Push Admin

LGBTQ's 'verdict' vs 'Duterte machismo' concludes Philippines’ Pride 2021

Article (news)

Jauhn Etienne Villaruel, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/news/06/27/20210627-lgbtq-protest.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>Hundreds of LGBTQ members and allies held a Pride march and protest in Quezon City on June 26, 2021, Saturday, led by Bahaghari and Metro Manila Pride, as a culmination to a month-long celebration observed all over the world. <em>Jauhn Etienne Villaruel, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — The Philippines&#x27; Pride celebration this year ended with a &quot;verdict&quot; against the current administration&#x27;s brand of &quot;machismo.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Sa araw po na ito sa ating sama-samang pag-aaklas, sa ating sama-samang pagkilos, ipinapaalam po natin mismo doon sa Malacañang na hinahatulan ng sangkabaklaan ng pagwawakas ang macho-pasistang rehimen ni [President Rodrigo] Duterte,&quot; Rey Valmores, Bahaghari spokesperson, said on Saturday in a speech.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none"><p dir="ltr" lang="tl"><a href="https://twitter.com/rosereyde?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@rosereyde</a> of <a href="https://twitter.com/Bahaghari_PH?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Bahaghari_PH</a>: Ang martsang ito ay di lang selerasyaon… Protesta ito… [Tuloy] ang pagpapahirap sa sangkabaklaan dahil sa kapalpakan ni Duterte sa pagtugon sa pandemya. <a href="https://twitter.com/ABSCBNNews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ABSCBNNews</a> <a href="https://t.co/5Df5SEEXDi">pic.twitter.com/5Df5SEEXDi</a></p>— J.E. Villaruel (@jauhnetienne) <a href="https://twitter.com/jauhnetienne/status/1408704390681137154?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2021</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>(On this day, as we gather here, we are letting Malacañang know the verdict of the LGBTQ community: Duterte’s macho-fascist regime ends now!)</p><p>On June 26 last year, Salinas, a transwoman, and 19 others — collectively known as &quot;Pride 20&quot; — experienced first-hand what they say as the &quot;macho fascist&quot; hand of state forces when they were violently dispersed and detained by the Manila police for holding a Pride protest, claiming violations of pandemic restrictions. Charges against them were eventually dismissed.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/26/20/wala-kaming-violation-pag-aresto-sa-mga-aktibista-sa-pride-protest-kinondena">&#x27;Wala kaming violation&#x27;: Pag-aresto sa mga aktibista sa Pride protest kinondena</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/06/27/20/saklolo-yorme-vice-ganda-pleads-for-help-to-free-pride-20-demonstrators">‘Saklolo Yorme’: Vice Ganda pleads for help to free Pride 20 demonstrators</a></li></ul><p>Exactly a year later on Saturday, despite threats of a similar brutal harassment, hundreds of LGBTQ members and allies held a Pride march and protest, led by Bahaghari and Metro Manila Pride, as a culmination to a month-long celebration observed all over the world. </p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">LOOK: Over a hundred LGBTQ members and allies attend a <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pride2021?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Pride2021</a> event led by <a href="https://twitter.com/Bahaghari_PH?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Bahaghari_PH</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/mmprideorg?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mmprideorg</a> at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani, QC. The attendees held a march before this, calling for SOGIE equality, among others. <a href="https://twitter.com/ABSCBNNews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ABSCBNNews</a> <a href="https://t.co/WlS9ASBtAk">pic.twitter.com/WlS9ASBtAk</a></p>— J.E. Villaruel (@jauhnetienne) <a href="https://twitter.com/jauhnetienne/status/1408698040911732738?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2021</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>The crowd settled at the Bantayog ng Mga Bayani, where a short program was held. Several speakers, including Bayan Muna Rep. Eufemia Cullamat, addressed the queer-dominated audience.