Do you remember your first pride march?

I do. I’m sure we all do. And if you haven’t had the opportunity to participate in one yet, this year’s the perfect time to do so.

This year’s Pride March is a tribute to our rights, our lives, our loves and our selves. It’s also the celebration of the 10 years of Filipino rainbow pride. It’s a perfect 10 for the success of the past pride marches, and the anticipated one of this year’s. Hence, the theme is A decade of dignity: our rights, our lives, our loves, our selves.

The Pride March is known for its overwhelming attendance. It attracts thousands of participants and generates extensive local and international media attention. This year’s Pride March is also more particularly significant as it coincides with the celebration of the 60th year of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the launch in Manila of the Yogyakarta Principles (www.yogyakartaprinciples.org), an international declaration which affirms that sexual orientation and gender identity and expression as fundamental human rights.

But we can’t do it without your help. Community member or supporter, we could all contribute to make this year’s pride march a milestone for our country’s history.

How you can help

There are a lot of ways to help. Right now, the Task Force Pride in the process of organizing and mobilizing the actual march. Tentatively slated for December 5 or 6, the actual march will be surrounded by a lot of activities and programs.

I, together with my friends from Lunduyan ng Sining am officially in charge of the program committee and so my first call is to find people who will:

1. Perform – we are in need of program performers. Any act or talent you want to share is welcome! These will be for the pre-pride party (tentatively slated Nov. 29, 2008) and for the post-pride program (right after the pride march of December 5 or 6, 2008). If you feel you can bring it, contact Peach at 0917-5392742.

However, there are a lot of other ways you can help too:

2. Volunteer – we are in need of volunteer committee members. If you think you can help in any which way possible, please drop us a line at tfpmanila@yahoo.com or tfpmanila@gmail.com.
3. Help us gather funds – Task Force Pride has always been operating through the funds of generous donors and sponsors, as well as contributions of the participants. If you have contacts of rainbow-friendly individuals, companies, donors, sponsors, bars, etc., please let Dee know at divamanila@yahoo.com or 0918-2507470.
4. Contribute – if you can contribute yourself, in terms of finances or even a venue for us to hold our programs and briefings, let us know! Contact Dee at divamanila@yahoo.com or 0918-2507470.
5. Participate in the march – If you need more information on how you, your organization, your friends or your family can participate in the march, contact Bruce at bruce.amoroto@gmail.com. (See the call for participation)
6. Repost this call! Help us spread the love. Feel free to repost this entry onto your own blogs, or send it to your friends, officemates, etc.

How you can keep updated

While we are in the process of finalizing our website, you can keep yourself updated on what’s going on by logging on to www.pridemanila.wordpress.com.

Thanks and we hope to see you at the march!

Lunduyan ng Sining

Program Committee Head

Taskforce Pride 2008