HEALTH-BASED non-government organization (NGO) Bagani Community Center will hold the Pride Fest 2022 on June 25 to mark the pride month celebration and to help persons living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Negros Occidental.
This is the second pride event hosted by Bagani since its establishment in 2019, where it will feature local talents from the LGBT+ community, as well as bring the advocacy for HIV education, awareness, and prevention.
The event will be held at the pool area of Acacia Hotel starting 9 a.m.
Bagani will launch its HIV treatment hub, the first and only NGO-run treatment center in Negros Island, and a self-care HIV testing program.
Bagani’s Hub Manager Butch Lavaro, in a press release, said the event will be a venue to celebrate pride, as well as advocate about LGBT+ acceptance in the community and spread awareness about HIV that it’s not only affecting the queers but also everyone.
The event will also be highlighted by the performance of the Bacolod Drag Queens and Artians Cheerdance Squad with local DJs, MassKara dancers, and other surprise performances from various local talents.
There will be booths for free HIV testing, Bagani’s program and projects, SafeSpaces Initiative, and caravan initiative “Prisma”, which has been touring around Negros in the past two years spreading HIV education and awareness.
The event’s ticket is at P300, and all of the proceeds will go to Bagani Cares, the NGO’s philanthropic arm which aims to help persons living with HIV in Negros Occidental afford the medication and treatment.
Records of the Department of Health showed that there are around 2,000 HIV cases in the province in 2021.
“While we celebrate pride, let us also remind ourselves that breaking the stigma against the LGBT+ community and persons living with HIV is still a long way,” Lavaro said, adding that “let us lend ourselves to fighting it through education and engagement.”
For tickets and reservations, the organizer can be reached through the Bagani by LoveYourself Facebook Page, or Czar Real through 09486960485. (PR)