Angat Buhay Foundation, the non-government organization (NGO) that was founded after the failed run for the Philippine presidency of former Vice President Atty. Leni Robredo stressed its support for the LGBTQIA community, saying that “dapat angat ang lahat – sino man ang minamahal o anuman ang pagkilala sa sarili (everyone should be raised – no matter who you love, or whatever your self-identification may be).”
The statement was released as the country’s LGBTQIA community follows the US-centered observance of “Pride Month” this June to mark the June 1969 “Stonewall Riots” that saw LGBTQIA New Yorkers fight back against State-sanctioned abuses.
“Marami sa mga partners at komunidad ng Angat Buhay, at ilan din sa aming mga staff, ay mula sa LGBTQ+ community (Many partners and communities of Angat Buhay, and some of our staff come from the LGBTQ+ community),” the NGO added. “They are teachers, development workers, doctors and medical frontliners, drag queens, and youth volunteers who, in their daily lives, contribute to their community and to nation-building.”
And so “Angat Buhay commits to being a safe space for persons of diverse sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics or SOGIESC – not just for Pride Month but every day of every month. Bawal ang pagmamata at diskriminasyon sa itinatayo nating pinakamalaking volunteer network sa bansa (We don’t allow belittling or discriminating in the biggest volunteer network we’re establishing in the country).”
The NGO also expressed its support for the SOGIE Equality Bill as it “stands with the community’s call for protection.” The same bill has been languishing in Congress for over 20 years now, so that LGBTQIA Filipinos continue to not have legal protections against discrimination due to their SOGIESC.
