Belmonte thanks 200,000 attendees of ‘Love Laban 2 Everyone’ Pride festival

Mayor Joy Belmonte joins LGBTQ+ marchers of Pride festival (Contributed photo)

MANILA, Philippines — “We are proud of our LGBTQ+ community along with the many allies who joined, exhibited good behavior, and also expressed our resolve,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said during the “Love Laban 2 Everyone” Pride festival recently.

“We will need more of this show of force and love letter to national leaders in the crucial 6 months to seek the approval of the SOGIE (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender Expression, or Sex Characteristics) equality bill to achieve a society full of love and equality,” she added.

READ: Sara Duterte on Pride Month: A reminder of the power of love over hate

The event at the Quezon Memorial circle was cut short in the evening because of the heavy rain on the electrical and sound systems which will put at risk the performers, crew and the crowd.

Earlier, 394 members of the LGBTQIA+ community took center stage in the Graduation Rights” at the same event.

Mayor Joy Belmonte spearheaded the historic ceremony, one of the special activities of the local government for its 85th anniversary and the celebration of Pride Month.

Quezon City became the first local government unit in the country to conduct a symbolic ceremony that gives members of the LGBTQIA+ community the opportunity to march as their authentic selves.

Participants included those prohibited from joining their graduation ceremonies because of their gender identity and  expression or forced to conform to outward appearances inconsistent with their SOGIE. The oldest ‘Rainbow Graduate’ was 75 years old.

“Graduation rites are everyone’s rights, regardless of gender identity and expression. In Quezon City, you have the right to express your truth, no matter your sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression (SOGIE),” Belmonte said.

Graduation ceremony of 394 ‘Rainbow Graduates’ at the Quezon City Memorial Circle (Contributed photo)

Belmonte and keynote speaker, noted TV host Kaladkaren, handed out special diplomas to the “Rainbow Graduates” who were also provided a formal graduation pictorial where they had a chance to express themselves as their true selves.

The mayor expressed appreciation to the Department of Education, which has long issued a memorandum protecting all students from “gender-related violence, abuse, exploitation, discrimination and bullying” and the promotion of gender equality and non-discrimination in all governance levels.

However, she called on school administrators to implement these policies. “With these policies in place, we want the schools to be guided and abide by them. This is to ensure that even our schools are safe spaces for our LGBTQIA+ members,” Mayor Belmonte said.