Stonewall Mural in Manila Celebrates Shared LGBT+ Struggles

The newly unveiled Stonewall mural in Manila, titled “Ang Liwanag ng Bahaghari” (The Light of the Rainbow), is more than a energetic splash of color on city walls, it’s a bold declaration of solidarity, struggle, and pride for the Filipino LGBT+ community. Painted as the backdrop of Stonewall Philippines, a grassroots-led event in Mendiola, this mural marks a historic moment: honoring the 1969 Stonewall Uprising’s radical legacy while spotlighting the continuing fight for equality in the Philippines.
Bulatlat exclusive report

A living evidence to protest and pride

Created collaboratively by local LGBTQ+ artists, the mural made its grand debut during the first ever Stonewall Philippines protest on June 26. Organizers, led by Bahaghari, intentionally placed art and activism side by side. The mural doesn’t just pay homage to New York’s Stonewall Uprising, it roots the spirit of rebellion and hope firmly in Filipino soil, reminding us that Pride is grounded in protest, resilience, and the ongoing demand for justice. Documentarians from ABS-CBN captured the artists at work, turning a simple city wall into a powerful platform for visibility and resistance.
See mural preparation

Unity in diversity: The mural’s meaning

The mural serves as a visual call-to-action: its energetic imagery weaves together different threads of the community’s shared struggles, calls for the long-delayed SOGIESC Equality Bill, justice for slain trans woman Jennifer Laude, and a demand to reject exploitative transnational interests. At the heart of the mural are figures marching in solidarity, surrounded by symbols familiar to Filipinos, like the rainbow parabola radiating hope and the archways of Mendiola witnessed by decades of activism. On event day, progressive groups, drag performers, and music artists gathered in front of the mural, channeling its spirit into a united demand for systemic change.
Inquirer feature

Know Your Rights: What the Stonewall spirit means today

Decades since the original Stonewall Uprising, the Filipino queer movement continues to face hurdles, from workplace discrimination to violence and legislative inaction. The mural, and the event it framed, send a clear message: Pride remains protest. Organizers emphasize that corporations and foreign powers should not dilute or co-opt the community’s struggle. The Stonewall Philippines annual march, now rooted in the mural’s memory, aims to ensure that no queer Filipino stands alone. In the words of Bahaghari Chairperson Reyna Valmores Salinas, “As long as unjust systems exist, our protest will persist.”
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Standing together, painting the future

The Stonewall mural is not just a boundary-breaking artwork; it’s a rallying point. By drawing inspiration from global history and asserting uniquely Filipino calls for change, it empowers the community to keep fighting, and keeps the spirit of Pride radical, intersectional, and alive.
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