LGBTQ COMMUNITY. Bataan Representative Geraldine Roman, the first transgender woman to be elected to Congress, promotes gender equality and support to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community in Bulacan during the 1st LGBTQ Leadership Summit 2019 at BarCie International School, City of Malolos on Friday (Sept. 13, 2019). Roman led the discussion regarding the challenges faced by the members of the Filipino LGBTQ. (Photo by Manny Balbin)
CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan—The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community in this province took center stage in the annual celebration of Singkaban 2019 as they launched on Friday the 1st LGBTQ Leadership Summit here.
The summit aims to cultivate connections, build community and inspire leaders in this province to create more accessible and affirming ways for the members of LGBTQ to be accepted and recognized.
Bataan Representative Geraldine Roman, the first transgender woman to be elected in Congress, served as the guest of honor in the summit as she led the discussion regarding the challenges of the Filipino LGBTQ.
In an interview, Roman said that she filed her own bill on anti-discrimination in Congress, the SOGIE Equality Bill.
"SOGIE Equality Bill is not for same-sex marriage and not for a marriage certificate and also not a gender recognition law," she said.
Roman added that her anti-discrimination bill, which was approved during the 17th Congress, was focused mainly on the right to work, right to study and right to receive services from the government whether one is an LGBTQ or not.
"I will keep on pushing. But I can't promise that it will be passed. Please support me," the lawmaker said.
Meanwhile, Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando congratulated the LGBTQ in the province for the community they formed and established last February.
In his speech, Fernando said the country is one of the most gay-friendly nations in the world.
"Our country is in top 10 out of 39 countries open in the LGBTQ community, the governor said.
Meanwhile, Ron Chie Santos, nurse hub manager of the Luntiang Silong HIV Unit of the Bulacan Medical Center, Bulacan is among the provinces in Central Luzon with the highest number of HIV cases.
Santos said there are 2,270 total HIV cases in Bulacan from 1984 to May 2019.
Most of the cases, he said, came from cities of San Jose Del Monte with 257, followed by Meycauayan with 123 cases and Malolos with 115 cases.
During the summit, the Luntiang Silong HIV Unit offered on-the-spot HIV testing wherein the result was released in 15 minutes.
Fifty-six of the more than 300 LGBTQ members who attended the summit voluntarily underwent HIV testing and all of them were found negative of the virus.
"The result will show 'reactive' for positive and 'non-reactive' for negative patient. If tested reactive he/she will undergo counseling and the process of therapy will be explained when he/she wants to undergo the treatment," Santos said.
The Luntiang Silong HIV Unit of the Bulacan Medical Center is the mother hub facility in this province that conducts and offers HIV lifetime treatment and a free anti-retroviral therapy.
It has seven facilities that offer HIV testing and therapy in the cities of Malolos, San Jose Del Monte, Meycauayan and towns of Guiguinto, Baliwag, Marilao and Sta. Maria. (PNA)
