LGBTQI Community Urges 2025 Bets to Back Equality

By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan

QUEZON CITY – Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI) leaders, advocates, and allies on Saturday, May 3, called on 2025 election candidates to support policies that ensure inclusion and protection for the LGBTQI community.

They launched the “LGBTQI Community Agenda,” which calls for urgent reforms across workplaces, schools, healthcare systems, media, and governance.

The agenda outlines key policy actions, including:

– Enforcing equal opportunity and anti-discrimination policies in the workplace

– Integrating Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) awareness in school curricula

– Increasing funding for inclusive healthcare, particularly for HIV prevention and treatment

– Promoting media sensitivity and ensuring accurate reporting of LGBTQI-related cases

– Strengthening Anti-Discrimination Ordinances and Gender and Development initiatives

– Securing legal recognition and protection for LGBTQI couples and intersex individuals

They also launched a five-minute video campaign promoting the agenda, which has been shared on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

The event was led by Jap Ignacio, executive director of Babaylanes, Inc.; Akbayan Party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña; Leslie Ampo-an of the LBQT Organization against Violence and for Equality (LOVE); Megan Guiapal of BPO Workers Gays Lesbians and Allies for Genuine Acceptance and Democracy; Rolf Gian Marcos, RPm of the Psychological Association of the Philippines – LGBT Special Interest Group; and MJ Catequista of Rappler.

Ignacio said the agenda responds to long-standing demands from the community that remain largely unaddressed.

“The LGBTQI Community Agenda surfaces the long-standing demands of the community, many of which remain unaddressed, especially our call for the passage of the SOGIE Equality Bill,” Ignacio said.

“This delay highlights even more the necessity of the agenda itself.”

“Our livelihood and safety continue to be undermined by systemic discrimination,” they added.

Ignacio also stressed the urgency of institutionalizing inclusive platforms and called on voters to choose candidates who will champion these reforms.

“We are sending a clear message to our political candidates and legislators that equality must no longer be postponed,” they said.

“It is time for action and LGBTQI-inclusive policies in the next Congress.”

“To the public, vote for equality,” Ignacio urged.

“Vote for leaders who have a track record of advancing human rights and who will champion inclusive, pro-equality legislation.”

“If we want LGBTQI-inclusive policies to pass, we must elect leaders who believe in them.”