Messages of support

Greetings from Manila, the Philippines! We, the members of Gender and Development Advocates (GANDA) Filipinas, stand in solidarity with the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Intersex and Queer (LBTIQ) community and their supporters in Tokyo, Japan as they hold the annual Tokyo Rainbow Pride (TRP) march on 28 April 2013, Sunday. As we proudly celebrate the successful push for marriage equality in Uruguay, New Zealand, France and other countries around the world this pride season, may we not forget the true spirit of pride: militant activism fighting for the liberation of all people who are oppressed based on their sexual orientation and gender identity. This remains to be the message of the Stonewall Inn riots, which pride marches around the world commemorate each year. In Japan, transgender people continue to face barriers to the full attainment of their rights as human beings. Recently, a court refused to recognize a transman as the legal father of a child. Transpeople in Japan are still required to be sterilized under the law, violating their right to found their own families. Men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM) communities continue to face stigma and those who contract HIV and AIDS are unable to access quality medical services because of shame and prejudice. Japanese LGBTIQ youth continue to face bullying in their families, schools and communities and fail to receive proper psychosocial support. As we march with pride on Sunday, let us not forget the work that still needs to be done towards promoting, upholding and fulfilling the basic human rights of LGBTIQ people not only in Japan but around the world. May our rainbow flags, parties, concerts, dances, costumes and celebration this Sunday of all that is great and good about our community be our commitment to continue the legacy of Stonewall and struggle for the equality of all. MABUHAY! Happy pride from Gender and Development Advocates (GANDA) Filipinas!