LoveYourself Launches Pride Month Celebration in Manila

Pride Month 2025 has sparked both celebratory and contentious responses across the United States. LoveYourself's "Express Yourself: Pride Night 2025" event served as a vibrant affirmation of LGBTQIA+ identity and resilience, featuring prominent advocates and artists who emphasized visibility and community support. Meanwhile, Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, a notable Episcopal leader, has been vocal in her advocacy for LGBTQ rights, offering prayers for Pride Month as a source of healing amidst heightened hostility towards the community, despite facing criticism and online attacks from President Trump, whom she has invited for a dialogue on these issues. President Trump has enacted several executive orders targeting transgender Americans, including barring transgender individuals from military service and limiting recognition of gender identity, which has intensified debates around transgender rights and identity. Contrastingly, some voices argue against the legitimacy of transgender identity, citing increases in individuals identifying as transgender as a social or cultural phenomenon rather than a biological reality, a stance that has sparked significant controversy and accusations of misinformation. These divergent perspectives underscore the ongoing national discourse surrounding LGBTQ rights, identity, and acceptance during this culturally significant month.