MORE members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in the City of San Fernando are slowly gaining the confidence to go out of the “closet” and express their gender preferences.
When asked for possible reasons on their confidence to go out, Siwala president Randy Ocampo pointed at the broader understanding and warm acceptance they are getting from their fellow Fernandinos and the community.
“There is no more discrimination. We can feel the acceptance from our families, from the community and also the strong support of the city government to us. We can feel that we are included and deserving to be in society where everybody is,” he said.
Ocampo, who is heading the over 400 members of the LGBT-oriented organization, said that the reception of San Fernando to their gender orientation allows its members to “unmask” themselves and showcase their innate talents.
From the almost 300 LGBT individuals who joined the SIWALA when it was founded in 2015, Ocampo said the organization now has almost 500 members from various sectors and professional fields.
“If we feel accepted and understood, we are more comfortable to share our talents and expertise. We can help our communities in the ways that we can and without reservations because we know that we will not be judged,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ocampo clarified that their organization does not aim to influence or encourage individuals to become LGBT members too, rather just promote their rights and provide support to their fellow members who have difficulties in accepting themselves and expressing their thoughts.
He said that in their group, there are several youngsters aged eight to ten years old who decided to join with the consent of their respective parents in the hope that they can better understand and accept themselves.
He said the two eight-year-old boys from Barangays Sta. Lucia and San Pedro Cutud who joined the organization earlier this year are now slowly gaining the confidence of expressing themselves.
“We are not here to influence or encourage those who are not LGBTs. We are here to guide and support those who are. We do not want them to experience discrimination like we did,” he said.
Ocampo also expressed his gratitude to the City Government here, particularly Mayor Edwin Santiago who initiated the partnership of SIWALA with the city’s Gender and Development office.
He noted that the support and recognition they are receiving from the city government plays a big role in their journey to be levelled-off in the community.
Santiago reiterated his advocacy of inclusiveness and oneness and that includes all gender and race.
“LGBT are just like us. They have rights and also responsibilities. Let us look at them the same way and promote unity and inclusiveness as Fernandinos,” he said.
Month long celebration
Meanwhile, Siwala’s Marcia Batu presented the calendar of activities which follows the upcoming Mardi Gras parade, also known as the LGBT Rainbow Pride March, on June 8 at 5 a.m. onwards.
Batu also revealed this year’s theme, which is “Magkakaiba, Nagkakaisa.”
Other than the pride march, they will be having an event management training (EMT), a tribute to the male employees, a “Libreng Pagpapapogi” event, a seminar-orientation on discrimination among LGBTs in the community and learning institutions, and the culminating activity and graduation rites for the EMT students.
This celebration would last until June 29. (With Nicole Renee David)