Cavite LGU Opens Door To LGBT Without Discrimination

Reacting to the statement of Representative Manny Pacquiao on the lesbians, gays, bisexuals and trans genders (LGBTs), some 50 members of the reported 400 LGBT community in this town gathered at the island of Isla Bonita on Saturday to stage their own protest.

In a post activity interview on Sunday, Jonathan Buhain, leader of the group called ‘IKATLO’ (“Third Sex”) said other members failed to attend the impromptu gathering because some were on duty either as traffic enforcers or as fire fighters.

Buhain said that many of the LGBT members here have been offended by Pacquiao’s remarks and opted not to support his senatorial bid in May 2016 elections.

However, Buhain expressed the sentiments of the LGBT community to have found a place in this town because their rights were protected and their uniqueness as human beings were respected.

Mayor Jose ‘Nonong’ Ricafrente Jr. explained that in this town, LGBTs are employed as traffic enforcers or as firefighters.

“Here in Rosario, we have no discrimination policy in hiring workers or employees. As long as you are qualified to do the job, you are hired. Discrimination is against the law,” Ricafrente said in an interview.

“I believe even macho drivers are more likely to obey traffic laws and respect these gays because they are kinder and more soft-spoken than the traditional male enforcers.” he added.

It is easy to identify gay traffic enforcers (dubbed ‘Queens of the Road’) since they wear pink shirts for their uniform with a mat fan (pamaypay) in one hand and medium-sized traffic placard on the other.

The mayor said that the gay traffic enforcers were given training by traffic police officers and officials of the Rosario Traffic Management Office (RTMO) on the proper implementation and effective traffic management and are also authorized to issue citation tickets to traffic violators.

The mayor said further that these gay traffic enforcers are backed up by police officers on the side of the road in cases of altercation between a driver and an enforcer.

Moreover, there are also gay firefighters in this town who perform their duties much like the regular members of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).

The gay firefighters, according to the mayor, had undergone training on how to properly use fire-fighting equipment, to extinguish fire with the least amount of time and to quickly respond to emergency call. They also perform office duties if not in the field of action.

Likewise, the LGBT community here have much to be thankful for with the special cemetery called “The Garden of Memories,” perhaps the first and one of a kind in the country today found in a 2,000 hectare lot appropriated by the local government of Rosario for the Filipino- Muslims and LGBT communities.

The tombs for gays are painted in pink while those for lesbians in green color. Engraved in their tombstones are their real names as well as their adopted aliases like Gregorio “Barbie” dela Cruz or Anna Marie “Teddy” Duncan as examples.

“I’m deeply touched by this project which is very unique. Here, we members of the ‘Third Sex’ are being given importance up to our last destination,” Councilor Alex Samonte said.

Likewise, Mayor Ricafrente emphasized, “This is where some of your taxes go. You are able to feel what it is really like to be a resident here. From birth to death, from womb to tomb, you are not ignored nor neglected.”

An ordinance for the free burial and free internment expenses for Rosario residents who die has been passed by the local council headed by Vice Mayor Voltaire Ricafrente and approved by Mayor Nonong Ricafrente. (PNA) RMA/ZAT/ROGELIO LIMPIN/EBP