Quezon City announced a special graduation ceremony, “Graduation Rights: March with Pride in QC,” for LGBTQ+ students who were excluded from their school’s ceremonies due to their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression (SOGIE).
The initiative comes in response to situations where students faced discrimination during their graduation rites.
Some schools, for instance, barred students from marching on stage for not following the school’s prescribed dress code, which may not have aligned with their gender identity.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte pointed out that this contradicts the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Gender Responsive Basic Education Policy, according to a Politiko report
It may be recalled that the agency issued in 2017 DepEd Order 32 which laid the framework for its Gender-Responsive Basic Education Policy. Following reports of discrimination against trans and nonbinary students, DepEd issued a separate order in 2022 reiterating that the 2017 order should be observed.
This policy aims to integrate principles of gender equality, equity, sensitivity, non-discrimination, and human rights in education.
The local government emphasized inclusivity in their Facebook post, stating, “Sa QC, graduation rites are everyone’s rights, regardless of expression.”
The program is open to LGBTQ+ community members who are residents of Quezon City or graduated from schools located there.
They must be 18 years old and above and were not allowed to march in their senior high school or college graduation ceremonies due to SOGIE reasons.
Registration for the program will close on June 7.
The special graduation ceremony itself is part of the city’s activities celebrating its 85th anniversary.
This event highlights Quezon City’s commitment to LGBTQ+ rights and inclusivity.
It provides an opportunity for students who may have felt excluded to celebrate their achievements alongside their peers.
Quezon City reinforces the idea that graduation is a celebration of academic achievement, and all students deserve to participate regardless of their SOGIE.
