CELEBRATING pride, acceptance, and tolerance.
This is the main goal of the Mandaue City government as it launched a series of activities in commemoration of the month-long celebration of Pride Month.
Lawyer Regal Oliva, city treasurer and one of the organizers, told reporters in a press conference on Friday, June 10, that the activities aim to educate the people and help them further understand the LGBTQIA community.
The activities are celebrated annually every June but were postponed for two years because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
These include Pride Month exhibit, pride flag raising, pride ball, sogie forums and discussions, and the much-awaited pride march, which started in 2018.
LGBTQIA stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex Life, and Allies.
Oliva, together with other organizers, recalled the need for acceptance and protection that LGBTQIA individuals have been battling for almost 25 years now.
They have also called for the Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity or Expression (Sogie) bill to be finally passed in the senate.
The Sogie bill was proposed by late senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago and former Akbayan representative Etta Rosales in 2004 and was revised and re-proposed in 2016.
The revision was led by Bataan 1st District Representative Geraldine Roman.
The law aims for the non-discrimination of the LGBTQIA community in both national and international duties.
Oliva also expressed her gratitude to Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes, who she said supported the bill when he was still a congressman in 2016.
"Pride because you should be proud of yourself going out of expressing and of course a call for acceptance. We are proud to say that Mandaue City is the LGBTQIA capital of the South for being able to fully accept LGBTQIA individuals," Oliva added.
Mandaue City's Pride Month activities will run from June 11 to 30 and will be open to all who wish to participate. (HIC)