‘LGBTQ+ Community Feel Safe In Baguio’

June 14, 2021 JUST IN

BAGUIO CITY (June 14, 2021) – Members of the LGBTQ+”We the members of the LGBTQ+ community feel safe here in the City of Baguio.
Francis Siapno Lopez speaking during the flag rites at the Baguio City Hall grounds Monday morning admitted that she felt anxious when she first arrived n Baguio years ago.
She said he worried how the community of Baguio will accept her for what she is or what is her gender preference.
She said people like him who is member of a community in a society where there are still many despising them for what they are are very lucky that they are very much welcome in the city.
Lopez goes by the name “Miz Kiki Crunch”, who is a staunch advocate and activist fighting for LGBTQ+ rights spoke infront of city officials and employees as part of the celebration of June as “Pride Month”
The City Government of Baguio through the city council passed a resolution on August 2018 recognizing the rights of the LGBTQIA.
The resolution promotes the solidarity and equality among the LGBT communities by celebrating their diversity while asserting their rights.
According to Lopez, the members of the queer community are being spat on, ridiculed and have to deal with different kinds of discrimination.
Lopez said they are being judged rudely because of how they look and how they dress differently. “We too are human beings, LGBTQIA rights are human rights, ” he stressed.
She said the term pride is a symbol of the struggle of being proud of every queer individual. Lopez said this is ride of being out and choosing the one who to love. She added that pride is a form of protest conveying equality and justice.
Lopez said for all the years living in Baguio, they have not heard a single case of hate crime against the LGBTQ+ members. She said such environment gives them the feeling of security.
As a gesture, Lopez distributed 52 white roses to officials led by Baguio City Benjamin Magalong, members of the City Council and employees.

The 52 white roses, she explained, is to commemorate 52 years since the Stone Wall Riots in New York City where members of the LGBT community stood up for their rights. She also handed a pride flag to the City Officials which will be hanged in City Hall to celebrate Pride Month of June.
Artemio A. Dumlao