Bakla Ako, May Reklamo?

I am no longer a virgin.

Last weekend, I happily gave up my virginity and marched through the streets of Manila!  Yes, I am no longer a Pride March virgin.  And yes, I used to be.

Believe it or not, the 2008 Manila Pride March was the first for me.  I came out in 2005, but I did not really get the chance to join any Pride March at all.  Either I did not have the time to join or I did not want to join.

I did not want to join. I was scared of having my face plastered all over the news.  I was scared of what might come my way after the march.  I was scared that my friends of old would see me and judge me.

I did not have the time (or deliberately planned out-of-town trips to coincide with the Pride March schedule). I did not want to march under the sweltering heat of the sun.  I did not want my B Club shoes (Yes, chipangga ito!) to get all dirty and worn out.  I did not want to have sweat as an accessory.

I would sleep all afternoon till night and then wake up at about 1am then head to Malate. Bed.  That was Manila Pride for me.

Until last weekend.

Months before the 2008 Manila Pride March, I already decided that I would join and that nothing was gonna stop me from joining!  And so began my journey towards my Pride March devirginization.  Together with the Rainbow Bloggers Philippines, I planned the LGBT Bloggers Night at Red Box (thanks again, Red Box!).  And because there was an LGBT bloggers contingent at this year’s march, I knew that I had a place!

Enter: Rainbow Bloggers and Friends.

And so I went, marched, shouted, smiled, took photos, tolerated the anti-lgbt religious protesters, spoke, dined, partied, supported, and had so much fun! I saw all sorts of people: girl, boy, bakla, tomboy, transsexual, straight, closeta, protester, afam, afam na protester, bilats, hubaderang mhinkies, delicious mhinkies, ugly betties, bata, matanda, tindera, labandera, kapitbahay, pamhinta, at lahat na!

Words are not enough for me to describe the feeling of finally being able to go out, be proud, and fight for my rights.  See the Manila Pride March 20008 through my eyes through this slideshow:

or check out the photos at Flickr.

Thank you to all the LGBT Bloggers and our straight friends who came out and marched with us:  McVie, Juned, Karla, Sha, husband and wife team Arpee and Noreen.

I’m no longer a virgin. And I love it!

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