LOS ANGELES, CA – Barangay Los Angeles, the longest running Filipino LGBTQ organization in the United States, celebrates landmarks of pride in the LGBTQ community. This past June 2012, over 100 Barangay Los Angeles members marched in front of hundreds of thousands of attendees at the Los Angeles Pride Parade in West Hollywood. This amazing display of pride fell appropriately close to Philippine Independence Day.
“As a Filipino Queer man, I am proud of my cultural roots. Being part of LA Pride is another way for me to express who I am as a Filipino and a proud member of the LGBTQ community.” says Barangay Los Angeles President Robert Julius Maullon.
Barangay Los Angeles made a significant impact at this global event with its annual Sagala with the support of CSW LA Pride. Members represented with Filipino flags waving, beauty queens in traditional Filipino gowns, and a special guest attendee — Ongina from RuPaul’s Drag Race. Shouts of “Happy Independence Day” and “Mahuhay!” filled the streets of Santa Monica Blvd from parade attendees who were happy to see people representing their Filipino community — including Filipino actor Alec Mapa.
The Sagala at LA Pride also included parents of Barangay Los Angeles members who support and accept their children unconditionally. “I’ve been walking with my son since he was born,” says June Maullon, mother of Robert Julius Maullon. “I am proud of who he is and am proud of the man he has grown up to be.”
In the wake of recent events in the Filipino LGBTQ community, this show of pride and acceptance was a much needed step toward progressive visibility. Barangay Los Angeles has consistently served the needs of LGBTQ Filipinos by advocating and creating safe spaces to address issues concerning inequality and identity through progressive visibility. The organization marched with the larger API community which included API Pride Council (APIPC), APAIT Health Center, API Equality-LA, GAPSN, API PFLAG, Satrang, Chinese Rainbow Associaition, AQWA, KUE, DIVA, and Imperial Court of Los Angeles and Hollywood.
For press inquiries and more information please contact Jeremiah Abraham at 424-241-0121 or via email at jabraham@barangayla.org.
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Jeremiah Abraham
Director of Public Relations and Marketing
Barangay Los Angeles
jabraham@barangayla.org
424-241-0121
http://www.barangayla.org
About Barangay Los Angeles – Established in 1989, Barangay Los Angeles has become a nationally recognized Filipino community organization supporting and focused on addressing lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning issues. The organization has grown to serve over 100+ members offering free membership and a wide range of programming, from social events to free educational workshops and advocacy.
