Coming out of the closet in a religious and conservative country may feel like dipping both feet into your own grave, but this gives White Wall Poetry more reasons to change the stigma that comes with derogatory labels aimed at the LGBTQIA+ community. We want to tell you that there shouldn’t be any closets, but even if there are, there is no shame in staying in or coming out of it.
As we strive to create a safe space for every member of this community and its allies, White Wall Poetry gives you this event titled In or Out: Wala Namang Mali, a night of music and spoken word that will happen on June 8, 2018 at B-Side, The Collective, in Makati. The first Wala Namang Mali happened in June 29, 2016 at Pineapple Lab in Palma St., Makati. Poets and musicians came to the event to share their stories of love, bravery, and hope. More than a hundred people came and celebrated with us to show support for the community, making the event a success.
Aside from giving everyone the freedom to be who they are, the event also aims to raise funds and support the upcoming Metro Manila Pride March which will happen on June 30, 2018. The Pride March is said to be the longest-running LGBTQIA+ festival in Asia, now approaching its 24th year. Aside from a gathering of the LGBTQIA+ community, the Pride March is first and foremost a protest for equality. It has always been made possible by Metro Manila Pride, an NGO that has been “serving the Filipino LGBTQIA+ community through Pride, Safe Spaces, and Lablab.”
To help us in this endeavor, we have our featured artists Keayi, suchdumb, Shepherdess, Junicz, Jegs Benedict, DJ Joey Santos, Gian Bernal, Meleena, and Carlos Castaño. Also joining us in this celebration are spoken word artists Mark Dimaisip of Collaboratory PH; Dzeli Del Mundo, Sab Nicolas, Shine Bennet, and Hannah Pabilonia of Tadhana; and self-published writer, Proseache.
Coming out to yourself and to the people you love is not a one-off experience and it takes a lot of courage to be yourself these days. White Wall Poetry is with you in this, holding your hand, telling you that you can breathe.
Support the LGBTQIA+ community by supporting this event! In or Out: Wala Namang Mali is set to happen on June 8, 2018, 8pm at B-Side, The Collective, Malugay St., Makati. The gates open at 7PM. Ticket price is ₱250. For inquiries, please contact Carla Nicoyco of White Wall Poetry at [email protected] or 0917 4988 2603.
About White Wall Poetry
White Wall Poetry is a collective of performance poets who aim to revolutionize and elevate spoken word poetry in the Philippines through varying performances, competitiveness, flexibility, balance, and ultimately – non-conformity, while sharing the stage with those who are eager to engage in the art form.
White Wall Poetry also advocates for gender equality, providing a safe space for people to be who and what they want to be. Thus, “In or Out: Wala Namang Mali.”
About Metro Manila Pride
The Pride March is spearheaded by Metro Manila Pride, an NGO that has been “serving the Filipino LGBTQIA+ community through Pride, Safe Spaces, and Lablab.” They also “create safe, affirming, informative, educational, and empowering spaces for LGBTQIA+ people in Metro Manila.”
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