June 28, 2020
Mildred German
Unceded Territories – As the world celebrates Pride Day 2020, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing police brutality, and hate crimes, members of the Filipinx LGBTQ community in Canada remain in action. These actions not only promote visibility and rhymes, but also solidarity, healing, roots, and resistance.
Kimmortal and Tin Lorica
June marks the Philippine Heritage Month in Canada. In its second year celebration, Filipinx LGBTQ community members also took part not only to celebrate the commemorations, but also to celebrate the unsung talents and contributions of the Filipinx LGBTQ community.
Through a virtual live stream art event held on June 12, 2020 called Pinoy Party, artists and couple Kimmortal and Tin Lorica were able to gather fellow queer Filipinx artists amidst the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, using films as a platform to showcase talents online. Music, drag, spoken words, skits, dance and comedy were presented by the pool of talents, proving the very diverse and fertile contributions of the Filipino LGBTQ community in the diaspora.
Kirby Araullo, Monica Ogden, Prince Lavender, the Tita Collective, Ate Dee-Dee, Julz Ilang-Bulan, Ruthless, Michael A. Rosegrant, and Sammay were the featured queer Filipinx artists showcased for the June 12 Pinoy Party. Together they were able to put a show and express their support for the Indigenous and Black communities amidst the increasing police brutality and attacks on BIPOC communities.
Pinoy Party was derived from the past event, Pinoy Potluck, an all-ages 2019 show put up by Kimmortal and Tin Lorica as well with aims to gather the community for food and performances by local Filipinx artists in Vancouver.
Then, Kimmortal posted the invitation for Pinoy Potluck on social media, and saying,” This is of deep importance to me, to open up a space with other Filipinx in the community and witness each other’s souls through food, art, music, and laughter.
Held at the Redgate Arts Society venue (1965 Main St.), Pinoy Potluck 2019 also featured local Filipinx word artists such as Sol Diana, Ivy Ruthless, Patricia Naguiat, Mariah Tamia Joy, Francis Arevalo, Joshua Ongcol, DJ Wundkrut, Niki, and Kaya.
Due to the colonial connotation of the word ‘Potluck’, the duo changed the title of the community event gathering to Pinoy Party.
This year, and during Philippine Heritage Month, Pinoy Party fronted the solidarity work of our people with other nations. With the June 12 event, Pinoy Party was able to raise $534 for Black in BC COVID-19 relief fund!
Pinoy Party organizers and artists themselves, Kimmortal and Tin Lorica not only brought entertainment and food, but also the mass education and gathering of our community members in these challenging times of COVID-19. Most importantly, the essence of community and solidarity make all the hard work of organizing events worthwhile.
As Filipinx in the diaspora, particularly here in Turtle Island, learning how we can contribute and be part of dismantling colonial oppression and anti-Blackness is also part of our journeys and identities as Filipinos. With the Philippines’ own history of colonialism, post-colonialism and neo-colonialism, our work in solidarity with other marginalized communities also plays a huge role in the Filipino people’s long struggle for liberation in the Philippines, Canada, and around the world.
Happy Pride!