Ordinance protecting LGBTQ members signed

CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama signed an ordinance recognizing and protecting members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community from discrimination and hate crimes on Thursday, August 18, 2022.

City Ordinance 2660, authored by Sangguniang Kabataan Federation President and ex-officio Councilor Jessica Resch, provides the creation of a body named SOGIESC Pride Empowerment Council (Spec) that takes charge of crafting programs and initiatives based on the city's gender and development plan.

The ordinance also laid out specific penalties for offensive remarks or crimes that will be done against a member of the LGBTQ community.

These include maliciously humiliating someone in public due to sexual orientation and inflicting physical harm on an individual due to sexual orientation.

Verbal or physical vexing, harassing, or threatening a member of the LGBTQ community can also be penalized under the ordinance.

The ordinance also provides penalties for people who subject an individual to jokes, pranks, and humor based on sexual orientation.

Those who will violate the ordinance will be penalized with three to six months imprisonment and a fine of P3,000 to P5,000 depending on the violation or the discretion of the court.

In a statement given to the city's Public Information Office, Rama said the ordinance is timely since the city just concluded its celebration of Pride Month.

“This is timely because the City will now have a body that will help fight discrimination among the members of the LGBT and bag-o ra ta na human sab sa Pride month,” said Rama. (IRT)