THE LGBTQ+A community in Mandaue City held a pride parade in commemoration of the ongoing Pride Month celebration on Sunday, June 26, 2022.
Around 1,000 LGBTQ+A individuals marked the occasion through a 40-minute parade from the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Complex to the Mandaue City Hall, where the program was held.
The parade was participated by several LGBTQ+A groups in Mandaue City, some Mandaue City Government officials, and pillars of the LGBTQ community in the city.
A walk for a cause and a call for gender equality have always been the advocacy of the Pride March activity, said lawyer Regal Oliva, Mandaue City treasurer and one of the organizers of the event.
No traffic and crime incidents were reported during the activity, said Lieutenant Colonel Franco Rudolf Oriol, Mandaue City Police Office deputy city director for operations and spokesperson.
In their opening speeches, several officials of the Mandaue City Government expressed their support for the LGBTQ+A community.
LGBTQ+A stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, and allies.
Mayor Jonas Cortes proudly stated that Mandaue has always been gender-fair since 1973 when the first "Miss Gay" competition was held in the city during his father Demetrio Cortes Sr.'s term as the city mayor.
City Councilor Cynthia Remedio, chairperson of the Committee on Women and Family, said Mandaue is one of the cities in the country that have passed an ordinance (city ordinance 152020-1593) that adopted the Republic Act (RA) 11313, otherwise known as the “Safe Spaces Act,” which protects any gender from sexual harassment and discrimination.
Cebu sixth district board member Glenn Soco, who also attended the event, stated that the LGBTQ individuals have the Cebu Provincial Government's support.
Soco added that the Cebu Provincial Board will soon be organizing a committee on gender acquisition and development to help provide for the needs of the LGBTQ individuals in Cebu.
"Sooner or later, we would also have an anti-discriminatory ordinance in Cebu province, following the lead of Mandaue City," Soco added.
A costume and float competition was also held after the parade.
The F-8 Tipolo float placed first and won P80,000 cash prize, followed by F-6 Cubacub at second with P40,000 cash prize and F-2 Canduman at third with P20,000 prize.
Participants for best in costume also received cash prizes of P10,000 for the first place, P7,500 for the second place, and P5,000 for the third place.
Pride Month is celebrated worldwide every June.
In Mandaue, the celebration was postponed for two years at the height of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic. (HIC, TPT)