Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 26) — Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte wants to talk with the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) community to address the needs of its aging members.
Belmonte said the city government wants to understand the challenges faced by the LGBQIA+ community to come up with appropriate services and benefits.“Gusto ko sana makahanap ng members of the community na senior citizens na pwede kong interviewin, konsultahin, gusto ko malaman anong serbisyo na pwede kong ibigay sa kanila,” said Belmonte in an interview with CNN Philippines during a panel discussion organized by the German Embassy in Makati.[Translation: I want to meet with members of the community who are senior citizens and interview and consult them. I want to know what kind of services they need.]According to Belmonte, the plan to provide extra benefits to senior LGBTQIA+ individuals is still in the “exploratory stage.The QC mayor noted that some of LGBTQIA+ members no longer have their families as they grow old.“Chances are they never married, chances are they have no children, and chances are sila yung nangangailangan ng tulong ng pamahalaan at hindi natin sila nakikita [they need government’s help and we don’t always see their plight],” Belmonte said.Meanwhile, Belmonte noted that three hospitals in the city currently recognize the local government’s “right to care” cards that enable LGBTQIA+ couples to make health-related decisions in behalf of each other.These are Quezon City General Hospital, Rosario Maclang Bautista Hospital, and Novaliches District Hospital. Belmonte hopes that more hospitals will follow suit.“We will explore if pwedeng mandatory kung hindi naman anong incentives ang pwedeng ibigay para lahat ng ospital sa QC sumunod at i-honor ang cards,” she said.[Translation: We will explore if we can make it mandatory in all QC hospitals, but if not we will check if we can give incentives so that all QC hospitals will honor the cards]
German envoy: LGBTQIA+ rights are human rights
In the same panel discussion on creating safe spaces for the LGBTQIA+ community, German Ambassador Anke Reiffenstuel stressed her country’s support for human rights, which also covers LGBTQIA+ rights.
“A lot has been achieved in the area of LGBT rights and a lot has to be done and these are areas for more cooperation and projects,” Reiffenstuel told CNN Philippines.The German envoy also lauded the initiatives of the QC government to institute reforms for the LGBT sector.
