MPPM - Consolidate Pride in Mindanao Full Project Title: IM GLAD TO CONSOLIDATE PRIDE IN MINDANAO

The project is in line with the vision of IM GLAD, that is, to contribute in shaping an equitable, free, and safe society in Mindanao where the peoples proactively nurture and  protect the  rights  and dignity  of  the  LGBTQIA+  community.  One  of  the  ways  to achieve this is by widening and fostering a space for political participation especially for the marginalized LGBTQIA+ in Mindanao.Concurrent  with  the  issues  besetting  the  LGBTQIA+  in  the  context  of  human  rights situation  in  the  Philippines,  the  staple  presence  of  impunity  in  Mindanao,  and  the overarching constraints posed by patriarchal, bigoted, conservative, and heteronormative convictions,  this  project  aims  to  lessen  the  vulnerability  of  the  LGBTQIA+  community through  increased  awareness,  organizational  capacity,  and  public  support  towards addressing gender and sexual discrimination and violence.To  achieve  the  main  goal,  three-pronged  strategies  will  be  employedas  ways  to consolidate Pride in the areas covered by the project: Unfurling the Pride, Living the Pride, and  Marching  the  Pride.  These  strategies  will  be  employed  to  enhance  awareness, capacity, and support for IM GLAD.The Unfurling  the  Pridestrategy  that  aims  to  heighten  the  awareness  of  LGBTQIA+ members on their rights and issues. Under this, a series of online rainbow sessions and face-to-face  community  education  will  be  organized.  Conducted  on  the  onset  of  this project, the Online Rainbow Sessions seek to educate at least 100 participants coming from the different IM GLAD communities about LGBT Rights and relevantHuman Rights Instruments,  LGBT  situation,  issues,  and  challenges.  On  the  other  hand,  face-to-face community education will be organized during the end of theproject, and will be initiated, mainly, by 30key leaders (the trainees of this project) in theirrespective IM GLAD local organizations.The Living  the  Pridestrategy  centers  on  improving  the  organizational  capacity  of  the LGBTQIA+ members –both in terms of enhancing the technical capacity of the different IM  GLAD  local  organizations  and  setting the  direction  of  IM  GLAD  as  a  movement.In enhancing   technical   capacities,   training   on   (1) public   speaking,   organizational development, and leadershipand (2) Strategic Planning, Communication Planning, and Effective Messaging will be conductedto 30 trainees.
As well, a series ofcommunity assembliesand Pride Congresswill also be conducted to facilitate  the  agenda  and  direction  setting  of  IM  GLAD.  During  community  assemblies, organizational structures per area will be formalized and workshopswill be conducted to identifythe salient LGBTQIA+ issues and challenges that are present in the communities where  IM  GLAD  operates.  These  issues  and  challenges  will  be  consolidated  and  shall form the basis of creating the IM GLAD agenda which will be given proper direction during the strategic planning.Pride Congress will also be conducted to formalize the IM GLAD agenda and electLGBTQIA+ Council Representatives and Executive Committee that will supervise the movement.Finally, the Marching the Pridestrategy will be employed to broaden solidarity with other LGBTQIA+  movements  and  allies  to  gather  stronger  public  support.  This  includes representation in local government bodies and establishing networks with local, national, and international LGBTQIA+ organizations.