A 13-year-old Schools Us on Why Pride March Is as Relevant as Ever

IMAGE Cha Roque via CNN Philippines

Kelsey with mom Cha Roque at the annual Metro Manila Pride March

(SPOT.ph) Metro Manila has been joining the world's annual Pride March since June 1994 with its first ever location at the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City. LGBTQ+s and allies hold this peaceful protest in commemoration of the 1969 Stonewall Riot, a series of demonstrations following the police raids of the New York gay club. It is regarded as the impetus for modern LGBTQ+ movement and the rest, as they say, is history.

Bakit nga ba ako taon taon sumasama sa Pride March?

— Kelsey (@heyooitskelsey) June 25, 2017

Fast forward to 2017, the Metro Manila Pride March brought the fight all the way to Marikina City on June 24. One of the 7,500-strong crowd is 13-year-old Kelsey, daughter of lesbian filmmaker Cha Roque. At such a young age, she knows more about respect (and basic human decency) than (probably) the rest of us. Here are some of the reasons why she attends the annual Pride March and why it’s as relevant as ever.

Para sa mga taong patuloy na ibinabalik sa closet

— Kelsey (@heyooitskelsey) June 25, 2017

Para sa mga taong hindi matanggap tanggap ng lipunan

— Kelsey (@heyooitskelsey) June 25, 2017

Para sa kalayaang hindi maibigay, sa kalayaang hindi dapat ipinagkakait.

— Kelsey (@heyooitskelsey) June 25, 2017

Para sa mga estudyanteng paulit-ulit humaharap sa mga taong hindi matanggap tanggap ang pamilyang kinabibilangan nila

— Kelsey (@heyooitskelsey) June 25, 2017

Para sa iba't ibang uri ng manggagawang hindi makakuha ng magandang trabaho dahil sa sekswalidad.

— Kelsey (@heyooitskelsey) June 25, 2017

Para sa mundong hindi kasalanan ang pagpili ng taong minamahal at piniling mahalin

— Kelsey (@heyooitskelsey) June 25, 2017

Para sa mga tomboy na pilit sinasabihang ang pagtikim ng lalaki ang maglilihis sa kanila sa pagmamahal ng kapwa babae

— Kelsey (@heyooitskelsey) June 25, 2017

Para sa mga baklang tinatanggap lamang ng komunidad dahil sa dala dala nilang ngiti at tuwa sa ating mga mukha

— Kelsey (@heyooitskelsey) June 25, 2017

Para sa buong LGBTQ+ na ilang taon na ring ipinaglalaban ang ADB na hindi maipasa pasa ng gobyerno

— Kelsey (@heyooitskelsey) June 25, 2017

Nagmamartsa ako para sa mga guro kong kinunsinte ang mga kaklase ko sa pambubully sa akin sa pagkakaroon ng dalawang ina

— Kelsey (@heyooitskelsey) June 25, 2017

And to all those who argue that being raised by LGBTQ+ parents is a bad thing, here's what Kelsey has to say:

"Tomboy yung nanay mo?Paano ka lalaki?" Oo, tomboy yung nanay ko, lalaki akong maayos at mabuting mamamayan, dahil si Cha Roque ang nanay ko

— Kelsey (@heyooitskelsey) June 25, 2017

Mic drop!