CEBU PRIDE WEEK 2008

Below is the link to download the press kit:

Visayas Pride Network Press Kit for the Cebu Pride parade 2008 

Cebu Celebrates LGBT Pride with Manila

CEBU CITY – The Visayas Pride Network, a network of individuals and organizations promoting the human rights of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender persons or LGBT will be celebrating the first PRIDE DAY in Cebu City on Dec. 6, 2008. The Parade will start at 4:00 pm with a route that will start and end at the Capitol Grounds. The parade will be held simultaneously with the Pride Parade in Manila.

The Pride Parade will be celebrated starting Dec. 1, 2008 to Dec. 6, 2008. The group’s first activity will be a Pride Press Conference on Dec. 1, 2008 followed with a campus and radio tour on Dec. 2 – 4, 2008. A Human Rights Forum on LGBT Rights will be conducted on Dec. 5, 2008 and the next day, Dec. 6, 2008, will be the Pride Parade. After the parade, a cultural program will follow. Their will also be a covenant signing on the Stop Discrimination Campaign and the awarding to the top three participants with the most colorful costume will also follow.

The Visayas Pride Network celebrates the Pride Day to promote awareness on gender based issues related to the LGBT community and to the community in general. The celebration of human sexuality and diversity will also foster unity within the LGBT community and its supporters in supporting for the passage of the Anti-Discrimination Bill and the Anti-Discrimination ordinance filed at the Cebu City Council and the Cebu Provincial Board. Presently, the network is composed of five community based organizations, 3 student based organizations and a significant number of individuals.

Patrick Joseph Ty, the over-all coordinator of the Visayas Pride Network said that “the Pride Parade will be a colorful celebration of human sexuality and diversity. It will show to the public the harmonious relationship we can build together and how we, as members of the LGBT community, can be an important factor in nation building.”  He mentioned that Pride Parade is a colorful protest to the human rights violation committed to persons like Jan Jan and other members of the LGBT community whose rights were violated simply because of their gender or sexual orientation. Furthermore, he said that “it is time that we stop and end discrimination and start to recognize the human rights of the LGBT’s after all like heterosexual people, we are also humans. Thus we too have human rights.”

The Pride Parade originally a protest to the violations of LGBT’s Human rights, started in New York when the Stonewall Inn was raided violently by police authorities. Nowadays, the pride parade, still celebrated after more than 30 years, is not just a colorful protest, but also, it is a reminder and a celebration to respect, protect and recognize the human rights of the LGBT community.

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This year’s Pride Parade is supported by NGO’s, business organizations and individuals.

NGO & PO Supporters: Tonette Lopez Project, Akbayan Gays and Lesbian Collective, LAGABLAB Pride Network, Kaabag sa Sugbu Inc. Fellowship for Organizing Endeavours, Center for Participatory Governance, University of Southern Philippines Foundation, SEMGAB, Gays Association of Fatima, Stars Unlimited Alumni Association.

Business Supporters:iNeed Travel Magazine, TRUST Condoms, FRENZY, EZ lubricating Jelly, Gloria Jeans Coffees, Prints and More, ZeckZander Minerals Asia Inc., Jonas Borces Beauty Studio, Wen Wen Zaspa Hair and Make-up Studio, Sinirangan Tours and Adventures.

Individual Supporters: Sen. Manny Villar, Ms. Noy Thrupkaew & Ms.Joegie Saavedra.