Members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) community have called out some fans who attended the Pride celebration in Quezon City just to watch a girl group performance.
“LoveLaban 2 Everyone”, took place at the QC Memorial Circle last Saturday. It is the city’s second Pride event commemorating Filipino LGBTQ+.
This celebration was made to advocate for one’s sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression (SOGIE).
According to QC Mayor Joy Belmonte, the support received from the Pride event will be crucial in the next six months to advance the SOGIE equality bill.
This act, once legalized in the country, would protect the LGBTQ+ community against all kinds of sexual or gender-based discrimination, according to the Senate.
Canceled event
Despite the successful first half of the program, event organizer, Pride PH, along with the QC local government had to halt the festivities due to heavy rain.
"We want to inform you that the electrical and sound system on the stage has been compromised due to the heavy rain and it is possible to harm the crew and our beloved performers," Belmonte explained in a statement on social media..
Performances from Vice Ganda, Gloc-9, and Filipino Pop (P-POP) group BINI were cut short.
While the weather conditions affected the event, Belmonte proudly announced that this year had over 200,000 Pinoys celebrating that night, which is twice last year's audience population.
'LoveLaban' goers upset over other BLOOMs
When the event got canceled midway, a few LGBTQ+ attendees were dismayed after hearing that there was a crowd of people who exclusively went to watch a BINI performance.
BINI fans are officially known as BLOOMs.
Online users on TikTok posted their share of stories overhearing people who only came to see the girl group.
One TikToker was able to capture a person demanding a BINI appearance in the middle of the performance of band, Cup of Joe
Another TikTok user said that there were some visitors who are allegedly against the LGBTQ+ community who joined the audience merely to watch BINI.
"I'm not a hater [of BINI or their fans] but as a first timer to the Pride march, my expectations of what I watched before were shattered because of the homophobic people who came just to watch BINI's free concert, instead of supported the very protest that was held. It's just really disappointing, super sad," they said on TikTok.
"When you go to the Pride march just to see your favorite artist and not join in; the event has been discontinued... Deserve!” a TikTok user posted on the social platform.