FOR many in the LGBTQIA+ community, Pride Month is more than a celebration. It is a protest, a statement, a remembrance, and, most importantly, a collective plea for full inclusion and understanding.
In Davao City, members of the LGBTQIA+ community and their allies are not just celebrating, they are continuing the long, difficult journey toward visibility, equality, and respect.
Across the Philippines, acceptance of the LGBTQIA+ community continues to grow, but not without resistance.
While progress is visible in mainstream media, local government initiatives, and the emergence of safe spaces in urban centers, many queer Filipinos still face discrimination in schools, workplaces, public spaces, and even inside their own homes.
The struggle is far from over, especially in conservative communities, where LGBTQIA+ individuals are still labeled as “immoral,” “abnormal,” or “undeserving of respect.”
Pride Month serves as a reminder that the fight for equal rights and recognition goes beyond rainbow flags and festive parades. It is rooted in the decades-long struggle for dignity, identity, and freedom, particularly for those who have long been silenced. For many, Pride is both a celebration of how far the community has come and a protest against how far it still needs to go.
In cities like Davao, where LGBTQIA+ visibility has only recently gained broader recognition, Pride Month is a crucial time to reclaim space, voice, and presence. Here, community members, allies, and advocates are not only celebrating, but also educating, empowering, and pushing forward.
Understanding the struggles
Being gender sensitive goes beyond political correctness — it means having genuine awareness and respect for people’s diverse gender identities, experiences and expressions.
Dr. De Mar M. Bangeles, MSPsy, MGC(c), RPsy, RPm — a psychologist and psychometrician, lecturer at the Psychology Department of Ateneo de Davao University, and assistant professor (visiting) for the Graduate Studies Programs at Silliman University — said this awareness must include recognizing and avoiding prejudices and biases that often marginalize people with diverse Sogiesc, or sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics.
According to Bangeles, two things matter most: diversity and inclusion. Regardless of who people are or where they come from — whether they identify with diverse Sogiesc, are allies or otherwise — it is important to foster not just tolerance but acceptance and respect.
Without this, many LGBTQIA+ individuals continue to face barriers that are not always visible but can deeply affect their daily lives and mental health.
The mental health toll is significant. Studies, including data from the National Alliance on Mental Illness, show that LGBTQIA+ people experience far higher rates of mental health challenges than their heterosexual counterparts. Gender-based discrimination plays a big role in this.
Bangeles said anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, identity confusion and even trauma symptoms such as hypervigilance or withdrawal are just some of the struggles people with diverse Sogiesc face. Many feel they have to prove themselves twice as worthy of opportunities, all while enduring daily harassment and mockery. Amid these struggles, strong support networks can make a difference.
“Supportive families and communities serve as buffers against mental health struggles. Sadly, for some, abuse and discrimination start at home. Being kind goes a long way. You never know if your kindness is what’s keeping someone together.” Bangeles said.
Bangeles also stressed the importance of accessible counseling and psychotherapy, supportive schools and inclusive communities in helping LGBTQIA+ individuals build resilience and self-worth.
Looking ahead, Bangeles said creating safe spaces must include concrete action. He emphasized that much can be done, acknowledging that the LGBTQIA+ community exists, deserves equal treatment, and should be visible.
Inclusion and diversity training, clear policies, and fostering schools and workplaces as safe spaces are good starting points, Bangeles added.
For those navigating their identities, Bangeles reminded them that they do not have to figure everything out at once, and that it is important to be kind to themselves, find safe people to talk to, and remember that their identity is valid and it is okay to take their time.
Identity, resistance, and home
For Moh’D Qhawie, a drag performer and proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community, Pride Month is not just about glitter and parades. It is a fight for survival, dignity and acceptance in a city where many queer people still feel merely tolerated rather than embraced.
“Celebrating Pride Month isn’t just important — it’s necessary. Pride is not just a celebration. It’s a protest, a remembrance and a march for those who’ve been silenced or hurt just for existing,” Moh’D said.
Moh’D Qhawie grew up in a deeply conservative Muslim family and experienced firsthand how painful it was to hide a true identity just to be accepted. Moh’D Qhawie later moved to Manila and found the freedom to perform and live without fear. Now back in Davao, Moh’D Qhawie hopes local families will understand that real change begins at home. According to Moh’D Qhawie, when parents support and accept their child for who they are, everything else follows.
