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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Pride March: Foreign envoys stand behind PH's LGBTQIA+ community

Pride March: Foreign envoys stand behind PH's LGBTQIA+ community

Published Jun 29, 2025 03:11 pm
Members of the diplomatic community expressed their solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community as the Philippines celebrated Pride Month during a historic “Lov3Laban Festival 2025” held at the University of the Philippines-Diliman grounds on Saturday, June 28.

Members of the LGBTQIA community celebrate the Pride Month during the
Members of the LGBTQIA community celebrate the Pride Month during the "Love3Laban" Festival held at the University of the Philippines campus in Diliman, Quezon City on Saturday, June 28, 2025. (Photo from the Australian Embassy in Manila)
Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines David Hartman in a video posted on the Canadian Embassy’s Facebook page underscored the importance of equality, noting how Canada has stood by the Philippines for the last 75 years and will continue to do so for the LGBTQI+ community “here and around the world.”

“On behalf of the Embassy of Canada to the Philippines, I'm honored to celebrate with you this Pride Month as we stand with you, our friends, our partners, our LGBTQI+ family, because we believe that human rights are universal and that diversity is our strength,” he said.

“We're proud to be our advocates and allies working together to defend equality and dignity for all. We believe that love is stronger than hate and no one should face discrimination or violence for being who they are or who they love,” he added.

Australian Ambassador to Manila Hae Kyong Yu described how Pride not only celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community, but also serves as “a powerful reminder of the courage and resilience of the LGBTQIA+ community and the ongoing journey toward equality.”

“Australia's deep support for LGBTQIA+ people is rooted in our commitment to diversity and inclusion and human rights. These priorities are central to our national values. Put simply, it's part of who we are,” she said in a separate video.

“Australia stands shoulder to shoulder with the Filipino LGBTQIA+ community. We firmly believe that everyone deserves kindness, acceptance and respect, no matter who they are and who they love,” the envoy added.

French Ambassador to Manila Marie Fontanel also greeted the community a happy Pride Month.

Foreign envoys from Canada, France, European Union, and United Kingdom join the Pride Month celebration in the Philippines. (Photo from EU via X post)
Foreign envoys from Canada, France, European Union, and United Kingdom join the Pride Month celebration in the Philippines. (Photo from EU via X post)
“Pride month is, every year, the occasion to recall the obvious. We shall be free to be who we are and we shall be free to love whom we want,” Fontanel said in another video message.

European Union Ambassador Massimo Santoro also took to his social media account to affirm EU’s commitment to equality.

“Proud to celebrate my first #PRIDE (rainbow emoji) in the (the Philippines)! Together with the diplomatic community, we reaffirm our (EU flag emoji) commitment to equality, dignity, & human rights of All. #DiplomatsforEquality,” he wrote in a post on x (formerly Twitter).

Members of the LGBTQIA+ community and their allies celebrated Pride Month on Saturday. Rainbow flags filled UP Diliman, which hosted the event together with the Quezon City government and the Pride PH Coalition.

Celebrities and influencers joined the event, which also included stalls put up in the Academic Oval to offer various merchandise, food, and services, as well as the famed Pride March.

While others came simply to express themselves, the event also stood as a venue for others to advocate for social causes, particularly the passage of the SOGIE Equality Bill.

Related Tags

Marie Fontanel Pride Month LGBTQIA+ Australia European Union
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