Kapederasyon LGBT Sectoral Organization joined the protest of various militant workers’ groups as the world observed the International Labor Day.
“Nakikiisa ang Kapederasyon ngayong Mayo Uno sa Pandaigdigang Araw ng mga Manggagawa upang bigyan ng pagpupugay at respeto ang uring manggagawa, ang hukbong mapagpalaya na nagpapanday ng ating lipunan (Kapederasyon is one with different groups this May 1st on the International Day of Workers to show solidarity and respect to the working class, the army of liberation of society) ,” said John Kenneth Evangelista, vice-chairperson of Kapederasyon.
In a statement, Kapederasyon highlighted the unequal treatment and lack of opportunities for LGBT people in employment.
“Impyerno para sa mga lesbiyana, bakla, bisexual at transgenders dahil nagpapatuloy ang pagtitiis ng aming hanay sa mababang sahod, kawalan ng trabaho o marangal na hanapbuhay na nagpapaigting sa pang-aapi at pagsasamantala, dagdag pa ang diskriminasyon, na nagdudulot ng dobleng pahirap sa mga LGBT (It is hell for lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgenders due to our continuing suffering of low wages, lack of jobs, or lack of decent livelihoods which worsen the exploitation in addition to the discrimination that causes double burden for LGBT) ,” said the statement.
Kapederasyon links the discrimination of LGBT people to the prevailing culture of patriarchy in the country.
“Patuloy pa ring nananaig ang patriyarkal na lipunang nagpapanatili sa di-pantay na pagtrato at oportunidad sa trabaho at hanapbuhay, nagpapairal sa homophobia at transphobia, tahasang kumukunsinti sa pang-aabuso, pandarahas at pamamaslang ng mga LGBT (Patriarchy continues to dominate in society and perpetuates the unequal treatment and access to work opportunities, homophobia and transphobia, the tolerance of abuse, harassment and killings of LGBTs),” said the statement.
Kapederasyon joins the calls for the P125 across the board wage hike, P16,000 national minimum wage, and P25,000 salary upgrade of various workers’, public school teachers, and nurses’ groups and for the continuing call for justice for Jennifer Laude and Mary Jane Veloso.
“Ang maigting na paglaban sa kawalan ng trabaho at oportunidad ang himala! Ang pagpupunyaging makamit ang P125 across the board nationwide at P16,000 minimum wage sa buong bansa ang himala! Ang paggigiit na ipatupad ang P25,000 salary upgrade sa public school teachers at nurses ang himala! Nasa pagiging masigasig sa pagtatamo ng katarungan kay Jennifer Laude at Mary Jane Veloso ang himala (The miracle is in fighting the lack of jobs and opportunities! The miracle is in struggling to achieve P125 increase across the board nationwide and the P16,000 national minimum wage.! The miracle is in pushing for the implementation of the P25,000 salary upgrade of public school teachers and nurses! The persistence in calling for justice for Jennifer Laude and Mary Jane Veloso is the miracle),” said the statement.
Kapederasyon believes in the collective action of LGBT people as a response.
“Ang himala ay nasa pagpapasya ng LGBT na labanan at wakasan ang sistematikong diskriminasyon, pang-aapi at pagsasamantalang hindi na nila gustong pang tiisin. Ang himala ay nasa malikhain at puspusang paggampan ng LGBT, kasama ng masa, sa mapagpasyang papel ng sambayanan na likhain ang kasaysayan at kamtin ang makatarungang sahod, disenteng trabaho at marangal na hanapbuhay (The miracle is in the will of LGBT in fighting and ending systematic discrimination, oppression, and exploitation that they no longer want to endure. The miracle is in the creative and persistent role of LGBTs, together with the masses, in the decisive role to creat history and attain just wages, decent jobs and livelihoods),” said the statement.
The call for Pres. Benigno Simeon Aquino III’s resignation contines to be Kapederasyon’s cry.
“Ito ay hindi natugunan ni Noynoy Aquino ng limang taon. Kaya naniniwala din ang mga LGBT na nakaka-imbyerna ang gobyernong ito na dapat nang patalsikin (These issues have not been addressed by Noynoy Aquino in the past five years. That is why LGBT people believe that this government is such a burden and should be removed),” Evangelista ended.
