A total of 394 members of the LGBTQIA+ community took center stage on Saturday as they joined the Quezon City government’s special “Graduation Rights” at the QCX Quezon Memorial Circle.
Mayor Joy Belmonte spearheaded the ceremony, one of the special activities of the local government for its 85th anniversary and the celebration of Pride Month.
The event was historic, as Quezon City became the first local government unit in the country to conduct a symbolic ceremony that gives members of the LGBTQIA+ community the opportunity to march as their authentic selves. Participants included those prohibited from joining their graduation ceremonies because of their gender identity and expression or forced to conform to outward appearances inconsistent with their SOGIE. The oldest ‘Rainbow Graduate’ was 75 years old.
“Graduation rites are everyone’s rights, regardless of gender identity and expression. In Quezon City, you have the right to express your truth, no matter your sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression (SOGIE),” Belmonte said.
“Hopefully in the future, we will no longer need to hold such a ceremony because all schools will be inclusive,” she added.
Belmonte and keynote speaker, noted TV host Kaladkaren, handed out special diplomas to the “Rainbow Graduates”, who were also provided a formal graduation pictorial where they had a chance to express themselves as their true selves.
The mayor expressed appreciation to the Department of Education, which has long issued a memorandum protecting all students from “gender-related violence, abuse, exploitation, discrimination and bullying” and the promotion of gender equality and non-discrimination in all governance levels. However, she called on school administrators to implement these policies.
“With these policies in place, we want the schools to be guided and abide by them. This is to ensure that even our schools are safe spaces for our LGBTQIA+ members,” Mayor Belmonte added.
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