Is the Philippines really an LGBTQI-friendly country?
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said that while the Philippines has been ranked first out of 34 Asian countries in the acceptance of LGBTQI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex) persons, there are more things that need to be done before genuine acceptance takes place.
In its social media post, the CHR asked: "How do we quantify being LGBTQI-friendly? Where does tolerance end and genuine acceptance begin?"
It then shared in its post that 73 percent of adult Filipinos have agreed that homosexuality should be accepted by society. But it said that LBTQUI students hear an average of 26 anti-gay slurs every day with one-third of the comments aired by school staff members.
At the same time, the CHR said that LGBTQI members can easily seek help even if they feel threatened as only 30 percent of Filipinos reside in areas protected by ordinances against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression (SOGIE).
What's more, the CHR said that LGBTQI individuals are also three times more likely to suffer from mental health conditions such as major depression or generalized anxiety disorder.
"Seeking equal dignity and respect is never a special privilege. Each and every one of us is deserving of equal treatment, regardless of SOGIE. Move beyond tolerance. Champion genuine acceptance and inclusion," the CHR urged.
It stressed that Filipinos must continually fight to end discrimination and harassment based on a person's SOGIE to ensure that the Filipino LGBTQI community will get to enjoy equal human rights.
TAGS: #CHR #LGBTQI #SOGIE