Silent Sanctuary. Image: Instagram/@strangeclickphotography via @silentsanctuaryonline
Silent Sanctuary will no longer be performing at the LoveLaban Pride Festival in Quezon City, after allegations of the band members’ “homophobic actions” toward an apparent former bandmate made rounds on social media.
Pride PH, the non-profit organization behind the event, released an official statement through its social media pages on Saturday, June 24, hours before the band was supposed to perform.
“We are dropping Silent Sanctuary from our roster of performers at [LoveLaban] for today’s program due to homophobic actions done to one of our own, reported earlier this morning,” it said.
“Pride PH would like to assure our queer siblings in the LGBTQIA++ community that we remain a safe space for all and hence will not take this nor other similar cases lightly,” the statement further read.
The organization also apologized to the members of the community, stressing that it condemns any form of discrimination, homophobia and harassment. Pride PH also noted that it firmly stands against homophobia alongside Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, who also shared the statement through her Twitter page.
“We are taking full accountability and apologize for initially including them in the roster of performers. We are committed to do better and learn from this oversight,” it said. “Homophobes are never welcome on our stage. This is our safe space. This is our pride.”
Image: Twitter/@QCMayorJoy, @tfpridePH
Pride PH’s statement came after one Ian Carandang, who was apparently a former member of Silent Sanctuary, revealed that the band members told him he could only stay with the band on condition that he “go back into the closet.”
“Just learned that Silent Sanctuary is playing at QC Pride Night and the fact that when I was their vocalist they told me I needed to go back into the closet if I wanted to keep being their vocalist is extremely offensive to me,” Carandang said in a tweet.
“I have always stayed quiet on this but THIS is a bridge too far for me, that they purport to be pro-LGBT but have never publicly acknowledged or made amends for what they did to me is the last straw,” he continued.”That they are going to collect a talent fee and profit from a community that they have DIRECTLY discriminated against is F*CKED up and because of this I will not be attending QC Pride.”
Just learned that Silent Sanctuary is playing at QC Pride Night and the fact that when I was their vocalist they told me I needed to go back into the closet if I wanted to keep being their vocalist is extremely offensive to me. (thread)
— Ian Carandang (@gayrockstar) June 23, 2023
That they are going to collect a talent fee and profit from a community that they have DIRECTLY discriminated against is FUCKED up and because of this I will not be attending QC Pride.
— Ian Carandang (@gayrockstar) June 23, 2023
Carandang then expressed his gratitude for the support he received from the community, noting that it wasn’t his intention to get back at the band and that he was just “voicing [his] very real pain and sadness at the situation.”
When I made that post, I had bo goal to 'get back' at them, I was just voicing my very real pain and sadness at the situation.
— Ian Carandang (@gayrockstar) June 24, 2023
That the community rose up like this for this old bear so quickly and so strongly has me HUMBLED and in IN TEARS as I type this.
— Ian Carandang (@gayrockstar) June 24, 2023
Today I feel the love of the community, and I am reminded that we have each others backs, and when we are united, the sky is the limit to what we can do.
Again, THANK YOU to @QCMayorJoy and everyone reading this. I Love you all.
Happy Pride, and I'll see you in QC later. 🏳️🌈
— Ian Carandang (@gayrockstar) June 24, 2023
Silent Sanctuary, in response, released an official statement in which they lamented how “judgement has been passed” without being given the “equal opportunity to defend [themselves].”
“We are deeply saddened with the allegations thrown at us currently. Being in the performing industry, we respect all forms of gender preferences and identity,” the statement read. “We have shared the stage, backstage, and dressing rooms with many who represent the [LGBTQ+] community and had no qualms about it for any matter.”
“We were really looking forward to being part of your celebration, but judgment has been passed without giving us equal opportunity to defend ourselves,” it added. “One man’s angle does not paint the whole story of the bigger picture. Regardless, we still wish everyone a successful Pride March 2023.” /ra