MORE than 4,500 members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) community in Davao City gathered at the SMX Convention Center, Lanang, on Tuesday, December 18.
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, former senator Jinggoy Estrada, and other city officials attended the 8th LGBT Davao’s yearend gathering.
“This is just one way para kalimtan nato ang atong mga trabaho, ang atong mga ginahunahuna (This just one way for us to forget our work and the things that bother us),” Duterte-Carpio said in her message during the event.
“Tomorrow is another day for us to work again and to advocate against discrimination and seeking treatment for HIV and all the other issues and challenges that the LGBT community faces diri sa atong siyudad (in the city),” she added.
Duterte-Carpio reminded the LGBT members to remain confident and to stand up for their choice to be who they are because it needs to be respected.
Meanwhile, the Davao Fashion Design Council (DFDC) incoming president Dodgie Batu said Tuesday that their group has been very supportive of the LGBT community in the city.
“They asked for our presence to be here so that we can give support. This is a really good thing that we do in Davao so that we can gather every year,” Batu said, adding that LGBT members should be reminded to stay true and to love themselves.
One of the LGBT organizations that participated in the event, the Olympus Society of Davao, through president Oscar Obenza, said: “This is a way where we can feel the spirit of sharing, giving, belongingness and love as a real essence of celebrating this Christmas season.”