MANILA, Philippines — A national alliance of LGBTQIA+ organizations proposed to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. the creation of a commission or an advisory council for LGBTQIA+ affairs under the Office of the President, with First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos confident that it will be granted.
According to the Presidential Communications Office in a statement on Friday, the proposal was made during an “LGBT Pride Reception” where Marcos and his wife met with LGBT Pilipinas.
Araneta-Marcos told the alliance that she was “sure” the President would create the commission as thanks to the members of the LGBTQIA+ community who campaigned for him during the 2022 national and local elections.
“Knowing my husband, I’m sure he will grant the wish because he knows that you all campaigned for him and he wouldn’t be there without you guys,” said Araneta-Marcos.
“So, thank you very much. I think it’s our way of giving back to those who helped him in the election,” she added.
Marcos, for his part, did not comment specifically on the proposed commission by the alliance but vowed to help the LGBTQIA+ community in its fight against discrimination.
“We in the Philippines, ang habol lang naman talaga natin (our goal) is that everybody is treated not for any other thing— not for race, not for creed, not for orientation— but just as Filipinos. This government, that’s what it’s trying to do,” Marcos told the alliance, which is pushing for more visibility and representation for the LGBTQIA+ community in the bureaucracy.
“As long as we stay true to the idea, that basta Pinoy — Pinoy ‘yan, eh. Wala nang ano ‘yan. (As long as they’re Filipinos, they’re Filipinos) No questions asked. That’s it. We should all be treated the same. That’s what we’re continuing to try to do,” he added.
Established in June 2016, the LGBT Pilipinas boasts itself as the only LGBTQIA+ national alliance registered to the Security and Exchange Commission.
While the LGBTQIA+ community continues in its struggle in fighting for the passage of a national measure penalizing discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression and sexual characteristics (SOGIESC) for the past 20 years, the LGBT Pilipinas has worked side by side with local government units in passing their respective ordinances on anti-discrimination based on SOGIESC, specifically, in Cebu City, Bacolod City, and Davao City.