ZAMBOANGA CITY, June 19 (PIA) – An LGBT rights advocate in the city calls for the passage of a comprehensive anti-discrimination ordinance to protect members of the LGBT community.
Toni Gee Fernandez, president of Zamboanga City’s Mujer LGBT Organization Incorporated admits that discrimination against the community continues to exist in this modern day and age.
“Yes, there is still discrimination. We have been receiving a lot of reports from LGBTs of being discriminated and hurt even during this time,” Fernandez said.
Mujer LGBT was established in 2015 initially to combat the stigma against the community linked with HIV-AIDS, but later on the purpose grew to addressing human rights issues also. Fernandez said LGBTs face discrimination, regardless of their age.
“Many LGBTs do not finish their education because of discrimination,” Fernandez explained. “Even the haircut policy is very discriminatory especially to transwomen.”
Still, more severe forms of discrimination such as violence, name-calling and stereotyping continue to remain issues among the community.
“This is why it is high time for our legislators to pass an anti-discrimination ordinance specifically catering to LGBTs,” Fernandez said. If this will not pass in Congress anytime soon, at least Fernandez hopes to snowball this proposed legislation in the City Council.
“The passage of such an ordinance will be a very big help in promoting and protecting for the welfare of LGBTs in the city,” Fernandez said.
June is observed as Pride Month globally. In observance, Mujer LGBT lined up several advocacy activities, mostly limited online to drumbeat the need for legislation to protect LGBTs in the country. These include webinars on basic human right and paralegal sessions. The organization has also been providing relief services during the pandemic to LGBTs economically affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, Mujer LGBT Organization provides free psychosocial services to distressed LGBTs, offering their center as a haven of comfort. For more information on their center and services, one may visit them at Cabato Road, Tetuan, Zamboanga City. (NBE/DIS/PIA9-ZAMSULTA, photo courtesy of Mujer LGBT Facebook Page)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
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