President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has assured members of the LGBTQIA+ community that his administration will protect them against discrimination, saying everybody should be treated the same.
*PRIDE RECEPTION — President Marcos speaks to members of LGBT Pilipinas at the LGBT Pride Reception in Malacañang on June 29, 2023. (RTVM screenshot)*

Marcos said this as he hosted the LGBT Pride Reception for members of LGBT Pilipinas in Malacañang on Thursday, June 29. In a speech, the President said the government wanted to ensure everyone in the Philippines is treated the same. "Ang habol lang naman talaga natin (What we're really after) is that everybody is treated not for any other thing— not for race, not for creed, not for orientation— but just as Filipinos. This government, that's what it's trying to do," he said. "Pagkatao yung tinitingnan natin, hindi yung kung ano-ano pa (We're looking at humanity and not anything else). That's the principle that we follow with this administration and with this government," he added. Marcos said he believes that as long as everyone stays true to the idea of recognizing fellow Filipinos, everyone will be treated fairly and without discrimination. He even noted that Filipinos are more open-minded compared to other nationalities. i "Pinoy 'yan, eh (They are Filipinos). No questions asked. That's it. We should all be treated the same. That's what we're continuing to try to do," he said. "Dito sa Pinas, wala, okay lang ‘yan basta kilala mo naman ‘yan, kilala mo na (It doesn't matter here in the Philippines as long as you know the person)," he added. In addition, President Marcos said his wife, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, "is even better briefed on the legal issues that impact upon your community." The event on Thursday marked the second time that Malacañang hosted an LGBT reception, with the first one transpiring in December 2019.