GALANG will march with members of three partner LBT people’s organizations (LPOs) in the annual Metro Manila Pride March on Saturday, December 8, 2012, held for the first time in Makati City.

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.