Pride Month: Marcos vows equality, inclusion for LGBTQIA+ Filipinos

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. joined the LGBTQIA+ community in celebrating Pride Month, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to equality and inclusion for all Filipinos regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression.

In a message for Pride Month released on Wednesday, Marcos paid tribute to members of the LGBTQIA+ community whose struggles and sacrifices helped secure greater recognition and acceptance in society.

“This observance honors the courage of those who refused to be excluded or denied their rightful place in society,” the president said.

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 “It reminds us that the freedoms and recognition enjoyed today were not freely given; they were won through struggle, sacrifice, and the belief that every person deserves dignity,” he added.

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This was Marcos’ first official message for Pride Month.

He expressed support for the LGBTQIA+ community in celebration of Pride Month in his vlog in June 2023.

That same month, the official Facebook page of the Office of the President changed its cover photo to celebrate Pride Month, saying the OP “ stands united with the global community in building a world that embraces inclusivity and celebrates love.”

In December the same year, President Marcos issued Executive Order No. 51, creating a special committee for members of the LGBTQ+ community to promote their rights and give them a voice in policymaking.

Despite this EO, Marcos has not certified the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Expression and and Sexual Characteristic (SOGIESC) bill as a priority measure. It seeks to protect all Filipinos from discrimination in workplaces, schools, and public accommodations based on their SOGIESC.

READ: LGBTQ+ sector gains voice in Marcos EO

The president also noted the importance of ensuring that no Filipino feels marginalized or compelled to hide their identity to gain acceptance.

“Let this observance send a clear message: no Filipino should ever be made to feel invisible in the country they help build. No one should ever be forced to conceal who they are in order to earn acceptance and understanding,” he said.

According to Marcos, the government remains committed to upholding equal rights and opportunities for all citizens, saying inclusion must go beyond empty rhetoric and should be reflected in government action.

“As we celebrate Pride Month, the government reaffirms a principle that must never waver: every Filipino is entitled to equal protection, equal opportunity, and equal respect under the law,” the President said.

“Inclusion cannot remain only in words. It must be reflected in our policies, strengthened by our institutions, and practiced in our everyday actions as a people,” he added.

Marcos also recognized the contributions of LGBTQIA+ Filipinos to national development, noting their role in advancing the country through their talents, public service, and leadership.

“To overlook these contributions is to deny an essential part of the Filipino story,” he said.

“No one should ever be forced to conceal who they are in order to earn acceptance and understanding. For the true measure of a just and progressive nation lies in how fully it allows every person to live with security, purpose, and belonging,” he added.

Marcos urged Filipinos to move forward with compassion, respect, and courage while defending the welfare of every Filipino, and “in creating a future where no one is left behind because of who they are, how they identify, or whom they love.” /mr