Members and allies of the LGBTQ community participate in the 2023 Manila Pride March themed “Samo’t saring Lakas, Sama-sama sa Landas” in Circuit Makati on June 24, 2023. The march aims  to provide safe, informed, intersectional, educational, and empowering spaces for members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Groups built a stronger unity in the fight against discrimination and violence against the LGBT community as they parade in this year's Pride March.

In a written response to ABS-CBN, Vince Liban, convenor of LGBT network Pride PH, said that discrimination and violence remain the biggest barriers for the queer community to achieve development with the absence of the an anti-discrimination law.

"Discrimination and violence remain as two of the biggest barriers for many LGBTIQ+ persons to achieving their full potential and contributing to economic development and nation-building," Liban told ABS-CBN News.

"With the absence of a national SOGIE Equality law, we and our families remain vulnerable to discrimination and violence, and are hindered from becoming happy and contributing to society," he added.

LGBT groups formed the Equality Alliance — the largest coalition of equality advocates —  to drumbeat the passage of the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Expression and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) Equality Bill.

"This is historic in the equality movement as this is a ‘show of force’ of not only by the LGBTIQ+ community but with the many allies showing solidarity for the cause," the LGBT advocate said. 

With the coalition, advocates can harmonize initiatives "to find better ways to address the struggles and concerns of LGBTIQ+ persons," he added.

As they expect 200,000 attendees this year, Liban is hopeful that legislators would see the need to have a law that the LGBT community can hold on to against violence and discrimination.

"With the growing public support and attendance at many Pride activities all around the Philippines, we see the potential for Pride to amplify our calls and aspirations for the passage of the SOGIE Equality Bill, and LGBTIQ+ rights in general," the Pride PH convenor said.

"All around the country, community organizations are taking up space for Pride to be a beacon of hope and vehicle for change. Pride is our love letter to the country’s leaders in hopes of passing the SOGIE Equality Bill, so that the next generations of Filipinos to come will live safe and free from discrimination," he added.

Liban also has a message to the LGBT community: "For generations, our community have shared not only our struggles but our dreams and aspirations. This Pride, we must be reminded of why we fight — to put an end to violence and discrimination and to create a world that is safer, more loving, and more accepting to LGBTIQ+ persons and our families." 

"We are once again given the opportunity to fight for our rights through the SOGIE Equality Bill. I urge all of you to reclaim our stories, take up space, build bridges with our allies, and fight together to achieve a future where no one is discriminated, and everyone are free to love and to be happy," he added.

The Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality filed a consolidated SOGIESC Equality Bill in 2022 after committee hearings. Versions at the House have been transmitted to its Committee on Appropriations.

Opponents of the bill — including Sen. Joel Villanueva and his father, religious leader and CIBAC party-list Rep. Eddie Villanueva — worry that passage of the bill would create "special rights" for LGBTQIA+ people and threaten "social order."

Sen. Villanueva last year suggested a more "holistic" anti-discrimination bill to benefit all marginalized groups.

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