In Malabon City, the local government unit (LGU) helmed a SOGIESC sensitivity training to teach students of Malabon National High School about the value of “equality, respect and avoiding discrimination”.
The effort – helmed by the Malabon City Gender and Development – GAD Office, under the leadership of OIC Markus Operiano – aimed to instill among the young the need for them to push for “pantay-pantay na karapatan at pagrespeto para sa lahat, lalo na sa mga kabataan (equal rights and respect for all, particularly among the young).”
The LGU added that “ang pagsasanay na ito ay hindi lamang edukasyon, kundi isang paglalakbay patungo sa mas makatarungang mundo (this training did not only intend to educate, but also helped the young in their journey to push for a more equitable world).”
Floyd Scott Tiogangco of DAKILA Pilipinas spoke during the training, and they said that this was important because “it is the LGU’s job… to ensure that their constituents understand human rights and are pro-queer people’s rights and freedoms.”
Tiogangco, nonetheless, stressed that LGUs can also come up with more permanent pro-LGBTQIA initiatives – e.g. passing anti-discrimination ordinances “that promote, protect, and uphold queer people’s rights”, and even “eventually support the passage of the nationwide policy on SOGIESC.”
While Tiogangco is hopeful when dealing with the youth since “I notice that many youth now are actually very open and vocal about LGBQIA inclusion,” they recognize that more work needs to be done. “We need to do the work. Organize events in your schools on SOGIESC. Speak up if the school admins have questionable policies on LGBTQIA community. Hold the line and support the passage of the SOGIE Equality Bill in schools, in communities, and at home. Queer up!”
