PHILIPPINES-PRIDE MARCH Filipinos hold pride march, show support for upcoming Pope visit

Record ID: 860687

  • Title: PHILIPPINES-PRIDE MARCH Filipinos hold pride march, show support for upcoming Pope visit
  • Date: 13th December 2014
  • Summary: MANILA, PHILIPPINES (DECEMBER 13, 2014) (REUTERS) LGBT (LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER) CAMPAIGNERS HOLDING STREAMERS WHILE WALKING ON ROAD CAMPAIGNERS CARRYING VARIOUS PLACARDS PEOPLE WALKING WHILE CARRYING RAINBOW BANNER VARIOUS OF PEOPLE CARRYING ANTI-DISCRIMINATION MESSAGES WRITTEN ON COLOURED PLACARDS VARIOUS OF PEOPLE CARRYING BANNER IN RAINBOW COLOURS WITH MESSAGE THAT READS (English/Filipino) "DEAR POPE FRANCIS. THANK YOU FOR THE EMBRACE OF THE YOUTH AND THE FAMILIES OF THE LGBT" (SOUNDBITE) (Filipino) LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER CAMPAIGNER JUSTIN PEREZ SAYING: "I believe that the Pope welcomes us, just like the Lord Jesus Christ, because if the Lord does not love us, then why are we pretty, why are we talented?" CAMPAIGNERS ONBOARD FLOAT CAMPAIGNERS WAVING AT CROWD CAMPAIGNER RON DE VERA CARRYING BANNER WHILE WAVING RAINBOW FLAG MORE OF CAMPAIGNERS CARRYING LARGE RAINBOW BANNER (SOUNDBITE) (Filipino) LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER CAMPAIGNER RON DE VERA SAYING: "Everybody deserves the right to be loved and everybody deserves the right to love." VARIOUS OF CAMPAIGNERS MARCHING ALONG HIGHWAY
  • Embargoed: 28th December 2014 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Philippines
  • City:
  • Country: Philippines
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA4YNOHU3SVCVQVJ86JA2DFS6Q2
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  • Story Text: Close to a thousand people from the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities (LGBT) joined a parade in Manila on Saturday (December 13) to campaign for gender equality along with a show of support to the upcoming visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines.
    Dressed in colourful costumes, LGBT campaigners walked along the main highway, carrying bright streamers which carried messages against gender discrimination.
    Some carried banners welcoming Pope Francis as they see his reforms in the Catholic Church a welcome relief.
    "I believe that the Pope welcomes us, just like the Lord Jesus Christ. Because if the Lord does not love us, then why are we pretty, why are we talented?" said Justin Perez, one of the LGBT campaigners.
    Campaigners hoped that the Pope's message will carry the message of equality when he travels to the Philippines in January.
    "Everybody deserves the right to be loved and everybody deserves the right to love," said Ron de Vera, another LGBT campaigner.
    The Philippines, with over 80 percent of its 100-million population practising the Catholic religion, is generally tolerant with homosexuals, with celebrities coming out of the closet and transgenders holding their own cabaret shows.
    While the Catholic Church maintains its teachings against homosexual acts, analysts have remarked a change in the Church's traditionalist perspective when it tackled the concept of gay marriage during the synod of bishops in October, despite a clash of opinions among church leaders.
    The Catholic Church does not approve of same-sex marriage and has been adamantly opposing any form of legislative measures legalising the union in Congress.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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