The Municipality of Bacacay in the province of Albay approved a resolution declaring the last Saturday of June as “Bacacay Equality Day”.
The move, initially proposed by the Gender and Development Office of the municipality and was approved by the Sangguniang Bayan (municipal council) or the local legislative branch of the municipal governments in the Philippines, is said to recognize – even for a day – everyone’s right to be who they are no matter their SOGIESC.
“Inaprubahan na ng Sangguniang Bayan ng Bacacay ang proposed resolution ng Bacacay Gender and Development na nagdedeklara sa huling Sabado ng Hunyo bilang Bacacay Equality Day, isang araw ng pagkilala sa karapatang mabuhay nang malaya, ligtas, at may dangal, anuman ang kasarian, identidad, o ekspresyon.“
This resolution’s approval was thanks to the support of the Sangguniang Bayan’s Lara Romano, chairperson of the Committee on Women and Families.
In the end, according to the GAD office of the municipality, this is not just a document, but a stand for human rights.
“Ito ay hindi lamang dokumento – ito ay paninindigan. Hindi lamang ito tagumpay ng LGBT. Ito ay tagumpay ng buong Bacacay.”
