An LGBT group in Davao City reveals they are struggling to convene different sectors that would help create the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Anti-Discrimination Ordinance in the city.
“We’ve been pushing for the IRR since 2015. There were approaches and attempts to different sectors. Unfortunately, hindi siya ma-convene-convene (it still hasn’t convened),” Oscar Obenza Jr., representative of the LGBT Davao City Coalition Inc., said during the Kapehan sa Davao media forum on Monday.
Executive Ordinance No. 0417-2012 or the Anti-Discrimination Ordinance of Davao City was enacted in 2012 and amended in 2018.
It declares acts and conduct of discrimination based on sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, descent, national or ethnic origin, and religious affiliation or beliefs as unlawful.
The LGBTQ+ community, which is the umbrella term representing lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender, and other queer persons, still encounters discrimination despite the existence of the Anti-Discrimination Law.
Obenza said the challenge is that the reports of discrimination are not properly recorded and addressed. Despite this, Obenza said the community is not prioritizing to lobby a separate ordinance that would focus on discrimination against the LGBTQ+.
“That would be ideal but dito sa Davao, mas gusto ang inclusive na batas (here in Davao, inclusive laws are preferred), hindi specific sa isang sector (not just specific to one sector) so we are eyeing more on our existing law that would add to the protection of the LGBT community,” he said.
Still, Davao City’s LGBTQ+ community is leading the plan to convene again with different sectors in line with the Pride Month celebration this June and hopefully compose the IRR. ICM