Aside from being the month for school openings and weddings, June became known as LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) Pride Month in the United States based on then-president Barack Obama’s declaration in 2009 to recognize the advancements made by the LGBT community towards greater acceptance and tolerance from society.
Obama’s declaration followed a similar proclamation made in 2000 by fellow Democrat and then-president Bill Clinton designating June as LGBT Pride Month, but the movement gained some serious traction worldwide when the US Supreme Court allowed states to hold same-sex marriages.
That ruling was hailed by LGBT quarters around the world and made it possible for them to marry in the United States.
That same ruling also sparked the LGBT community here in the Philippines into pushing for more reforms albeit tiptoeing on the idea of same-sex marriage which is vehemently opposed by the Catholic Church and a largely Catholic society.
Cebu’s LGBT communities across the country came together to celebrate Pride Month; and all of them had some measure of support from Vice President Leni Robredo and in Cebu City, from LGBT help desk officer Judy Ann Urdaneta, who said the implementing rules of the city’s Anti-Discrimination Ordinance will be out soon.
It’s a small consolation for LGBT members like Urdaneta, who has experienced being discriminated against when she was barred from using either the male or female toilets at a commercial establishment.
It’s not hard for restaurants to build a common restroom since fast-food outlets have that already. For those who are still not used to seeing LGBT members using either the male or female restrooms, it can be admittedly a bit uncomfortable at times.
At least as far as restroom use is concerned, it would encourage men to practice sanitation better. But it is a big concern especially in the police and military where the old mind-set and discrimination against gays prevail.
We don’t know if there exists a “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy in the Philippine military similar to the United States. We don’t even know if there are gays in the military’s ranks, but that’s another issue worth pursuing at a later time.
For now, the LGBT community in the Philippines is asking and lobbying for a more positive treatment of its members, who had occupied significant positions not just in the entertainment industry but in other fields like law and politics.
By developing a better and well-rounded appreciation, acknowledgment and respect of the contributions the LGBT community made to the country,
perhaps they can attend to other issues.
The LGBT community’s celebration of Pride Month doesn’t end in June since they still have a long way to go towards achieving universal acceptance.