This year’s Pride March is an especially proud moment for GALANG as it marches with three partner LPOs not only in affirmation of the dignity and pride of lesbians, gay men, bisexual, and transgender individuals, but also in celebration of its own accomplishments. In a show of solidarity with lesbians and other sexual minorities from all walks of life, GALANG will take to the streets of Makati City for its fifth Metro Manila Pride March. Founded by lesbians, GALANG has since its inception sought to engage and support urban poor women of minority sexualities. Its mission has been to organize these women, whose voices have often been noticeably absent from the discourse of human rights, into communities of empowerment and activism.

GALANG’s first partner LPO, the Lesbian Alliance Movement (LAM): Lakas ng Kababaihan para sa Karapatan (Strength of Women for their Rights) of Barangay Pansol, was founded in May of 2011. It strives to fight against the oppression of lesbians as well as to secure the respect of their wider community. LAM has established seven committees to approach these objectives from various vantage points: Education, Sports, Financial, Membership, Ethics, Health, and Livelihood.

Lesbian Alliance Bagbag (LAB) was established a year later in April of 2012. LAB’s vision is to work toward the common goals of social justice and equality, while recognizing and respecting the differences amongst them. Also founded this year, Ugnayan ng Nagkakaisang Lesbyana laban sa Diskriminasyon (Association of Lesbians United against Discrimination) or UNLAD is GALANG’s third partner LPO, bringing together lesbians from Barangays Krus na Ligas and Botocan, and Area Libis also in Quezon City.

This Saturday, GALANG expects to exceed last year’s combined force of more than 70 marchers. Their presence will be a demonstration of the self-reliance and perseverance of both GALANG’s founders and coordinators, and of the communities the organization has served. It will also be the embodiment of the Sari-Sali: Pride in Action theme of this year’s Metro Manila Pride March, as these acutely underrepresented communities make a stand alongside other sexual minorities who share their aspiration for state protection against discrimination.

GALANG Philippines is a lesbian-initiated, lesbian-run feminist human rights organization that works with urban poor lesbians, bisexual women, and trans men (LBTs) who struggle with the multiple oppressions of class, poverty, sex, gender identity/expression, and sexual orientation.

Contact

Anne Lim
Executive Director
GALANG Philippines
+63 2 435 4103, +63 927 293 3731
galangphilippines@gmail.com, inquiry@galangphilippines.org
www.galangphilippines.org

On June 24, 2012, GALANG Philippines will join its community-based partners, the Lesbian Alliance Movement: Lakas ng Kababaihan para sa Karapatan and Lesbian Alliance Bagbag in their call of “Karapatan ng Lesbyana: Pag-aralan. Ipaglaban!” On that day, GALANG will fly the colors of the rainbow and march at the 6th Baguio Grand Pride Parade to support the Baguio Pride Network, a broad alliance of Baguio-based lesbian and gay individuals and organizations, in demanding the immediate passage of the anti-discrimination bill. The colorful and festive event is not only a joyous celebration of diversity but also an opportunity to effect critical change. For over a decade, sexual rights activists have been campaigning for the passage of the anti-discrimination bill first filed in 1998. The proposed legislation that seeks to protect lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgenders (LGBTs) against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI), prohibits discrimination in areas such as employment, education, health services, public service (including military service), commercial and medical establishments.

Since 2008, GALANG has been working with lesbians, bisexual women, and trans men (LBTs) in urban poor communities in Quezon City where it has documented countless cases of LBTs whose right to work is severely curtailed. Otherwise qualified LBTs are systematically denied employment on the basis of their perceived immorality or “deviant” status, further causing them and their families to be perpetually mired in poverty. By building community strength and fueling community growth, GALANG seeks to develop the capacity of urban poor LBTs to be at the forefront of the advocacy for the passage of the anti-discrimination bill as well as other policies that will end workplace discrimination against sexual minorities once and for all.

GALANG Philippines is a lesbian-initiated, lesbian-run feminist human rights organization that works with urban poor LBTs who struggle with the multiple oppressions of class, poverty, sex, gender identity/expression, and sexual orientation. .

Contact

Anne Lim

Executive Director
GALANG Philippines, Inc.
+63 2 435 4103, +63 927 293 3731
galangphilippines@gmail.com
www.galangphilippines.org