Comelec, PANTAY to raise queer awareness for 2025 polls
MOU signing between Comelec and the Philippine Anti-discrimination Alliance of Youth Leaders (PANTAY) led by Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia and PANTAY National Convener Vince Renzo Liban on Tuesday, November 26, 2024 at Chairman’s Hall in Palacio del Gobernador, Intramuros. —Photo by the Office of the Comelec Chairman
MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Philippine Anti-discrimination Alliance of Youth Leaders (PANTAY) on Tuesday underscored inclusivity in their partnership to raise queer awareness for the 2025 elections.
In the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) for Project Rainbow AGENDA, PANTAY National Convener Vince Renzo Liban said that the project aims to be an avenue where members of the LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, asexual and more) community can share their lived experiences and concerns.
“We would also want to be seen as partners in [the] democratic process and nation building,” Liban said in their speech.
READ: ‘Faith is not the enemy of equality:’ Filipino LGBTQ+ reignite call for Sogie bill passage
Liban said that they are hopeful that the Project AGENDA will open more opportunities not just with Comelec but with the Philippine government.
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Article continues after this advertisement“Hopefully, this is just one of the many unities of civil societies and the government to bring democratic processes and nation-building closer to all sectors of society,” Liban added.
Further, Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia emphasized that as long as you are a Filipino, you have the right to vote and not be discriminated against.
“If the only focus of the Comelec is the majority… We may have left some groups in our society… Isn’t it Comelec’s principle to promote inclusiveness that no one will get left behind.,” Garcia said in his speech.
The poll body chief noted that the MOU signing is a reminder that there is a youth sector that can help amplify calls for gender equality and queer awareness.
“That’s the good thing about this signing because this will remind us that we have to ensure non-discrimination, equal opportunity, and protection,” Garcia added.
Garcia also shared that the Comelec will be releasing guidelines for anti-discriminatory campaigns for the 2025 polls to ensure that the queer community and other sectors will receive equal treatment from society.
He said that the guidelines are in line with a previous dialogue made with Gabriela Women’s Party-list where the latter said that they would urge the poll body to craft deadlines to prohibit harassment against women poll aspirants.
Meanwhile, the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender Expression (SOGIE) bill that aims to protect everyone from discrimination and to improve LGBTQIA+ individuals’ access to healthcare and public services remains pending in Congress.
