REP. GERALDINE ROMAN
TIME Magazine has listed Geraldine Roman, Bataan First District representative, as one of the most inspiring women of 2016.
Rep. Roman was included for being the first transgender to join the Philippine Congress. The magazine has also recognized her efforts in pushing civil unions and an anti-discrimination bill in behalf of the LGBT community.
“It is an honor to be included in TIME’s inspiring Women in 2016 list, with women like Hillary Clinton and Beyonce who champion equality,” she tweeted in reaction to her being on the list of inspiring women.
In a previous interview with the Inquirer, Rep. Roman expressed her advocacy in fighting for human rights, and that includes the rights of the LGBT community.
“Members of the LGBT community are accepted and tolerated. But when push comes to shove, they have no legal protection,” she said last July.
Rep. Roman joins the ranks of Solange Knowles, Simone Biles, Fu Yuanhui, Amber Heard and more. These 13 women were chosen for “celebrating the power of girls and campaigning for gender equality worldwide.”