MANILA, Philippines – Nine same-sex couples gathered at the Le Village Lifestyle Park in Quezon City on Sunday, June 24, for a mass wedding presided by LGBTs Christian Church Reverend Crescencio Agbayani Jr.
The LGBTs Christian Church is a religious organization that describes itself as a "liberating ecumenical community of believers of Jesus Christ" which ministers to lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgenders.
The group holds a mass wedding every year in June, as part of its observance of Pride Month.
The wedding rites bore similarities to Catholic rites, with exchanges of vows and rings, arrhae, and the Bible. The difference – those who were getting married had all been born biologically female.
Agbayani reminded the couples that their unions are still not recognized by the State. They are hoping this will eventually change, however, after the Supreme Court recently held oral arguments on a petition to legalize same-sex marriage, filed by lawyer Jesus Falcis III. (READ: Is timing right for same-sex marriage petition? Leonen warns of risks)
Here are some images from the mass wedding:
– Rappler.com