Title: Pride’s Liberty: Promoting the equality for all

Introduction: Throughout the years, gay community has been equally divided among their respective
gender. Thus, most of the people wanted to make a separate room for them in terms of housing,
employment, and even public accommodation which cause a highly distress to transgender individual
and so they avoided using a public lodgment out of fear of encountering an altercation. Philippines,
despite of being the largest LGBT congregation in Southeast Asia and the country that ranks the highest
in the region of LGBT social acceptance-according to a 2021 global index, the government of the
Philippines have not yet issued a bill that would ensure a fully protection for LGBTQ community that will
put an end to any forms of gender-based discrimination and abuses. Basically, you can be both publicly
tell that you are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender and be in a relationship with your same sex. Yet,
you still cannot guarantee your welfare within the community due to the lack of legislative proposal for
LGBTQ.

Body: Currently, restroom policies have either a binary or gender at birth policy or a gender-neutral
policy, but neither demonstrates LGBT inclusion. Forcing LGBT people to use other restrooms when other
people do not is excluding them and reinforces the belief that LGBT people are somehow dangerous and
should be kept away from everyone else.

According to the Human Rights Watch that only 15% of Filipinos live in areas that have ordinances
against discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex
characteristics. Discrimination cannot be avoided when it comes to gender. Some still couldn't come out
because they are afraid of being judged. Going to the bathroom that they don't identify themselves as
that gender must be very uncomfortable for them. Scared of the eyes staring and thinking that "why are
they staring at me?". Although many LGBTs learn to cope with this social stigma, these experiences can
cause serious psychological distress, including immediate consequences such as fear, sadness, alienation,
anger and internalized stigma (Hatzenbuehler, 2009; Meyer, 2003). We should treat them like how we
treat other people not thinking that they're transgender or even gay. Their gender is not the problem the
people who criticize them are the one to blame, by just accepting them into our society is already a big
help and a big step into letting them feel free. Accept who they truly are, and support them in what they
like. Let them wear clothes they like, let them use the bathroom into which gender they identify
themselves, let them wear make-up if it boosts their confidence.

A lot of people think about their safety, the discrimination may affect their mental health just because
they identify themselves as that gender. Their struggle into coming out in their own family is one of their
fears, that they won't be accepted, that they will be humiliated. Some even experience abuse by their
own family just because they're not straight like how they wanted them to be. It also does not help that
many conservatives in Catholic countries have resisted LGBT rights, citing Bible verses and Church
documents to justify their opposition to homosexuality and their insistence on the binary gender system.

Nonetheless, Catholicism has adapted to cultural shifts and calls for inclusion. Pope Francis hinted at
these developments as early as 2013, in his famous "Who am I to judge?" comment on gay clergy. He
welcomes LGBT people into the faith and has gone much further on inclusivity than any of his
predecessors. It proves that their gender won't be a problem into being a proud catholic.
They can be successful, and to able to reach their dreams. Every person should have the right to speak
up for themselves. Equality among gender should be prioritized, everyone should have equal
opportunities, to build a peaceful relationship with each and one of us.

Conclusion: Restroom policies often have a gender-binary in gender-neutral policy, typically

accommodating only male and female, neglecting inclusion for the LGBT community. This traditional
approach, though widely practiced, is outdated in the present world. Nowadays, there exists a scale of
gender identities beyond the binary, represented by the diverse LGBT community. Forcing them to use
restrooms inconsistent with their gender identity perpetuates and reinforces stereotypes, leading to
discriminations. Despite the resilience of LGBT individuals in coping with such oppressions, it doesn't
change the fact that these experiences can contribute to their traumatic behaviors and psychological
effects. To foster a more inclusive society, it is imperative for us to embrace and respect the gender
identities of LGBT individuals, supporting their personal decisions. This proactive approach not only
mitigates the adverse effects of discrimination but also contributes to creating a more supportive
environment for everyone to thrive.