In order to promote tolerance, challenge-established norms, and advance equal rights, and eventually build a more accepting and varied society—celebrating Pride Month is essential.
It's that time of year once more, when the rainbow's hues are being waved in celebration of freedom and hope. People from all walks of life and from many ethnicities and countries are seen in the streets wearing a variety of flashy and sparkling outfits and sporting rainbow flag tattoos as they celebrate Pride in accordance with various customs and traditions. Individuals of all ages, skin tones, languages, races, religions, and philosophical beliefs.
Discrimination leaves no room for control. People occasionally express their opinions without taking into account the obstacles and difficulties the victim has faced. Given that everyone of us has experienced challenges from life and destiny, we are unable to know where we should place ourselves in order to maintain our mental health.
On June 28, 1969, there was a gay club named Stonewall Inn in New York City’s Greenwich Village that served as a home for many LGBTQIA+ in their community that was raided by police that ignited a riot. That time, homosexuality was considered a crime and a place like Stonewall Inn was frequently being clashed by the authorities. Patrons of the club were so tired of discrimination and harassment making them decide to regain their dignity. Days of protests have been evident as a result of the raiding, hundreds of people held hands in rallying against this inhumane doings that up until now was being held annually.
Despite the advent and advancement of technology and easily accessible media, issues like various forms of socioeconomic inequity remain pervasive. Now that information is so widely accessible, many uses and population increase should be taken into account. Almost everyone today has the ability to access mass media and the ability to own gadgets.
Facebook remains the most used social media platform with 2.9 million monthly active users across the world, according to Forbes Advisor, plus, the Philippines quoted as the “Top Country in Social Media and Internet Usage Worldwide” according to Rappler in 2021. Facebook, a social media platform that can be easily used, hopefully, to spread awareness, but the opposite can only be seen. Used as the medium to spread hate, discrimination, and insensitivity. Although we can find people who spread awareness and right information, diminished prejudice is still extremely inadmissible.
People’s common misconception regarding the LGBTQIA+ Community is that it’s just full of drama, fantasies, and entertainment without looking at it behind — discrimination, prejudice, social inequality, and worst of all, killings. Different calls for social equality and equal rights regardless of their identity have been so prominent in the world, especially in the Philippines for uncountable times. Inclined to that, the SOGIE Bill, Committee Report No. 15 submitted by Sen. Risa Hontiveros with the Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality has been signed and approved at the Senate Committee Level making its way up to making it as a law. This bill has a long way to go bringing the backstories of inhumane cases uttered by the victims here in the Philippines hoping that this will make the suffering voices peace, liberty, freedom, at last.
The month of June, which is also known as Pride Month, will be marked with celebrations full of happiness, color, and festivity to hold us—beings who have been marginalized by society and who now want to share and be recognized—proudly. But we should also commemorate the various forms of discrimination that our community's brothers and sisters have endured.
Now, we’re here, hoping that one day, we celebrate pride month because we’ve fought for its causes for centuries, now at last, done.
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