The Quezon City government has enacted its Gender-Inclusive Health Ordinance, the first local government unit (LGU) in the country to do so. According to the LGU, the ordinance aims to provide “accessible, respectful, and affirming healthcare services for all — regardless of gender identity or expression.”
Under the ordinance, all public health facilities in the city must offer gender-affirming consultations and counseling, medical guidance and referrals to specialized services, and mental health support tailored to gender-diverse and transgender individuals.
This comes after Quezon City previously established the Right to Care card in 2023, recognizing LGBTQ+ individuals’ right to decide to accept, refuse, and withdraw consent to medical treatments on their partners’ behalf — a right widely given only to next of kin and legal spouses.
Gender-affirming care will also be integrated into Quezon City’s other existing programs, such as HIV/AIDS prevention, disability services, and crisis support.
In line with the city’s existing anti-discrimination ordinance, the Gender-Inclusive Health Ordinance also “prohibits all forms of conversion therapy and SOGIESC (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender Expression, and Sex Characteristics) suppression practices”, the LGU says.
Other provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays have implemented their own anti-discrimination ordinances. As of 2022, eight provinces prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and expression (SOGIE): Albay, Agusan del Norte, Bataan, Batangas, Cavite, the Dinagat Islands, Ilocos Sur, and Iloilo. At least 32 cities have established similar policies at the local level, including Antipolo, Bacolod, Baguio, Cebu City, Davao City, Puerto Princesa, and San Juan.
Meanwhile, the latest version of the SOGIE Equality Bill suffered inaction from lawmakers in the 19th Congress. Its first iteration was filed in 2000, and was followed by many other versions drafted in succeeding congresses.
On July 3, Senator Risa Hontiveros refiled the SOGIE Equality Bill in the 20th Congress, giving the proposed legislation another fighting chance in the legislature.
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