It’s Pride again!
With COVID-19 cases seemingly contained right now, us vaxxed and boosted queers are now feeling safe enough to actually go out and celebrate the month. It’s the first time since the pandemic started for many, so I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that we’re all a bit rusty. Where do we go? What do we do? With the turn of events of the recent elections as well, there’s a lot of queer people who want to find their community and safe spaces.
So here’s a list of things to do this month. Thank me later.
Be a Metro Manila Pride volunteer (and join their events)
The Pride March is all set this year, with the theme being “Atin ang Kulayaan: Makibeki Ngayon, Atin ang Panahon!” Aside from the march in Pasay on June 25 and their volunteers’ assembly on June 11, they have a whole list of activities lined up this month, too. Check out our story to find them.
Visit the Pride festival
If you’re QC-based and can’t go to the Pride March in Pasay, consider attending the Pride festival “Alab for Love” in Quezon City on the same day. The festival is hosted by the Quezon City local government and Pride PH, a coalition of LGBTQIA+ organizations in the Philippines, which includes Spark PH and PANTAY.
Attend a “Drag Race” viewing party
While we’re waiting with bated breaths for “Drag Race Philippines” to drop this August, we’re having fun watching the glamorous “All Stars” all-winner season. It’s pretty serendipitous that this season happens to be airing all throughout Pride.
The best way to watch “Drag Race” is at a viewing party hosted by drag queens where you watch with fellow fans. You can head over to Beke Nemen’s viewing party (they update weekly, with an upcoming party on June 11 at Draper Startup House in Poblacion, Makati) or Butterboy’s drag brunches and meriendrags.
Of course, drag is more than just “Drag Race”—there are a ton of other drag-related events you can hit up. There’s a dine-and-drag event on the 16th with the queens of Drag Playhouse PH. You can check this list for their other events.
Attend workshops
Transmasculine PH is holding their “Pre, Ako ’To” workshop on June 18 on non-medical transitioning for trans Pinoys. It’ll tackle topics like transmasc fashion, voice modulation, safe binding, and DIY packer-making.
You can also check out HIV & AIDS Support House’s (HASH) webinars this month. As a non-profit organization providing medical services for people with HIV and AIDS, they’re hosting a number of webinars that are relevant to the community. This includes topics such as SOGIE, PrEP, and the HIV and AIDS Policy Act.
Write letters
Get your pens out. UP Babaylan is bringing back Pride Letter campaign this month where you can send in open letters to your queer siblings. NGL, this campaign got us teary the first time. Aside from the open letters, UP Babaylan is also holding other activities like Art for a Cause, a commission-based fundraiser for Pioneer FTM and the non-profit organization for elderly and homeless queer folk Home of the Golden Gays.
Aside from UP Babaylan, CXE Art and Collectibles is also launching a letter-writing initiative called CXE Stories or MailBox Project “where everyone can drop a letter to show love for the community.” They’re also hosting an art exhibit on June 11 “showcasing artworks of our friends supporting the LGBTQIA+ community.”
Party!
The queer rave collective Elephant is holding a Pride special on June 25 at Dirty Kitchen, Quezon City. Expect “an all-trans & queer DJ, drag, and live music lineup.” Who else is heading here after they’re done marching?
Go running
WWF Philippines is holding Pride for the Planet from June 1 to June 30. It’s a “virtual, self-paced walk/run/ride/move” in celebration of the “LGBTQIA+ community’s perseverance to create an inclusive world for all of us.” You can register for distances of 10 kilometers all the way to 60 kilometers, either solo or with a partner. It’s cumulative, so you don’t have to finish the entire distance in one go.
Get tattooed and pierced
Here’s a new way to celebrate Pride: Get tatted and pierced like your favorite gay pirates (I may have been watching “Our Flag Means Death” again). Guhitinta, the tattoo and piercing parlor in Quezon City, is offering a new discount. Queer customers can get three minimalist tatts for P1,300 and/or three piercings for P1,000 per person.
Header photo by Javier Lobregat
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