By Dominic Dela Cruz & Jannahry Ann Campos
Laoag City—The city government here has issued a memorandum calling for the proper treatment of members of the LGBT (Lesbians, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender and) community.
City government administrator John Michael V. Fariñas issued a memorandum on July 11, 2017 to all head of offices and employees to “firmly show respect by properly addressing persons who belong to the LGBTQ community”.
Congress’ first transgender member Rep. Geraldine Roman (Bataan, 1st district) introduced House Bill 267, the LGTB anti-discriminatory bill.
The said memorandum explained that it is not a “result of any experience encountered as well as any complaints faced but purposely to promote professionalism in the office”.
“Not really. No experience. I didn’t hear anything bad. No complaints. I just want and wanted to have a healthier environment to where I’m working. I’m working in the City Government of Laoag in the City Hall, so might as well be professional being employees of the government,” Mr. Fariñas said.
Mr. Fariñas added that city hall employees should strictly practice and put it into their heart a simple way of showing respect by not using the term “bakla, tomboy or transgender” to address or describe persons of the LGBT community.
He stated further that a person’s gender preference shall be addressed accordingly when called or dealt with emphasizing that it is not necessarily for the employees and head offices to immediately recognize a person’s gender preference.
“It doesn’t mean that if the person who was born a male and then he wants to be treated as a woman, it doesn’t follow that you call him immediately ma’am,” Mr. Fariñas explained adding that it won’t hurt a person to ask as to what he or she wants to be called. There are some members of the LGBT community that still prefers to be called a he or a she.
Any employee who will violate the said directive, Mr. Fariñas said will be recommended to face the disciplinary board first for further exploration on how the employee used derogatory terms against the other party.
A violation, however, can only be made known by the offended party, who then is expected to report it to concerned authorities.
Mr. Fariñas expounded that should there be a report, the two parties will be called to face each other and to explain why the derogatory remark was used and how the offended party took it,
“It’s not an immediate sanction. It doesn’t follow if you call the person an immediately say bakla or tomboy. I’m just trying at least show or be an example to be professional to each and every one,” Mr. Fariñas pointed out.
Mr. Fariñas stressed that the memorandum will only covers employees of Laoag City Hall.
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