Tag: lgbt

  • Teleperformance Philippines Joins 2025 Pride Festivities With Nationwide Support for LGBTQIA+ Community

    Teleperformance Philippines Joins 2025 Pride Festivities With Nationwide Support for LGBTQIA+ Community

    Teleperformance (TP) in the Philippines joined thousands in celebrating Pride Month this year, reaffirming its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through nationwide participation in LGBTQIA+ events and initiatives.

    Over 450 TP employees across the country took part in Pride Marches and events organized in key cities, including Quezon City, Cebu, Bacolod, Davao, Baguio, and Cagayan de Oro, showcasing the company’s collective stand for equality and inclusion.

    The company’s most prominent showing was at the 2025 Love Laban Festival, a partnership between the Quezon City local government and Pride PH, which drew a record-breaking 250,000 attendees at the University of the Philippines–Diliman.

    Leading the delegation of more than 250 TP employees and executives at Love Laban was Chief People Officer Jeffrey Johnson, who emphasized the company’s commitment to creating safe and inclusive workspaces.

    “Support for the LGBTQ+ community at TP does not stop at policy,” said Johnson. “It is reflected in how we train our people, how we build our teams, and how we hold ourselves accountable to creating work environments that reflect fairness and respect.”

    The company installed an interactive TP Pride Booth at the UPD grounds, providing a rest area, hydration station, face painting services, a photo booth, and games such as “Spin the Wheel” to engage attendees in a welcoming space.

    Across the country, TP made its presence known in various regional Pride celebrations.

    In Bacolod, 60 employees marched in bright yellow uniforms at the City of Smiles Pride event.

    In Baguio, 50 team members represented the company at the City of Pines Pride March.

    TP Cagayan de Oro joined the city’s Mardi Gras-themed Pride March with 30 representatives.

    TP Cebu hosted a Pride Fun Run, while over 70 employees joined the local parade.

    TP Davao also turned out in strong numbers and participated in the city’s festivities earlier in the month.

    The regional events were complemented by company-wide initiatives such as Queertuhan sessions, a continuing internal dialogue aimed at elevating queer voices and deepening understanding of LGBTQIA+ experiences within the workplace.

    “We’re happy to celebrate Pride with everybody as TP believes that every individual deserves respect and equality,” said TP Philippines Human Resources Director Neil Norman Littaua.

    Since 2021, TP has been participating in the Love Laban Festival and hosting its own LGBTQIA+-focused events during Pride Month to foster belonging and promote inclusion.

    These efforts are not limited to symbolic celebrations, according to Johnson.

    “At TP, our inclusion and diversity programs start from the ground up. We focus on making sure that everyone feels welcome in the organization,” he said.

    Teleperformance has embedded diversity into its operational DNA by training its leaders on inclusive behavior, integrating equitable hiring practices, and supporting policies that protect LGBTQIA+ employees.

    In recent years, the company has earned recognition for its diversity programs, including a spot in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s “Best Places to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality” global list.

    Globally, TP operates in more than 170 countries with nearly half a million employees, and in the Philippines, it serves as a major employer in the BPO industry, supporting both global brands and local talent.

    With its active role in Pride Month activities across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, TP reinforced its vision of a workplace where everyone—regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation—belongs and thrives.

    “Every step we took during the marches, every booth we set up, every flag we raised—it was all a reflection of who we are,” said Johnson.

    As TP continues to expand its operations in the Philippines, its ongoing investment in diversity and inclusion remains a cornerstone of its people-first culture.

  • Fisher Mall Quezon Avenue Celebrates Pride Without Borders in First-Ever Pride Month Event

    Fisher Mall Quezon Avenue Celebrates Pride Without Borders in First-Ever Pride Month Event

    In a meaningful display of its commitment to go beyond retail, Fisher Mall Quezon Avenue proudly joined the Pride Month celebration for the first time with “Pride Without Borders,” a one-day event held in partnership with the Quezon City Government.

    This milestone event transformed the mall into a vibrant space for expression, awareness, and empowerment. Guests were treated to dynamic performances by celebrated drag artists Amazing Charlita, Venus, Winter Sheason Nicole, Shewarmaa, and Tomboy Philippines, who lit up the stage with charisma and color. Adding to the excitement were a variety of interactive activities including a Pride Walk, Lip Sync Charades, and the cheeky but heartfelt Love Puksaan Game, all of which encouraged mallgoers to participate in joyful, community-centered experiences.

    “We wanted this celebration to reflect the vibrancy and strength of the LGBTQIA+ community while also creating a space where people can connect, express themselves, and feel truly seen,” said Raymond Del Rosario, President of Fisher Mall Group of Companies. “Entertainment was just one part of the story as we also aimed to spark conversations that matter.”

    Fisher Mall further amplified its celebration with a purpose-driven initiative by offering free HIV testing and health talks throughout the event in collaboration with the Quezon City Health Department. With cases on the rise in the country, this proactive service enabled guests to take part in life-saving education and healthcare in a safe, stigma-free setting—cementing Fisher Mall’s place as a destination that cares not just about experiences, but about people.

