Express Yourself: LoveYourself Kicks Off Pride Month with Power and Pride

Despite years of progress and hard-won victories, many members of the LGBTQIA+ community continue to face a harsh reality: living authentically is still a daily act of courage. In a world where simply existing as oneself can provoke judgment, discrimination, and violence, queer individuals often navigate a tightrope between authenticity and societal expectation. For many, the emotional burden of hiding one’s identity, adapting to hostile environments, or managing the fear of rejection is profound and deeply ingrained.

Visibility alone is not enough. Queer individuals don’t just need to be seen—they need to be celebrated, uplifted, and embraced. Recognition must go beyond tolerance or token representation. It must evolve into meaningful affirmation and active inclusion. That’s why events like LoveYourself’s Pride Night aren’t merely celebratory gatherings—they are essential spaces of refuge, empowerment, and resistance. These spaces remind people that they are valid, worthy, and never alone.

This year, LoveYourself proudly presents Express Yourself: Pride Night 2025, taking place on May 31st as a high-voltage kickoff to Pride Month. More than just a party, Express Yourself is a resounding call to authenticity, joy, and unapologetic self-expression. It invites every LGBTQIA+ person and ally to show up as their truest, boldest selves in an environment built to embrace and empower.

The urgency of such celebrations is especially pronounced in today’s social and political climate. Around the globe—and right here at home—anti-LGBTQIA+ rhetoric is resurging. Trans rights are under attack. Discriminatory laws are being proposed and passed, threatening the freedoms and dignity of LGBTQIA+ people. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs are being rolled back in workplaces, schools, and institutions, stripping marginalized communities of crucial resources and representation. Hate speech and violence against queer individuals, both online and in real life, are escalating at alarming rates.

In this climate of rising hostility, Express Yourself serves as a defiant counter-narrative. It is a celebration of resilience and a sanctuary for expression. For too long, queer Filipinos have battled cultural silencing, internalized shame, and societal exclusion. This Pride Night responds with radical joy, unshakable pride, and a fierce insistence that every queer voice deserves to be heard.

Following the success of 2024’s Pride Night: Reflecting on the Past, Celebrating the Present, Shaping the Future, this year’s edition levels up the energy and impact. Last year, the Bridgetowne Open Grounds came alive with moving performances, immersive installations, and unforgettable moments. Guests were treated to appearances by icons like Pia Wurtzbach, Sophia Arkanghel, and Chelsea Manalo, as well as captivating drag acts from Precious Paula Nicole, Captivating Katkat, Brigiding, and more.

In 2025, Express Yourself takes the torch forward with a more urgent, electrifying message: resist with joy, protest with pride. This year’s event promises another star-studded lineup featuring community advocates, trailblazers, and performers who have used their platforms to fight for equality. Among them are Dr. Ronivin Pagtakhan, LoveYourself founder and fierce LGBTQIA+ advocate; Pia Wurtzbach, Miss Universe 2015 and long-standing ally; and Markki Stroem, a multi-talented artist and staunch defender of queer rights. Audiences can also expect performances from beloved community figures like Raven Heyres, Makki Lucino, John Mark Saga, Rhap Salazar, and drag powerhouse Winter, who will deliver a live vocal spectacle.

From runway-worthy fashion to powerful anthems, Pride Night 2025 promises to be an unforgettable celebration of queerness in all its glory. It is a night to reclaim joy, rediscover strength, and renew the spirit of community.

Join us this May 31st as we enter June not with hesitation, but with brilliance. Come as you are—or as more than you’ve ever been allowed to be. Pride is not just a moment. It’s a movement. And you belong at the center of it.