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MANILA – Organizers of Metro Manila Pride, the largest annual gathering of the LGBTQ community in the country, said Monday that the event will start online amid the new coronavirus pandemic.
This after the group decided to cancel the originally planned date of June 27, as “it can bring unnecessary risks to public health and could further affect our healthcare system and other front-line services that are already struggling to respond for the purposes of this pandemic. “
“Social distancing does not mean social disconnection. As we physically distance ourselves, let us not forget to practice social solidarity. While the situation prevents us from uniting in person, it will in no way prevent us from using online spaces to fight for our rights, protest for injustices against the LGBTQI + sector, show solidarity with other vulnerable sectors and celebrate our communities, “the group said in a statement.
“We may not fill the streets, but we will continue to be as loud and proud on as many digital channels as possible. We invite everyone to tune in to our social media pages and website in the coming weeks as we announce online events and activities that we have organized for you. “
Some 70,000 participants joined last year’s event, more than double the around 25,000 attendees in 2018, organizers said.
The Manila rally comes as New York waits for millions of protesters for its 50th commemoration of the Stonewall riots in the city, a turning point in the fight for the rights of the LGBTQ community.
The pride march began after a 1969 riot at the Stonewall Inn, a gay club in downtown Manhattan. The first Pride event was held in 1970 to mark the anniversary of the riots.
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