Mindanao Pride’s Kadaiyahan Festival will seek to highlight unity between LGBT groups and straight allies as it takes place in Cagayan de Oro City from December 6 to 10. Slated to celebrate the prevalent realities of LGBT-identified individuals, it will also harness on awareness campaigns that tackle about issues concerning them.
The festival will open with a film screening at Centrio Ayala Mall with a 2018-documentary film, “Call Her Ganda” on Dec. 6, 8 am-12 pm. Directed by award-winning filmmaker, PJ Raval, the film details the tragedy that struck Jennifer Laude and her family in 2014 after the transgender was murdered by US Marine Joseph Scott Pemberton.
Topics about health and welfare for the LGBT in relation to HIV/AIDS prevention will be discussed in the Opening Program, along with the background of the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity or Expression (Sogie) Bill, and the situation of the LGBT community in regions where the Bangsamoro Basic Law will be implemented
The festival, which takes its name from the Bisaya term for “diversity,” will also put emphasis on lectures and workshops to correct misconceptions about the LGBT. This resonates with Mindanao Pride’s objective as a social movement to promote gender equality as supported by the Samahan ng mga Pilipina para sa Reporma at Kaunlaran, a non-government organization which empowers women.
The festival also seeks to host selected young leaders from different schools and barangays in the region for a called, “LeadOUT Youth Leaders for Sogie” from Dec. 6 to 8 to further train them about the Sogie Bill and how the students can apply similar terms in their schools and communities to prevent and address gender-based discrimination and bullying.
From the realities to pages, the festival will also highlight the power of literature in relation to LGBT portrayal. With the Queer Literature Talk slated on Dec. 7 at Boy Zugba, Corrales branch.
Kadaiyahan Festival will cap off with a pride march from the Rodelsa Circle to the Kiosko Kagawasan, and a festive closing program culminating on its last day (Dec. 9).
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