AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS — The first Filipino-European LGBTQIA+ Advocates Forum opened in the Amsterdam Mayor’s Residence on August 02, 2023. The three-day forum, which coincided with the celebration of Amsterdam Pride Week, aimed to shed light on the fight for equal rights for Filipino LGBTQIA+ in both the Philippines and the European diaspora.
The opening ceremony was graced by the presence of Alexander Scholtes, Deputy Mayor of Amsterdam; Katharina Kacerovsky-Strobl, Organizer of Vienna Pride, EuroPride Vienna, and Stonewall GmBH; and Jarie Osias; Charge d’Affaires of Philippine Embassy the Hauge.
In his welcoming remarks, Chris Sta.Brigida Kopp, Chair of Filipino LGBT Europe, reiterated his call for solidarity worldwide in the Filipino LGBTQIA+ community. He stated that those who have experienced being in places where equal rights are guaranteed must not forget that the same cannot be said for queer siblings in the Philippines. He noted that despite the distance, the Forum demonstrates sympathy and love for everyone in the community.
Jarie Osias of the Philippine Embassy the Hauge continued on this note by harkening back to pre-Hispanic Philippine society, where equality between all genders was more pronounced than at the present time. He expressed hope that such becomes, once again, what is standard in the Philippines. He highlighted the steps that the Philippine government has taken toward that goal: the institutionalization of Pride Month by the Supreme Court, the rising number of local legislations that respect equality regardless of sexual orientation, identity, and gender expression, and the ongoing formation of a special advisory body for LGBTQIA+ issues in the Office of the President. He ended his speech by saying, “We are all human beings. We are all the same. We are equal. We should be equal in the eyes of the law.”
This same sentiment was echoed by a message from the Philippine Ambassador to the Netherlands, Jose Eduardo Malaya III. The Ambassador stressed that “when rights are protected, society flourishes.”
The presence of guests from different parts of Europe joining hand-in-hand with the Amsterdam-based Filipino LGBT Europe was accentuated by Alexander Scholtes, Deputy Mayor of Amsterdam, in his special address. He noted that the fervor of those that came was a show of the solidarity of the Filipino LGBTQIA+ community in Europe and how they are one with their queer siblings in the Philippines. He reiterated that Amsterdam Pride Week is one in spirit with such endeavor, stating that Pride is an event of celebration, protest, and community building. Likewise, he added that with the 1st Filipino-European LGBTQIA+Advocates Forum, Amsterdam Pride Week also became a time to learn. As someone in a position of power, he stated that such an opportunity is valuable to demonstrate that things can still be better. He ended his speech by likening the Amsterdam Filipino LGBTQIA+ community to the tulip, which originated in Asia but bloomed beautifully in the Netherlands.
Katharina Kacerovsky-Strobl of Vienna Pride emphasized that the battle for equality is not over yet and that Pride must continue as long as intolerance, fear, and hate exist. Evidence of the strengthening ties between the LGBTQIA+ community in Europe, Vienna will host the second Filipino-European LGBTQIA+Advocates Forum. Kacerovksy-Strobl stressed that “inclusion is the future.”
The opening ceremony to the Forum closed with a show of appreciation to the Filipino-Dutch couple, Godwin and Wimmo Yosalina-Bouman. The couple opened their doors to the Filipino LGBTQIA+ community in the Netherlands as a safe space. BAYOTA Community Center, open three years and running, is a place to share culture, food, and companionship.
