. Placard reading (English) "LBT (lesbian, bisexual and transgender) well-being matters"

4. 'Team Rainbow' sign held up during march

5. People marching in the Metro Manila Pride march

6. Nicky Castillo backstage

7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Nicky Castillo, co-coordinator of Metro Manila Pride:

"We were thinking we need to rally more of our allies to speak up and stand up for LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) rights. So 'Here Together' is really about solidarity."

8. People from abroad march at the Metro Manila Pride

9. Child waving flag and participating at the march

10. Attendees dressed up in traditional clothes in block colours to make those of a rainbow at the march

11. Senator Risa Hontiveros speaking on stage

12.SOUNDBITE: (English) Senator Risa Hontiveros, guest speaker at Metro Manila Pride:

"We are still fighting against certain limitations, constraints, even threats to the lives and rights of LGBT persons."

13. Gay couple posing in front of "Here Together" backdrop

14. Participants take pictures under giant rainbow flag

15. Amber Quiban posing for a photo

16. SOUNDBITE: (English) Amber Quiban, attendee of Metro Manila Pride:

"So I am here today to celebrate my pride. My pride which is my diversity from everyone. My pride which is my identity. And my pride which is myself - like, my real self that is not the ones being suppressed by community."

17. Small group of Christian protesters at the march holding a placard that reads (English) "Trust Jesus"

18. Participants march while holding giant rainbow flag

SHOTLIST:

1. Wide of parade with participants holding banner reading in English "Task Force Pride"

2. Mid parade passing by

3. Mid woman holding placard reading in English "love sees no gender"

4. Wide of Malate church then pan down to gay parade

5. Participant wearing catholic priest clothing

6. Participants hold placard reading in English "whether you're straight or queer God created us equally" and another participant holding banner reading in English "everyone deserves to be respected"

7. Close on-lookers watching parade

8. SOUNDBITE: (English) Eva Callueng, participant:

"We are celebrating human rights week and part of the human rights week is the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) rights where we are pushing for the recognition of sexual orientation and gender identities..."

9. SOUNDBITE: (Filipino) Eva Callueng, participant:

"...so we are her to celebrate our rights and freedom and to have fun."

10. Wide of on-lookers watching the parade

11. Gay participants dancing on a float

STORYLINE:

The gay and lesbian community came out in force in Manila's Malate tourist district on Saturday to hold a gay pride parade.

Around two hundred lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youths filled the streets, calling for an end to discrimination, ahead of Human Rights week.

They carried placards demanding equal rights, and dressed up in colourful costumes.

One participant, Eva Callueng said the parade was important to the gay community.

"We are celebrating human rights week and part of human rights week is the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) rights where we are pushing for the recognition of sexual orientation and gender identities so we are her to celebrate our rights and freedom and to have fun" she told AP Television.

Police who guarded the march said it was peaceful and ended without any incident.