Pride Month: More LGUs embrace anti-discrimination policies

DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental — For decades, efforts to pass a national anti-discrimination law in the Philippines have remained in limbo, repeatedly failing to secure approval in Congress.

In the absence of national legislation, however, several local government units (LGUs) have stepped in to fill the gap by enacting anti-discrimination ordinances and gender-inclusive policies within their jurisdictions.

In a recent interview with the Inquirer, the first transwoman elected to Congress and Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman said the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. can end without the passage of a national anti-discrimination measure.

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The lawmaker is one of the country’s staunchest advocates against gender-based discrimination.

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“We are back to square one. Both chambers of Congress are busy with political processes. I don’t think this is considered a priority at the moment,” Roman said.

Throughout her tenure in Congress, Roman has consistently served as one of the principal authors and advocates of anti-discrimination legislation.

Despite the lack of progress at the national level, Roman said the growing number of local governments adopting anti-discrimination measures makes her optimistic.

‘Glimmer of hope’

“It is a glimmer of hope. It gives me hope that if we cannot achieve it yet at the national level, at least we can achieve it at the local level. But of course, we still need to achieve it at the national level,” she said.

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For Roman, however, local ordinances are not enough to ensure genuine equality nationwide. She stressed that protection from discrimination should not depend on where a person lives.

“Equality should not be limited only to places where local ordinances are passed,” she said. “If it is possible at the local level, it should be possible at the national level.”

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Over the years, Roman has faced intense debate and opposition while pushing for anti-discrimination measures in Congress.

When confronted by critics, she points out that there has been no evidence showing that such policies harm communities.

“There’s nothing tragic or disastrous that has happened in LGUs where anti-discrimination ordinances are already in place,” she said.

“So it won’t lead to the decline of our morality or family values because we have a very happy community. It’s a win-win situation to welcome happy people no matter who they are,” she noted.

Anti-Discrimination Policies

As of this writing, more than 80 local anti-discrimination policies have been enacted across the country, based on 2022 data from Balangaw.ph, a digital platform dedicated to LGBTQIA+ advocacy, and other information gathered by the Inquirer.

These ordinances seek to protect individuals from discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression (SOGIE), from major metropolitan areas to small provinces, including communities in the Bangsamoro region as far as Tawi-Tawi.

Among the local government units that have enacted anti-discrimination ordinances are:

Provinces

Agusan del Norte

Bataan

Batangas

Cavite

Dinagat Islands

Ilocos Sur

Iloilo

Albay

La Union

Laguna

Maguindanao del Norte

Cities and Municipalities

Butuan City, Agusan del Norte

Municipality of Samal, Bataan

Municipality of Orani, Bataan

Batangas City, Batangas

Baguio City

Municipality of Guiguinto, Bulacan

City of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan

City of Malolos, Bulacan

Municipality of Bulakan, Bulacan

Tuguegarao City, Cagayan

Municipality of Daet, Camarines Norte

Naga City, Camarines Sur

Municipality of Calabanga, Camarines Sur

Municipality of Santa Fe, Cebu

Municipality of Carmen, Cebu

Municipality of Poro, Cebu

Mandaue City, Cebu

Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu

Cebu City

Davao City

Municipality of San Julian, Eastern Samar

Municipality of Giporlos, Eastern Samar

Borongan City, Eastern Samar

Vigan City, Ilocos Sur

Candon City, Ilocos Sur

Municipality of San Miguel, Iloilo

Iloilo City

Ilagan City, Isabela

Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental

Municipality of Alubijid, Misamis Oriental

Quezon City

Pasay City

Valenzuela City

Taguig City

San Juan City

Pasig City

Marikina City

City of Manila

Mandaluyong City

Malabon City

Bacolod City

Puerto Princesa City

Angeles City

Dagupan City

Municipality of San Francisco, Quezon

Municipality of Pabilao, Quezon

Tayabas City, Quezon

Municipality of Catanauan, Quezon

Municipality of San Mateo, Rizal

Antipolo City, Rizal

Municipality of Angono, Rizal

General Santos City

Zamboanga City

Municipality of Rapu-Rapu, Albay

Legazpi City, Albay

Malaybalay City, Bukidnon

Roxas City, Capiz

Municipality of Mabini, Davao de Oro

Municipality of Los Baños, Laguna

City of San Pedro, Laguna

Municipality of Calauan, Laguna

Baybay City, Leyte

Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental

Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro

Tandag City, Surigao del Sur

Municipality of Panglima Sugala, Tawi-Tawi

Municipality of Palauig, Zambales

Barangays

Barangay San Agustin Sur, Tandag City, Surigao del Sur

Barangay Babag, Quezon City

Barangay Greater Lagro, Quezon City

Barangay Pansol, Quezon City

For human rights activist and openly gay Moro filmmaker Rhadem Musawah, the passage of local anti-discrimination measures demonstrates that change is possible even in traditionally conservative communities.

Landmark victory

Musawah said it took decades of organizing and advocacy before local advocates secured a landmark victory in 2020.

“Mujer LGBT Organization was able to successfully secure the passage of the Anti-Discrimination Ordinance in Zamboanga City. After that, we started lobbying in many cities and municipalities in Mindanao,” he recalled.

“Our greatest pride was passing the first SOGIE-based Anti-Discrimination Ordinance in Panglima Sugala, Tawi-Tawi—the first in the Bangsamoro region. Then, we got Dipolog City, Magsaysay, and many more in Mindanao,” he said.

Their advocacy efforts also led to the adoption of HIV/AIDS ordinances, Safe Spaces policies, and other anti-discrimination measures.

Still, Musawah noted that local ordinances alone cannot fully address discrimination.

“There are many cases where, even if your city has passed an anti-discrimination ordinance, it still gets watered down during implementation,” he said.

“That is why the SOGIE Equality Bill, as a national law, is needed to strengthen the power of local anti-discrimination ordinances,” he explained.

Legal guidebook

Beyond Mindanao, Musawah also helped develop what is considered the country’s first LGBTQIA+ legal guidebook.

The handbook seeks to address legal concerns involving civil society organizations, LGBTQIA+ advocates and activists, as well as issues related to red-tagging within the community.

“The legal handbook was created with the help of the Thomson Reuters Foundation, SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan, and the British Embassy,” he said.

For Musawah, he hopes that growing “acceptance” of the LGBTQIA+ community will eventually translate into meaningful public policy.

“As we continue our fight and prepare to march, bear in mind that the enemies hiding in white clothes cannot control Congress forever,” he said.

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“We will endure until the anti-discrimination bill is passed—not because they are ready, but because we will not stop until it does,” he added. /apl