Every June, the world pays tribute to the struggle of the LGBTQIA+ community in upholding their rights and dignity. In the Philippines, this means a month-long celebration full of colours and proclamations, with companies, politicians, and media personalities joining in. Yet, behind this kaleidoscopic facade is a harsh reality that continues to confront the community.
Despite the promises and empty rhetoric of those who ought to safeguard and advance the LGBTQIA+ community’s interest and welfare, the sector’s needs remain sidestepped, disregarded, and completely ignored—shackling the country from attaining a genuinely inclusive society for all.
For instance, despite being first filed in the early 2000s, the SOGIE Equality Bill has not been passed. More than 25 years later, the Philippines still has no national anti-discrimination law protecting queer people from discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or sex characteristics (SOGIESC). This is not just a gross negligence in addressing and acknowledging the hurdles impeding the minorities from living a dignified life—it is also a betrayal of the duties of lawmakers to ensure that every Filipino is protected by our laws.
Such an absence of a country-wide anti-discrimination policy has compelled several local government units (LGUs) to adopt their own. Quezon City, for instance, was the first LGU to pass an anti-discrimination ordinance in 2003, which it later strengthened through the Gender Fair Ordinance in 2014. The problem, however, is that only a minority of LGUs have taken up such measures since then. Across much of the archipelago, these protections remain nonexistent. Genuine security must not depend on one’s locality. It is, after all, an innate right.
To make things worse, acts subjecting the community to violence have been unchecked for years. Although visibility and acceptance have largely increased, so have the threats targeting them. Between 2010 and 2021, there have been at least 50 murders involving transgender or nonbinary Filipinos, as per advocacy groups. These numbers are not mere statistics: every tally means a life lost due to hate and bigotry. It is high-time, therefore, for those in the halls of Congress to finally act on this issue with commensurate urgency.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in his official message for Pride Month, stressed the need for the celebration to be backed by public policies and supported by institutions. Yet, his words only echoed shallowly, as his government remains inept in putting forward concrete actions in addressing these challenges. His allies in Congress are too fixated on politicking, leaving progressive measures like the SOGIE Equality Bill sidestepped. Meanwhile, the administration continues to fail in handling the HIV epidemic—the fastest-growing in the region—which is not only victimizing the youth, but also fueling further stigma and discrimination.
Indeed, given its rich history of activism and resistance, Pride must go beyond June. It must transcend mere statements, messages that reek of pretense, and false promises that materialize into nothing. The sector these rainbow campaigns claim to represent must not be reduced to mere symbols—they should be at the forefront of this fight. Until LGBTQIA+ Filipinos can finally live decent lives free from discrimination and stigma, the Philippines cannot truly call itself a nation that serves all people, regardless of orientation.
At last, behind every colourful flag are lives entitled to legal protection, love, equality, and dignity. Pride Month must remind us that through concerted and collective action, we can achieve a society that values everyone—a country that sees itself beneath a rainbow that brings hope to all, rather than a bleak faith for some.
Written by AGOS
AGOS is a dedicated campus journalist and contributor. Their insightful writing sparks meaningful conversations and keeps the community informed.
