Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 16) — Vice President and Education chief Sara Duterte advised young members of the LGBTQ+ that their happiness should come first.
Duterte said she gave the message during her commencement speech when she recently attended a graduation ceremony and noticed a few students who were apparently “out of the closet.”
“Sabi ko sa kanila [I told them], we all want respect and acceptance. But if you are not accepted, just choose happiness,” Duterte recounted in a pride month event hosted by the Office of the Vice President and advocacy group LGBT Pilipinas.
“Don’t think about your gender anymore, piliin mo lang kung saan ka masaya. Nakita ko silang nag smile and I hope na tumatak ‘yung message sa kanila,” she added.
[Translation: Don’t think about your gender anymore, choose what will make you happy. I saw them smiling and I hope the message stuck to them.]
The vice president said there is a long way to go in fighting for LGBTQ+ rights in the country and that opportunities for members of the community are limited, including in the business sector.
In celebration of pride month, the OVP, through its Magnegosyo Ta ‘Day program, awarded livelihood assistance worth ₱150,000 to ₱300,000 to several LGBTQ+ and women’s groups.
The groups that received the grant are Alima LGBT Federation from Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur, Palauig LGBT Federation from Palauig, Zambales, Maris ti Ayat LGBT Federation from Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, and Philippine Federation of Local Councils of Women.
“Hindi ninyo hinahayaan na ang inyong mga pamilya ay magutom, marami sa inyo ay breadwinners kahit na mahirap ang buhay. Ibang klase kayong mag-sakripisyo,” Duterte said.
[Translation: You don’t let your families go hungry, many of you are breadwinners even if life is hard. You sacrifice so much.]
She assured the community that they have allies in the government.
“While we wait patiently for the passage of the SOGIE Bill, ang sasabihin ko nalang ay good things take time. But we have advocates in the government kasama na ako na sumusuporta sa batas ng proteksyon,” Duterte said.
[Translation: While we wait patiently for the passage of the SOGIE Bill, I say to you good things take time. But we have advocates in the government, including me, who support the protection the law gives.]
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Duterte also took the opportunity to thank LGBT Pilipinas for its support. The group endorsed Duterte and running mate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the 2022 elections.
