A short photo essay I did for @epaphotos a couple weeks back on gay beauty pageants. Gay beauty pageants have been organized in the Philippines since the late 1970s. Contestants come from different backgrounds and professions with ages ranging from fourteen to more than sixty years old. In recent years, the country saw how gay pageants evolved from being part of local festivities to mainstream social spectacles at the national and even international level. Contestants regard pageants as opportunities to express their creativity, to create awareness against discrimination and to advocate for the recognition of their legal rights. Despite the strides made to break gender stereotypes, the LGBT community in the Philippines still feels that much has to be done to achieve acceptance and equality in a conservative and religiously-biased society. LGBT groups have continuously called for equal rights including legalization of same-sex marriage and the passage of the Anti-Discrimination Bill. #photojournalism #epaphotos #epaefe #lgbt #beautypageant #equalrights #pridemonth https://www.instagram.com/p/BzaiFlnBFmb/?igshid=13wp8p7ml1tuy