Pride celebration in Bacolod City begins with a charity event for persons living with HIV (PLHIV) on Saturday night, June 17.
Bagani Community Center will hold the “Baile: Bagani Pride 2023”, a charity event that will present local “drag” performances and a lip sync competition featuring local queer artists of Bacolod at Lunar: Art, Cafe and Resto at Lacson Street, Bacolod City.
Bagani is a non-government organization in the province that advocates for HIV/AIDS education, testing, and treatment.
They have been touring around the province giving free HIV orientation and testing to communities, especially those who are members of LGBTQ+.
Bagani Hub Manager Carlz Libo-on told DIGICAST NEGROS that more than a celebration the event also aims to help those who are living with HIV to seek treatment, spread awareness about HIV facts and debunk myths.
“The road to de-stigmatizing HIV/AIDS in the province is challenging, but with the small steps of the organization and its affiliates, Bagani hopes to achieve inclusivity and acceptance with the organization’s advocacy”, he said.
“Baile” will also include the launching of PreP and HIV self-test kits.
Apart from the event on Saturday, Bagani is set to hold a bigger pride event on June 25 at the SM City Bacolod grounds to be participated in by hundreds of LGBTQ+ organizations, members, and allies, he added.*