Lakas—Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) vice presidential candidate and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte claims to be part of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) community.
"Paano ko ba hindi mahalin yung LGBT, eh LGBT din ako (How can I not love the LGBT when I'm also LGBT)," said Duterte during a meet and greet with members of the LGBTQ sector in Quezon City on Thursday, March 10.
Duterte's main reason for saying so is because of her "gender expression", specifically citing her penchant for different hairstyles she likes to wear.
"Sa gender stereotyping po sinasabi nila na ang lalaki lang ang may maikling buhok, yung babae mahaba ang buhok. Kaya minsan nakikita nyo maikli ang buhok ko, gusto ko po maging lalaki nyan. Kapag ayoko maging lalaki, pinapahaba ko ang buhok ko (Gender stereotyping dictates that men wear their hair short and women long. That is why you sometimes see me with short hair, like I want to be a man. If I don't want to, I let my hair grow)," Duterte explained.
The Davao City Mayor then told an anecdote on the topic.
"Tinanong ko yung human resource namin kasi sya ay isang LGBT. Tinanong ko sya bakit ba minsan minsan gusto ko maging lalaki minsan gusto ko maging babae. Pero madalas gusto mga gawain ng lalaki pero hindi naman ako attracted sa babae (I asked our human resource person who is LGBT. I asked why sometimes I want to be a man and sometimes a woman. I often want to do things that men do but I'm not attracted to women)," she continued.
"Sabi niya sexual orientation ko ay babae, at gender expression mo ay lalaki (They said that my sexual orientation is female but my gender expression is male)," recounted Duterte.
Duterte also cited livelihood programs implemented in Davao City specifically for the women's sector and the LGBTQ sector during her tenure as mayor from 2010 to 2013 and from 2016 to 2022.
Duterte is running for the vice presidency under the UniTeam banner alongside presidential bet Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr in the May 2022 polls.