Filipino lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transsexuals (LGBT) and their supporters will take to the streets on December 5 in Manila for this year’s Pride March.

Today’s march starts 3pm at Remedios Circle in Malate, a district in Manila frequented by members of the LGBT community.

In a statement, organizers of the Pride March said that “the LGBT community will march to show their indignation and concern over the lack of human rights protections for LGBT Filipinos as shown in the recent decision of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) not to accredit Ang Ladlad, a partylist group for LGBT Filipinos, the non-passage of the Anti-Discrimination Bill and the increasing incidence of violence and discrimination committed against them in large-scale because of their sexual orientation and gender identity.”

In denying its application to participate in the 2010 elections, the Comelec said last month that the partylist group Ang Ladlad presents a danger to public morals and to the youth.

The Philippines is actually in world LGBT history. Manila was the first city in Asia to hold a Pride March when members of the Progressive Organization of Gays in the Philippines (ProGay Philippines) and the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) marched on June 26, 1994.

Most countries hold LGBT pride marches and parades on and near June 28, the date in 1969 when the Stonewall Inn riots happened in in New York. The riots, according to historians and movements, was a watershed moment for the cause of LGBT rights.

Task Force Pride in Manila moved its march to December. But Progay Philippines and its partner-organizations also hold its own marches in June also in Manila and in Baguio City.

Organizers of this year’s pride march include Bed Malate, Gay, Transgender and Bisexual Advocates for Youth (GABAY), Lesbian Advocates Philippines (LeAP), Metropolitan Community Church Quezon City (MCCQC), Outragemag.com, Single Guys Online (SGO) PH, and Society of Transsexual Women of the Philippines (STRAP).

Among their partners are EZ Lubricating Jelly, Frenzy Condoms, Absolut, Andrew Christian, Archion Architects, BED, Beverly Hills 6750, Gabriela Women’s Party, Crobar, Gay and Lesbian Activist Network for Gender Equality (GALANG), Sen. Loren Legarda, Great Ancheta, Lookal, O Bar, Pride Exchange, Rainbow Bloggers Philippines, Rainbow Radio Pilipinas, MyFemme Magazine, Silya and The Library.