Members and supporters of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transsexual (LGBT) community gathered on December 4 at Tomas Morato corner Scout Lozano, Quezon City for the LGBT Pride March and World AIDS Day Celebration called "One Love: Stop AIDS, Promote LGBT Human Rights, Keep the Promise" organized by Task Force Pride Philippines (TFP), the Philippine AIDS Society, and the Quezon City government.

According to GMANews.tv, the march was the "biggest yet since the first LGBT Pride March in Asia on June 26, 1994." TFP co-coordinator Ryan Silverio told GMANews.tv that "more than 80 organizers and 300 individuals" registered. The report adds that in 2003, TFP decided to move the march from June to December to accomodate other human rights activities.

Members of Gabriela and the Progressive Organization of Gays in the Philippines (ProGay Philippines) at One Love. Click for more photos.

Groups such as the Akabayan Party, Filipino Free Thinkers, Amnesty International Pilipinas, Lesbian Activism Project, Inc. (LEAP), United Nations in the Philippines, Metropolitan Community Church – Philippines, Gabriela, and Ang Ladlad, among others joined the event. LGBT advocate Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel, Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, comedienne Tuesday Vargas, Youtube sensation Lady Gagita, and Pride March King of the Night Carlos Celdran  also supported the event.

Anti-LGBT groups were also at the event with signs that read, "It's not okay to be gay! It's sin!" and "God did not make you gay!" among others. Some members of the LGBT community who joined the march also held placards with their pro-LGBT statements like, "If God is love, why hate?" and "Religious bigotry is hate!"

The parade started at 3 p.m. and the program followed at 6 p.m. Games were played and prizes were given away to the participants. The program was followed by a street party. Throughout the event, promotional videos were played to encourage LGBT support and HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention.

Lady Gagita for Pride March Philippines 2010

For more on this story, log on to GMANews.tv.

Photos by Jean Natividad and JM Aguilar.