Anti-discrimination measure gains wide sectoral support

An anti-discrimination ordinance being deliberated by the Cebu City Council secured support from various sectors yesterday.

Eight speakers from the academe, the lesbian, gays, bisexuals and trans-gender (LGBT) community and the differently-abled groups spoke out on the ordinance in yesterday’s Cebu City Council morning session.

They said the ordinance  will help ensure equal treatment and respect for their rights.

The Cebu City ordinance declares as unlawful the refusal of any establishment or group to provide service or programs to persons due to their age, health status, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity and religion.

Patrick Ty of the Cebu Rainbow Club said the ordinance can help protect members of the LGBT community from “hate crimes” such as pellet gun attacks and other discriminatory actions against them by criminalizing the perpetrators.

“The Cebu Rainbow LGBT Community is strongly supporting for the passage of the ordinance as a symbol that we can no longer be silent and be passive with what is happening from our ranks,” Ty said.

Cebu Daily News columnist and TV host Jude Bacalso said the ordinance will serve as a clarion call for a change in the public’s attitude towards the LGBT community.

He recounted an experience in which he was barred entry from a gaming establishment in Cebu because he wore a dress.

Bacalso said he was mistaken by staff as a prostitute and he just took it as a compliment.

Tricia Ylaya or “Inday Tikay,” a broadcaster of ABS-CBN’s AM radio station dyAB,  said the ordinance is not about giving special rights to the LGBT, differently abled and other groups but is aimed at protecting their existing rights under the law.

“It’s about equal rights. If a person’s gender will hinder him to be employed and promoted, that’s discrimination,” Ylaya said.

Representatives of the differently abled said the ordinance should include enforcement of the accessibility law.

The accessibility law requires business owners and establishments to build access ways and paths for people on wheelchairs in their buildings.

Southwestern University dean Dr. Catalino Abos said if passed into law, the anti-discrimination ordinance should be incorporated in every student and company manual.

Councilor Augustus “Jun” Pe said the ordinance should also deal with discrimination in school specifically in the transfer of students in elementary and high school students to certain sections based on perceived intelligence.

Councilor Alvin Dizon said the ordinance is aimed at encouraging mutual respect and tolerance to individuality.