</p><p>Cullamat cited what she said was &quot;state-sponsored violence&quot; against Filipino LGBTs, including the release of a US soldier who killed a Filipina transwoman as well as the recent killing of Lenie Rivas, a lesbian, at the hands of the Philippine military.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/03/20/lgbt-community-condemns-early-release-of-us-marine-in-filipino-trans-womans-slay">LGBT community condemns early release of US Marine in Filipino trans woman&#x27;s slay</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/18/21/lumad-killing-military-surigao-del-sur">&#x27;Massacre&#x27; umano sa 3 Lumad kabilang ang isang 12-anyos, kinondena</a></li></ul><p>Salinas said the queer community continues to suffer under Duterte’s &quot;failed&quot; pandemic response. </p><p>&quot;Ang martsang ito ay di lang selebrasyon, protesta ito… [Tuloy] ang pagpapahirap sa sangkabaklaan dahil sa kapalpakan ni Duterte sa pagtugon sa pandemya.&quot;</p><p>(This march is not just a celebration, this is a protest. We continue to suffer because Duterte has failed to respond to this pandemic.)</p><p>After the event, ABS-CBN News spoke to Salinas and asked her what led Bahaghari to hold another Pride protest despite she described as a traumatic police harassment a year before. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/multimedia/photo/06/26/20/pride-march-stripped-of-pride">Pride March stripped of pride</a></li></ul><p>&quot;Sa kabila ng pandemya, sa kabila ng fear na may dahas na mangyari, nangahas pa rin po ang LGBT community na lumabas para sa ating mga karapatan... Kami po, humuhugot kami ng lakas, ng inspirasyon sa iba pang LGBT na nagde-decide na hindi na puwede ang ganito lang, lalaban tayo,&quot; she said.</p><p>(Despite the pandemic, despite the fear of violence, the LGBT community still braved the streets to fight for our rights... We get our strength and inspiration from other LGBTs who believe that the status quo is no longer acceptable.)</p><p>For Salinas, pandemic restrictions and prospect of another violence should not hold LGBTs back from asserting their rights because, according to her, so much more is to be done and to be conquered. </p><p>&quot;Actually, ang task at hand ay kailangan pang mai-unite ang LGBT. So may napakalaking potential... Kailagan ma-harness yung power na yun kasi marami tayong kayang maisusulong through that,&quot; she said. </p><p>(The task at hand is to unite the LGBTs. There is so much potential. We need to harness this power because we can do so much through that.)</p><p>In December 2017, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the Duterte administration wants Filipinos to enjoy their rights, freedom and equality before the law, regardless of gender. </p><p>Roque issued the statement after Duterte said at the time he is planning to create a commission for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community.</p><p>Speaking at the 7th LGBT yearend gathering at Azuela Cove, Lanang in Davao City that year, Duterte asked the LGBT community to find the brightest nominee to lead the commission.</p><p>The proposed commission has yet to be established to this day.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/17/17/duterte-mulls-creating-lgbt-commission">Duterte mulls creating LGBT commission</a></li></ul><p>The conclusion of Pride 2021 was punctuated by a &quot;kilig&quot; moment when Pride 2020&#x27;s legal counsel Minnie Lopez proposed to her now fiancé.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1715002" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>&quot;Pumapayag ka ba na umibig at lumaban tayo nang sabay hanggang sa kalayaan?&quot; Lopez asked her partner. She said yes. </p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1715001" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>The Philippines' Pride celebration this year ended with a "verdict" against the current administration's brand of "machismo."</p>

The Philippines' Pride celebration this year ended with a "verdict" against the current administration's brand of "machismo."

LGBTQ's 'verdict' vs 'Duterte machismo' concludes Philippines’ Pride 2021

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

News

LGBTQ's 'verdict' vs 'Duterte machismo' concludes Philippines’ Pride 2021

Jauhn Etienne Villaruel,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jun 27, 2021 11:58 AM PHT

Read More:

Pride

Pride protest

Pride 2021

Pride 2020

Pride 20

Bahaghari

police

police harassment

discrimination

police violence

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.