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

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.

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