"Inclusivity and awareness on equal rights" are the best solutions against homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia, Human Rights Commissioner Faydah Maniri Dumarpa said on Thursday, May 16.

This year's celebration of the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT) is on Friday, May 17.  The theme of the celebration: "No one left behind: equality, freedom and justice for all."

Wikipedia says "homophobia encompasses a range of negative attitudes and feelings toward homosexuality or people who identify or are perceived as being lesbian, gay or bisexual."

Biphobia, Wikipedia says "is aversion toward bisexuality or people who are identified or perceived as being bisexual. Similarly to homophobia, it refers to hatred and prejudice specifically against those identified or perceived as being in the bisexual community."

It says that "transphobia consists of negative attitudes, feelings, or actions towards transgender people or transness in general, and it can include fear, aversion, hatred, violence or anger towards people who do not conform to social gender roles."

Dumarpa, commissioner on gender of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), will hold a dialogue with the LGTBQI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex) community on May 17 with the Embassy of Mexico and in partnership with the Embassy of Germany, under the Equal Rights Coalition.

The CHR will also collaborate with groups and communities across various local, national, regional, and global levels to organize events that advocate for equality and respect amongst all genders. 

"As part of our mandate to consistently uphold the rights of all, we will endeavour to advocate for an equal and free society where there is no space for hate, stigma, and discrimination," Dumarpa said. 

She pointed out that the CHR "is cognizant of the many forms of gender violence and harassment being committed against various individuals and groups."

Thus, she said it is important for a society to fully embrace the essence that "all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights," wherein those who belong to the LGBTQI community are included in the conversation towards the full realization of this basic right.

"After all, collective efforts pave for solutions that address the wide gaps on achieving true equality, where no one is left behind regardless of gender identity and expression," the CHR said.

It also said: "The CHR, as the country’s Gender Ombud, will continue to advocate for the rights of all, highlighting the urgency to recognize the needs of the LGBTQI community in advocating for their equal rights and protection. We will exercise our mandate in order to ensure that the Philippines will further mainstream the collective duty of all to promote the welfare of LGBTQI members, protect them from discrimination and all forms of harm, and to fulfil their rights as citizens of their own communities."