Pinoy Pride Vancouver Celebrates 1st Anniversary with "MABUHAY 2012: Moving Forward"

Vancouver, BC – April 28, 2012 – Pinoy Pride Vancouver (PPV), the first-ever Filipino-Canadian

Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgender-Queer or Questioning (LGBTQ) group in BC, hosts MABUHAY 2012: Moving Forward to celebrate their first anniversary. The event is also the group’s annual fundraiser for the official float entry to Vancouver Pride Parade, Western Canada ’s largest parade and the city’s most colourful and highly anticipated event of the summer.

Mabuhay 2012: Moving Forward will be on May 4, 2012 (Friday) at Oasis Ultra Lounge (1240 Thurlow corner Davie Streets, Vancouver). The main attraction of the party is award-winning singer/songwriter Ms Joey Albert with the ManilaBand.  Artiste extraordinaire Imelda Mae Santos hosts the program.

It has been a busy first year for PPV.  Along with the successful participation in the Vancouver Pride Parade, some of its members participated at the OUTGAMES and the Human Rights Conference held concurrently by GLISA-North America (Gay and Lesbian International Sports Association).

Last year, PPV hosted the Pride weekend event “Kaboom Party,” where half of the door proceeds were given to the Lighthouse of Hope, which conducts mission work in Africa and Kenya through their World Compassion Project. The group also joined several community events like The Scotia AIDS Walk for Life and the Annual Dyke March on Commercial Drive. In the Filipino community, Pinoy Pride Vancouver was present at Philippine Independence Day celebrations, Unang Hirit Pinoy Fiesta Parade and Paskong Pinoy sa PNE.

MLA Mable Elmore (Vancouver-Kensington) acts as the group's Advisor. Elmore says PPV has received a lot of positive feedback since their inception. As the group moves forward to another year, she offers this advise to present and future members, "it is very important to create a supportive community for Pinoy queers to come out. This is one way of battling discrimination and homophobia in society. PPV members should feel comfortable in who they are. They should not feel ashamed, embarrassed or apologize for being LGBTQ. They should be confident and feel they are entitled to all the opportunities available to everyone else."

PPV Co-Chair Santi Pelaez says that the group’s mission is “to increase visibility, raise awareness, promote acceptance and provide a welcoming space for Filipino-Canadian LGBTQ members”. Pinoy Pride Vancouver plans for more community participation and event hosting as well as engaging in new initiatives like peer discussion, collaboration and community partnership to carry out the group mission.

Stella Reyes, Co-Chair for PPV, is very optimistic about the growing number of its members.  “Queer people in general, whether they be gays or lesbians, are often misunderstood, misrepresented and maligned.  It is our group's objective to educate, promote acceptance and raise awareness about queers in the Filipino-community and Vancouver in general. There are a lot of positive stories and noble contributions of gays and lesbians in their community. We are no different from the loving, selfless and gifted individuals that you know out there.”

Tickets are available at Little Sister’s Book & Art Emporium. Doors open at 6pm. Entrance fee is $20.00. The anniversary party is open to everyone. Come out and show your support to the Filipino-Canadian LGBTQ community!