LGBTQ+ Inabanga members show support for Gretchen Diez

Members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) community in Inabanga town are showing some love for the Filipino LGBTQ+ community after transgender woman Gretchen Diez was discriminated against in a mall in Quezon City.

Gerwin Melicor Yudelmo

Gerwin Melicor Yudelmo, LGBTQ+ Inabanga vice president, shared a photo of a rainbow flag on his Facebook account to enlighten netizens about the concept of sexual orientation, gender identity and sexual characteristics.


"May #GretchenDiez story will trigger the Philippine Government that we are still not safe, and that the SOGIE bill is so important to the Filipino LGBTQ+," he said.

For Yudelmo, one way to avoid this problem is for companies to hold gender sensitivity seminars to educate employees.

"It is also important that employers include SOGIE education to their employees as part of corrective action plan to help prevent future incident," he said.

Transgender Gretchen Custodio Diez (Queen of the Philippines 2019 candidate) was cursed, pushed, slapped and handcuffed by Araneta Center Farmers' Market security after being blocked by using the female toilet, then brought to the Camp Karingal police station.

Following the incident of Diez, Yudelmo encouraged LGBTQ+ not to lose hope and continue to fight for their rights.

"We are with you #GretchenDiez," said Yudelmo who used the hashtag #SOGIEEqualityNow,
#PassSOGIEEqualityBillNow and #GenderNeutralWashroom.

He also believed the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Gender Expression (SOGIE) Equality Bill is an answer to solve the problem of discrimination.

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