MANILA, Philippines – Despite rains, the Marikina City Sports Center was filled with colors on Saturday, March 29, as thousands of members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community marched to protest oppression and discrimination.
With the theme #ResistTogether, the Metro Manila Pride March highlights Pride as a protest, rooted in the 1969 Stonewall riots – a series of demonstrations against a police crackdown on a well-known gay bar in New York City.
According to the event organizer, the 2019 Metro Manila Pride March recorded 70,000 attendees– almost thrice the number of participants in 2018.
"Now is the time to use our voices in the fight for human rights – not just for our LGBTQIA+ community, but for all minorities that face injustice and oppression," Metro Manila Pride said in a Facebook post. (READ: 'Tolerated, but not accepted': Filipino LGBTQ+ speak up vs discrimination)
Here are the highlights of this year's event:
Here are some other photos:
Established in 1994, Metro Manila Pride has provided avenues for allies and members of the LGBTQ+ community to celebrate their identities and fight for social issues. – Rappler.com