Vice Ganda says privilege should be ‘everyone’s right’ in Pride speech

Vice Ganda. Image: Instagram/@praybeytbenjamin

Vice Ganda underscored the need to use one’s privilege for good, saying that he will continue to fight for the LGBTQIA+ community’s rights even if he is already comfortable with what he has.

At a recent Pride Month event in Diliman, Quezon City on Saturday, June 28, the actor-comedian was one of the guests at the Love Laban event where he spoke about being aware of his privilege. Despite this, he said that he will use his privilege to push for the rights of LGBTQIA+ community.

“Kung tutuusin, may pribilehiyo na ako eh. Pero porket may pribilehiyo ka na, iiwanan mo na ang kasamahan mo na hindi nakakatanggap nito. Hindi porket matanda ka na at may pera ka na ay iiwanan mo ‘yung mga tulad mo na hindi nakakakuha ng pribilehiyong nakukuha mo,” he said, while the audience cheered in response.

“Dahil ang pribilehiyo ngayon ay hindi dapat maging pribilehiyo mo lang — dapat maging karapatan ’yan ng bawat isa,” he continued.

(If I have to be honest, I already have the privilege. But even if you have the privilege, you will leave everyone behind. Just because you’re older and you have money, you will leave people like you, to not get the same privileges you have. Your privilege shouldn’t be yours alone. It should be everyone’s right.)

Despite not being a performer in the event, Vice Ganda said he still wanted to appear in this year’s Pride activity because he believes that there is strength in numbers. “The presence of each and everyone of us is important. What I pray and hope for every member of the community is to make sure that we’re all seen. Please be seen.”

“We all have to be heard. Let us go out and show our numbers. Our numbers are powerful. This is the power that we need to hold on to,” he further said.

The “It’s Showtime” host’s remarks came on the heels of backlash directed at LGBT icons Renee Salud and  Ricky Reyes for saying that they are not in favor of same-sex marriage during a June 22 interview with Toni Gonzaga. Reyes also said that he was one of those who blocked the campaign to pass the SOGIE (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression) bill in congress.

Vice Ganda has long been a participant at Pride events, and has been vocal about speaking up for the LGBTQIA+ community. /edv