Abegaille de la Cruz

For Every Dark Cloud there is a Rainbow Lining

Last August 27, 2014, UPLB Babaylan had its annual

Pride March. However, I was not able to attend due to
laboratory classes that coincides with the event. However,
afterwards I was able to visit where the event took place and
was mesmerized by the Oblation wearing a rainbow colored
sash symbolizing the universitys support LGBT advocacies.
Since I have very limited experience in joining the recent Pride
UPLB Oblation by Andie
Bagatsolon

March, I searched for other LGBT support groups, both local

and international, and studied and reflected on their advocacies.

Aside from UPLB Babaylan, other UP campuses also have

their own LGBT organization which is also called UP Babaylan. Their
advocacies and campaigns includes 1) Manila Pride March, 2)
Philippine Anti-Discrimination Bill, 3) World AIDS Campaign, 4)
International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO), 5) LGBT Legal Aid
Office, 6) University Gender Sensitivity Initiative, 7) University Gay
Games, 8) UP Diliman Gender Office LGBT Studies, 9) Philippine LGBT Literature Research
and Development, 10) UP Main Library LGBT Literature Section, and lastly 11) LGBT Literary
Folio. All of which are found in their website angupbabaylan.blogspot.com.t Their advocacies
do not only focus on letting the people know that such organization exists, but they continue to
hone peoples minds through thorough consultation, presentation, academic interaction and
social activities. The group do not limit themselves into being known but they extend their arms
into being respected and of course, understood. Through this expansion of knowledge and
acceptance, UP Babaylan continues to network with national and international LGBT
organizations.
Upon researching for national LGBT organizations, I stumbled upon OUTRAGE: The
Only LGBTzine in the Philippines. It may not be an group but it is an online magazine

(www.outragemag.com) that advocates highlight LGBT stories whose writers are also part of the
LGBT community and its allies. With this magaazine, the community was able to relate to LGBT
issues around them and facilitates discussions between both LGBT and non-LGBT community.
Through these issue discussion, different programs are developed in order to facilitate further
discussion and interaction. They started the magazine to
further desensitize the media about LGBT perception.
Outrage continues to look for ways to help the LGBT
community in the Philippines, they only not bring us the news and issues they also ensure that
steps are taken for these issues to be dealt with
Another organization involved in a different advocacy is the Pinoy
Deaf Rainbow, Inc. which is the pioneer organization for deaf LGBT
Filipinos. They highlighted the needs of the deaf LGBT people. They aim
to serve deaf LGBT Filipinos through fellowships, education, capacity and
awareness building, networking and to develop and empower the deaf
LGBT to be productive and be employed and learn the LGBT sign language.
Lastly, we have Loveyourself Inc.
which believes that self-worth is the key to an
empowered community. This group desires an
active, healthy and vibrant self-worth among young and adult males who have sex with males.
Through nurturing and embracing self-worth, these people could inspire other and create positive
ripples of change. The ongoing pioneer project of this organization is to prevent the spread of
STD and HIV/AIDS among the youth and affected population through awareness, counselling
and education.
These are not the only existing LGBT advocacy groups in the Philippines but these made
different impacts. May it be social media, academe, youth, PWDs. These groups, as well as
others have a general advocacy of protecting LGBT and pursuing their rights. They also, in each
of their own ways, was able to gather not only the LGBT community but the non-LGBT
community as well.
I myself, being a non-LGBT 101% supports their advocacies for I believe we are all
made the same way and would all end the same way, thus making us equal and respectable in

each of our own ways. I admire how these groups was able to turn the discrimination LGBT
community into something wonderful, turning discrimination into acceptance, ignorance into
knowledge, and misunderstanding into mutual respect. It is right to say then, that every dark
cloud has a rainbow lining.