how the pandemic affected them as individuals and as organizations advocating for the rights of LGBTQI. We thank members of Pinoy FTM, Galang, Love Yourself, The Initiative Ph, BulSu Bahaghari and the individuals who contributed to this section. While we know of the impact of the pandemic to the LGBTQI community, including loss of income and employment, impact on health, increased risk of violence and mental health issues during lockdowns - the accounts of individuals and organizations in this section - their stories, render these more concrete. In this section, we will read personal accounts of members of the LGBTI community as they share how the pandemic affected them on multiple fronts, how it compounded preexisting challenges and made daily existence even more difficult. Particularly, stories shared the impact of the pandemic on LGBTQI persons’ employment, their ability to earn and contribute to the family expense, their access to health services including access to hormone therapies, and impact to their mental health and the increased risk/fear of family violence. Insights from organizations and individual advocates also highlight how the pandemic has changed and challenged traditional ways of organizing and advocating. They also show how the militaristic approach to the pandemic threaten LGBTQI organizations in their right to organize and freely express grievance against the government. Accounts of organizations also highlight the challenges and the ways that they have creatively and collectively coped and responded - including the need to recognize and respond to the needs of the community, and to find creative ways to continue connecting amidst the digital divide. I KC Transgender man Pioneer Filipino Transgender men Movement (PFTM)