Friday, May 30, 2008 Gays, lesbians to show support in House hearing today in Cebu
MEMBERS of the gay and lesbian community in Cebu are scheduled to hit the streets today in support of Genaro Jorolan, whose operation in a government hospital has attracted widespread controversy.
Gays and lesbians are scheduled to march this morning to the Capitol Social Hall, where the House of Representatives committee on human rights and civil service is scheduled to conduct a public hearing on the case.
The operation to remove a perfume canister from Jorolan’s body became controversial when a video footage taken of the procedure was posted on YouTube, a video-sharing website.
The video footage showed medical workers shouting and laughing as the operation drew to a close.
Akbayan party-list Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquiel filed a House resolution seeking a legislative inquiry. She said the investigation will focus on human rights violations on members of the lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgendered (LGBT) community.
Akbayan will use results of their inquiry as bases to push the House to hasten the passage of House Bill 956 or the Anti-Discrimination Bill for Gays and Lesbians.
The Akbayan Gays and Lesbians Collective, in a press statement released earlier this month, said the bill doesn’t grant special rights to gays and lesbians, but it recognizes their rights in society, especially in decision-making.
The group also said the suspension of doctors and nurses involved in the controversy is not enough punishment.
“Their license should be removed to teach them a good lesson,” said Akbayan member Mikay Lopez-Dumabok.
Three of the VSMMC medical workers involved in the operation were preventively suspended by the Department of Health (DOH).
The DOH, meanwhile, already turned over the administrative investigation on the incident to the Office of the Ombudsman. (EPB)
