‘Keri ni Leni’: LGBTQIA+ community wants ‘ally’ Robredo to run for president in 2022
FILE PHOTO: Vice President Leni Robredo.
MANILA, Philippines — Several members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual (LGBTQIA+) community have vouched for Vice President Leni Robredo’s capability to lead the country, pushing for her candidacy and victory in the 2022 national elections.
The LGBTQIA+ for Leni — another group urging Robredo to run for president next year — said Friday that they believe Robredo, being a long-time ally, would champion their welfare.
During the group’s launching, the hashtag “#KeriNiLeni” was also unveiled in reference to the gay lingo “keri” which implies a person’s capability to get the job done.
“Kami, ang mga nagkakaisang Pinoy LGBTQIA+ para kay Leni, ay naniniwalang Keri ni Leni na pamunuan ang Pilipinas bilang Pangulo,” the group said in a manifesto.
(We, the united Filipino LGBTQIA+ for Leni, believe that Leni can do the duty of leading the country as President.)
Article continues after this advertisement“Sa nasaksihan nating mga pagkilos niya bilang Pangalawang Pangulo, #KeriNiLeni na tugunan ang pandemya sa pamamagitan ng mga kongkretong solusyon na nakabatay sa agham at pagsasaliksik,” it added.
Article continues after this advertisement(With what we have seen regarding her actions as Vice President, it is true that Leni can really respond better to the pandemic using concrete solutions based on science, data, and research.)
LGBTQIA+ for Leni noted that the Vice President has been one of the staunch defenders and promoters of LGBT rights, advocating for the passage of the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) Equality bill even before, when Robredo was still a legislator in Congress.
To date, however, Congress has not passed the SOGIE Equality Bill.
READ: Robredo pushes for passage of SOGIE Equality bill
“Gipitin man at laitin ng hindi makataong pamumulitika, #KeriNiLeni na buong pusong tugunan ang kanyang sinumpaang tungkulin at ipakitang “Women can be President!’,” the group noted.
(Even if they harass her and insult her with inhumane politicking, Leni can wholeheartedly answer and fulfill her sworn duty and show that women can be president.)
Robredo for several times have spoken on topics related to LGBTQIA+ rights: in 2016, when then-Rep. Manny Pacquiao was quoted to have said that couples in gay relationships are worse than animals, Robredo said that choosing their partner is a basic human right.
READ: Robredo on gay marriage: Choosing whom to love a ‘basic right’
She has also spoken at every Pride Month celebration, inspiring many LGBTQIA+ community members to continue pushing despite the challenges, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
READ: Robredo tells LGBTQIA+ community: ‘Push lang nang push, never lose hope’
READ: Robredo: Support LGBTs’ fight vs discrimination
Prior to Friday’s launching of LGBTQIA+ for Leni, Lawyers for Leni and the Alliance of Labor Leaders for Leni have also started their campaign to press Robredo to run for president in 2022.
Another group named Leni for You, which is composed of academicians from the Ateneo de Manila University, is set to launch a program to support Robredo’s possible presidential bid.
READ: Lawyers, labor leaders, LGBT sectors want Robredo for president in 2022
This is not the first time that groups openly declared their support for Robredo. On Wednesday, Team Leni Robredo also said that multi-sectoral and cause-oriented groups in Bulacan formed the Bulacan for Leni, to ask the Vice President to end the current administration’s alleged reign of abuse and inefficiency.
A similar movement was launched in Quezon province, dubbed Quezon for Leni, while teachers have also made the same steps — all to ask Robredo to join the 2022 presidential race.
READ: Groups in Quezon launch campaign to urge Robredo to run for president
READ: ‘Teachers for Leni’ urges Robredo to seek presidency
So far, Robredo has not made public any definite political plans for next year as she opted to meet leaders in government who have expressed intentions to vie for the presidency in 2022. She has also expressed willingness to have and support a single candidate if it would mean sure victory for the opposition.
Nevertheless, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) maintained that Robredo remains open to running for president next year.
READ: Robredo still open to run for president in 2022
READ: Local political party pledges support to Robredo if she runs for CamSur governor