    Alongside performances and advocacy, Pride Without Borders also gave the spotlight to LGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs, with small business owners selling Pride-themed merchandise in a pop-up marketplace supported by the Quezon City Small Business and Cooperatives Development and Promotions Office (QC SBCDPO). This initiative enabled mallgoers to shop with pride and support businesses that represent creativity, diversity, and resilience.

    By addressing urgent social issues through strategic partnerships and inclusive programming, Fisher Mall has once again proven itself as more than just a shopping center—it is a community hub where culture, commerce, and compassion come together.

    “This milestone is a celebration of our growing community and our evolving role as a mall that listens, responds, and takes part in shaping a better, more inclusive future,” said Raymond del Rosario, President of Fisher Mall Group of Companies. “Pride Without Borders is just one of the many ways we bring our mission to life—by creating spaces where everyone feels seen, heard, and at home.”

    The success of Pride Without Borders reinforces Fisher Mall’s reputation as a retail destination with heart, welcoming people from all walks of life, celebrating diverse stories, and offering memorable experiences beyond the expected. As the mall continues to launch inclusive initiatives and purpose-driven programs, it invites guests, partners, and brands to join its journey of building not just a mall, but a movement.

    Celebrate diversity, shop with purpose, and experience community like never before at Fisher Mall. For more updates and upcoming events, visit the Fisher Mall website: https://fishermall.com.ph/ and Fisher Mall on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialFisherMall and https://www.facebook.com/officialFisherMallMalabon.

  • Drag, Raffles, and Rainbow Capitalism: Araneta City Strikes Again with ‘Love Laban’ Spectacle

    Drag, Raffles, and Rainbow Capitalism: Araneta City Strikes Again with ‘Love Laban’ Spectacle

    Araneta City will mark Pride Month with an all-out celebration on June 28 through “Love Laban sa Araneta,” a loud, sparkly spectacle masked as allyship.

    The event, staged in partnership with Pride PH, will be held at Gateway Mall 1 and conveniently aligns with Quezon City’s larger Pride festivities — because nothing says inclusivity like corporate synergy.

    A Pride Village featuring booths, drag shows, raffles, and glitter-coated capitalism promises to keep attendees entertained while brands cash in on identity politics.

    Pinoy drag staple Maxie Anderson and The Addlib dance crew headline the performance lineup, with influencer couple Kyo Quijano and Luigi Pacheco hosting alongside other yet-to-be-named hype machines.

    This grand finale follows a month of events that began with a June 1 Rainbow Run by the aRUNeta Run Club and continued with a queer-focused trade fair at Farmers Plaza from June 7 to 10.

    Organized with the help of Mindanao Pride, the Philippine LGBT Chamber of Commerce, and Intersex Philippines, the trade fair pretended to support queer-owned businesses while making sure foot traffic boosted mall sales.

    On June 10, “Rainbow Talks” brought panels discussing LGBTQIA+ struggles — and probably a few product placements — to further round out Araneta’s Pride programming.

    An ongoing social media contest called #StoryOfHue dangles an ibis hotel stay as bait for user engagement, encouraging netizens to share their rainbow-colored lives for corporate metrics.

    Araneta City insists that its Pride campaign is rooted in acceptance and visibility, even if it’s all plastered over food courts and Instagrammable backdrops.

    Because nothing screams authentic pride like drag queens, discount coupons, and a loyalty app.

  • Inclusion or Exclusion: The Economic Cost of LGBTQ+ Discrimination in the Philippines

    Inclusion or Exclusion: The Economic Cost of LGBTQ+ Discrimination in the Philippines

    A recent report from Open for Business underscores the economic ramifications of LGBTQ+ discrimination in the Philippines.

    The study estimates that such discrimination costs the nation between PHP 65.6 billion and PHP 147.6 billion annually, equating to 0.30% to 0.67% of its GDP.

    Data reveals a troubling trend of talent migration, with skilled Filipinos relocating to more inclusive nations like Australia and the United States.

    Moreover, promoting SOGIE (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Expression) inclusion could enhance tourism, attracting visitors from diverse communities.

    The report highlights that countries with inclusive policies often experience lower corruption levels, a correlation that is particularly relevant for the Philippines, which has the lowest corruption score among six Southeast Asian nations analyzed.

    Additionally, the financial toll of LGBTQ+ exclusion extends to mental health, with depression among LGBTQ+ individuals costing PHP 8.4 billion to PHP 25.3 billion.

    Healthcare expenses related to HIV and AIDS further strain societal resources, estimated at PHP 24.3 billion to PHP 73 billion.

    Despite these challenges, advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights remains sluggish, with initiatives lagging behind those supporting other minorities.

    Industry leaders stress that embracing diversity not only fosters innovation but also strengthens economic performance across sectors.