Quezon City holds third ‘rainbow’ graduation rites

MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City government held its third “rainbow” graduation rights on Thursday, hoping to celebrate the milestone in its gender-affirming care.

Mayor Joy Belmonte said the march of the 220 graduates from the LGBT community is a symbolic moment to show the city government’s support to the sector.

“It’s not a real graduation rite but it’s a symbol that we are encouraging the members of the community to come and join this activity. Come as you are, come as your authentic self because this might have been taken away from you,” Belmonte told reporters in a chance interview.

She said the students might have lost this chance during their school graduations.

“You are the same as any other student that is graduating. You can come as yourself. You are loved, you are accepted, you are embraced and we love you as you are,” Belmonte said.

Meanwhile, the National Authority for Child Care (NACC) announced said people in a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender or LGBT relationship could adopt kids under the solo parent program.

NACC executive director Ma. Gabriela Concepcion said that under the Domestic Administrative Adoption and Alternative Child Care Act, an LGBT couple could adopt children, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

She clarified, though, that since the country still does not recognize same-sex marriage or union, the couple could only apply through the solo parent adoption program.

“I think it’s a start that we want to tell everyone that there is no discrimination. If you are gay, it is not a hindrance to being a parent, legally you can be a parent to an adopted child,” Concepcion said in a press conference.

Based on NACC figures, 19 out of 326 registered adopters are members of the LGBT community.

Concepcion assured the public that members of the LGBT community would not be discriminated during the process of adopting a child.

“Whatever preference or orientation, the main thing that we look at really is an assessment of your parenting capability“ she said.