“Let us treat each other not on the basis of the choices we make, but on how we are as human beings,” Cheche Lazaro said.
Veteran journalist Cheche Lazaro has expressed her support of the “I dare to care about equality”, a photographic campaign spearheaded by the Bahaghari Center for SOGIE Research, Education and Advocacy, Inc. (Bahaghari Center) as a call for everyone to take a more proactive stance in fighting discrimination.
“I dare to care about equality” campaign forms part of the localized efforts aligned with the annual International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) celebrations. Celebrated every May 17 since 2004, when it was founded by Louis-Georges Tin, IDAHO is an effort to coordinate international events to call for respect for lesbians and gays worldwide. May 17 was chosen as the date of the event because homosexuality was removed from the International Classification of Diseases of the World Health Organization (WHO) on May 17, 1990.
“We all want to live in a world where our right to choose is guaranteed and respected. Sexual preference is just one of those choices. Let us treat each other not on the basis of the choices we make, but on how we are as human beings,” Lazaro said.
With her show of support for the push for equal rights for all, Lazaro joins the ranks of international IDAHO supporters, including several Nobel Prize winners (Desmond Tutu, Amartya Sen, Elfriede Jelinek, Dario Fo, José Saramago), artists (Merryl Streep, Cindy Lauper, Elton John, David Bowie), intellectuals (Noam Chomsky, Judith Butler, Bernard-Henri Lévy), non-government organizations (ILGA, FIDH), politicians, and many others.
Lazaro is an acclaimed Filipino broadcast journalist and the founding President of Probe Productions Inc. She has been recognized by, among others, the KBP Golden Dove Awards, Catholic Mass Media Awards (Hall of Fame), New York Festival, Malolos Heritage Foundation, Philippine Movie Press Club, Gawad CCP para sa Telebisyon, and local government units for her outstanding contribution to broadcast journalism.
The photoshoots were helmed by photographer Jed Yumang behind the camera, with make-up and styling provided by artists Kaye Candaza and Nicole Magay. “I dare to care about equality” was co-developed by Outrage Magazine, the only LGBTzine in the Philippines, with the support of IDAHO, Ladlad Partylist, Rainbow Rights, Bed Bar, Deaf Rainbow Philippines, Metropolitan Community Church-Quezon City, Zest Magazine, and Queeriosity Palace.
“I dare to care about equality” was launched on May 20, Sunday, at Bed Bar (Unit 8, Maria Orosa St. corner Julio Nakpil St. Courtyard, Maria Orosa St. corner Julio Nakpil St., Malate, Metro Manila) at 10.00PM.
For more information, call +639287854244 (Michael David), +639274171518 (Patrick King) or +639263167735 (John Ryan); or email bahaghari.center@gmail.com or info@outragemag.com.
