More than a celebration: What to expect at the Pride Festival 2023
Happy Pride!
The Pride Festival is happening on June 24 at the Quezon Memorial Circle, promising a bigger and bolder event for all its attendees. With the theme Love, Laban: A Celebration of the Fight for Love in All Forms and Ways, the gathering will be organized by Pride PH, one of the broadest networks of LGBTQIA+ individuals and organizations in the country.
This is the second year that Quezon City will be hosting the Pride Month affair. Beyond it being a celebration for the queer community, Mayor Joy Belmonte describes it as “a call to end the discrimination, hate, and prejudice” they are facing. She noted that it’s being held not because they are “seeking special treatment,” but simply because they are “longing for a halt to the undeserved ill treatment and denial of opportunities they continue to suffer from.”
Here's what to expect at the upcoming Pride Festival 2023.
Three major activities
The Pride Festival will take place only for a day, but it’s going to be packed with three major activities: Pride Expo, Pride March, and Pride Night.
At the Pride Expo starting at 10:00 a.m., LGBTQIA+ merchants and businesses will be selling their products—including food and merch—in different booths around the venue. Free services such as HIV testing and mental health consultation will be offered by non-government organizations as well as product samples from corporate sponsors who are also allies of the queer community.
The Pride March will begin at 3:00 p.m. “The pride marches are seen as safe spaces that provide a venue to push for equality and inclusivity, and while these festivities remain celebratory, Pride is still a protest and should remain so—not until the LGBTQIA+ community no longer needs to fight for their human rights, their right to love, and the freedom to be their true authentic selves,” said Mela Habijan, Miss Trans Global 2020 and lead convener of Pride PH.
There will also be a Pride Night starting at 6:00 p.m., where queer individuals will showcase their incredible talents. It will be concluded with a fireworks display—“and lots of dancing.”
Assembly and route
The event organizers have provided a map that indicates the assigned entrance and parking areas for guests, as well as the route for the march.
At 1 p.m. participants are asked to assemble at any of the following areas in Quezon Memorial Circle: Ampitheater, Circle of Fun, and Picnic Pavilion.
The route for the march will take participants from Quezon Memorial Circle in North Ave. exit, to East Ave., V. Luna Road, Kalayaan Ave., and back to Quezon Memorial Circle.
Special guests
Drag queens as well as LGBTQIA+ members and allies will grace the affair, including TikTok stars Sassa Gurl, Fonzi, and AC Soriano. Joining them are Drag Race Philippines winner Precious Paula Nicole and fellow contestants Lady Morgana, Minty Fresh, Maria Christina, Pura Luka Vega. Drag Den Philippines champion Naia will also be there.
Queer friends and allies can also have a blast with singers Paul Pablo, Nica del Rosario, Peabo, Silas, Raven Heyres, and Lance, or party with DJ Ayel Mari and dance groups Femme MNL and TFX.
Also included in the lineup are actors Markki Stroem, Phi Palmos, Adrian Lindayag, Drei Arias, Christian Antolin, and master voguer House of Mizrahi.
Pride Festival livestream
For those who can’t attend the Pride Festival onsite, you can still join in the fun virtually as it will be livestreamed via the official Facebook pages of Pride PH and the Quezon City Government as well as its official media partner ABS-CBN via its YouTube channel, Facebook page, and iWantTFC.