De Lima supports welfare, rights of LGBTQ community on Pride Month

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Leila de Lima has vowed to support the rights and welfare of the LGTBQ community (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) in celebration of Pride Month this June.

“Kaisa tayo ng LGBTQ community sa pagdiriwang ng Pride Month na siyang sumisimbulo sa kanilang karapatan at kalayaang makapamuhay nang maayos at malayo sa anumang banta,” De Lima on Saturday said in a dispatch from Camp Crame where she is being detained.

De Lima also lauded the importance of the LGBTQ community and their contributions to the society.

“Mahalaga ang papel na ginagampanan ng sektor ng LGBTQ at hindi matatawaran ang kanilang kontribusyon sa pag-unlad ng bansa at ng ating lipunan,” she said.

In the 17th Congress, De Lima was the co-author of the anti-discrimination bill which bans the discrimination of sexual orientation and gender identity or expression (SOGIE).

The measure was approved in the House of Representatives in 2017 but it experienced delays in its Senate version during the period of interpellation.  (Editor: Mike U. Frialde)