CALLS FOR STRONGER LGBTQIA+ PROTECTION RESOUND AT BAGUIO EQUALITY EXPO 2025

June 23, 2025 Metro BLISTT

BAGUIO CITY

Organizers and advocates at the Baguio Equality Expo 2025 called on local legislators to revisit and strengthen the city’s anti-discrimination laws, urging officials to move beyond symbolic support and commit to concrete protection for LGBTQIA+ rights. The two-day Pride convention, a first for the Summer Capital, became a platform to rally for stronger policies that reflect the realities queer Filipinos face today. “Ang center ng speech ko is the call for our legislators here in Baguio to amend and push for the implementing rules and regulations of our existing anti-discrimination ordinance,” Mr. Herson Arcega, committee organizer of Northern Luzon Pride said. “At the end of the day, we need laws, we need comprehensive ordinances that aim to protect us.”

At the national level, the SOGIE Equality Bill, which seeks to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression, has faced repeated delays in Congress. Making it one of the longest-running bills deliberated in the Philippines. Meanwhile, Baguio City passed Ordinance No. 13, Series of 2017, banning acts of discrimination and penalizing violators. However, LGBTQIA+ groups claim implementation remains weak and that additional legislation is needed to address gaps, especially in education, healthcare, and
workplace rights. Despite these policies, many queer residents still experience discrimination— particularly trans women who face harassment in public spaces, students who lack gender-inclusive facilities, and workers who face subtle or overt bias from employers.

While cultural acceptance has grown, legal protection remains insufficient. In response, LGBTQIA+ organizers have ramped up grassroots efforts and visibility campaigns. The Baguio Equality Expo 2025, held recently at the Baguio Convention and Cultural Center. The event served not only as a celebration of Pride Month but also as a call to action. It brought together local leaders, artists, business sectors, and
youth groups to discuss how to move from awareness to legislation. PRIDE104, held a panel discussion themed “The Power of Visibility and Representation,” spotlighted queer professionals and advocates—many of whom shared lived experiences that underscore the urgency of inclusive policies.

Discussions ranged from gender justice and trans visibility to LGBTQIA+ inclusion in the sciences and workplace empowerment.
The Expo also hosted a Queer Film Festival, Miss Trans Global Philippines preliminaries, and advocacy booths offering legal aid, mental health resources, and HIV testing. These activities aimed to create a safe and affirming space while amplifying demands for legislative change. As rainbow flags waved and voices rose in celebration, the message remained clear: Pride in Baguio is not just about identity—it is a political demand for dignity, equality, and the right to live without fear. Organizers say this is just the beginning of a stronger, more sustained push for local legislation that matches the vibrancy of its people.

Noel Celeste/ UC Intern