MANILA, Philippines — The Move As One Coalition took part in the Pride celebration on Saturday, June 27, highlighting how safety, inclusion, and freedom of movement affect the way LGBTQIA+ communities experience public spaces.
The coalition said mobility is not only about transportation systems, roads, and sidewalks but also about whether people feel safe enough to travel, gather, connect, and belong.
Move As One said LGBTQIA+ communities continue to face challenges in public spaces, where daily movement can involve concerns over safety, visibility, and possible discrimination.
The group said some LGBTQIA+ people make everyday decisions based on safety, including what to wear, whether to hold a partner’s hand in public, which routes to take, or whether certain places feel safe to pass through.
Move As One said mobility justice is queer justice because a person’s ability to move freely is shaped not only by infrastructure but also by the social environment they navigate.
The coalition added that public spaces are not experienced equally, as a place that feels ordinary to one commuter may become a source of anxiety for another who has experienced harassment, discrimination, or unwanted attention.
It said roads, sidewalks, and public transport can connect communities but cannot, by themselves, remove exclusion.
Move As One said truly inclusive spaces are those where everyone can move freely and participate in public life without fear.