Moh'D has observed progress in Davao’s LGBTQIA+ community, with Pride events now attracting bigger and more diverse crowds. Local bars and pageants also give drag performers and queer youth spaces to express themselves more freely.
However, discrimination still exists. Respect can begin with simple acts, such as using the correct pronouns, especially for trans individuals, according to Moh’D Qhawie. Kindness costs nothing but can mean everything to someone who has spent a lifetime fighting to be seen, according to Moh’D Qhawie.
Despite hate comments and criticism, Moh’D Qhawie said the community will keep marching and performing.
“No words can tear us down,” Moh’D Qhawie said. “We’re here to stay — loud and proud.”
Advocacy through pageantry
The month of June marks the celebration of Pride Month in the Philippines, a time dedicated to honoring the LGBTQIA+ community and promoting equality, inclusion, and human rights. Across the country, Pride events serve not only as vibrant celebrations but also as reminders of the ongoing fight for visibility and acceptance.
In Davao City, the local government has taken steps to support the community through various initiatives. One key player in this effort is the City Tourism Office, which has been instrumental in providing platforms for LGBTQIA+ voices to be heard. From supporting pageants like Reyna ng Davao to backing community-led events and conventions, the office has helped create safe spaces for self-expression and advocacy.
Through these efforts, Davao's Pride Month celebrations have become more than symbolic gestures, they serve as active opportunities to educate the public, uplift marginalized voices, and foster a culture of inclusivity within the city.
In Davao’s LGBTQIA+ pageant scene, Reyna ng Davao 2024 titleholder Rianne Calsa turned her crown into a platform for education and advocacy. Earlier this year, she helped organize “Transpire,” a transgender convention that brought together more than 150 participants to discuss key topics such as Sogiesc education, HIV awareness, gender-affirming care, and legal rights for trans people.
“None of this would have happened without the support of the Davao City Government. The City Tourism Office was at the forefront. They didn’t just support us morally — they supported us financially,” she said.
For Reyna ng Davao 2024 second runner-up Gwen Darwin, Pride Month is more than a celebration — it’s a protest and a call for social inclusivity, especially for those who still live in fear. Raised by a gay father, Gwen witnessed firsthand how deeply rooted discrimination can affect families.
“I saw the discrimination with my own eyes. My father raised three of us, and every day, we felt the weight of judgment. From breakfast to dinner, people never stopped talking. But my father stood his ground,” she said.
Now that society is slowly becoming more accepting, Gwen said her father is finally seeing the kind of world he never experienced.
“He’s the proudest father in the world now. He sees that people like us are being embraced. And through my journey, he knows we’re moving forward,” she added.
Found families, safe spaces
Mutya ng Davao 2024 winner, and an ally, Hanna Maj Piccio found her strength in a team of creatives she lovingly calls “Team Stellar”, a group of gay stylists, artists, and supporters who stood by her side throughout the pageant.
“They were the ones who dressed me, did my makeup, and made me laugh. Those little moments with them are what I’ll never forget. Pride Month reminds me to thank the world for slowly accepting the LGBTQIA+ community, because those people were vital in my growth,” she said.
For Hanna, Pride Month isn’t just about being seen, it’s about being validated. “It tells the world: You are seen. You are accepted. You belong.”
Transgender vlogger Bella Crawford is among the many using their online platforms to uplift and inspire others, especially those who continue to struggle with acceptance and employment because of their gender identity.
“I want to inspire people to push through their dreams. There were times I thought I didn’t belong anywhere. But I kept going. And now I tell others the same: Just keep going. Everything will fall into place,” she said.
Bella believes that visibility can save lives and that respect must begin from within. She emphasizes the importance of authenticity and mutual respect, saying that if the LGBTQIA+ community wants others to respect them, they must lead by example.
The voices of Davao’s LGBTQIA+ community reflect not only stories of survival, but powerful narratives of strength, resilience, and love. Pride is not simply a celebration, it is a continuing assertion of identity, a protest for equality, and a reminder that inclusion must go beyond tolerance.
In a society still learning to embrace diversity, Pride Month serves as both a mirror and a message: that every individual deserves to live freely, authentically, and without fear. The march continues, not just to be seen, but to be heard, to be valued, and to claim the space that has always been theirs. AJA