Baguio City, June 24, 2012 — Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” Recognizing that all human beings are inherently equal and free is key to understanding and appreciating diversity. It is every individual’s duty to demand social justice, to think critically and objectively about the world and community, to know the adverse impacts of discrimination, and promote appreciation and respect for identity and self-expression.

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 lesbians, bisexual women, and trans men (LBTs) who struggle with the multiple oppressions of class, poverty, sex, gender identity/expression, and sexual orientation.