The University of the Philippines Manila University Student Council (UPM USC) announced that after lobbying in a University Commencements Rites Committee meeting, it has gained administrative support to allow the university’s graduating students to dress and use their lived name according to their SOGIESC in the upcoming university graduation ceremony.
Specifically:
- Students will now be allowed to express themselves through clothing as reflected by their gender identity and expression; and
- Use their lived names and preferred pronouns in the university graduation slide deck and procession as long as parental consent is documented.
On the latter, UPM USC stated that it is now seeking legal advice on allowing students to use their lived names based on their sole consent given that they are adults.
UPM USC actually made this request at the heels of other UP branches — particularly UP Diliman, UP Los Baños, UP Cebu, UP Visayas, and UP Mindanao — already recognizing the gender identities of their students.
Graduates of UPM are slated to march on August 7, 2023.
