CAGAYAN de Oro City will be concluding its Pride Month celebration this Saturday, June 24 with a lineup of events and activities. The said occasion, which is commemorated worldwide every June, is widely observed among LGBTQ+ people.
The City Gender and Development Focal Point System under Sheila Lumbatan even held various activities in collaboration with LGU-CDO to celebrate Pride Month.
On Saturday, according to Lumbatan the series of activities included a Pride March at Rodelsa Circle, starting at 3:30 PM.
The celebration will feature a drag show, as well as a mini-job fair to be held on June 29 from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
She said the city government has also made arrangements to provide free services to citizens during the celebration.
As part of the celebration, free HIV testing, OPD check-ups, veterinary services, pet adoptions, and Tech-Voc scholarships will be offered to the public. These services will be held at the Community Amphitheater on June 24.
“The primary objective of these events and services is to promote the importance of respect, appreciation, and equality for the LGBTQ+ community,” said Lumbatan who is also the concurrent City Mayor’s chief of staff.
The LGU-CDO intends to provide an avenue for the celebration of diversity, positivity, and accountability.
“This occasion is not only an opportunity for the LGBTQ+ community to celebrate but also to raise awareness of the issues they face,” she stressed.
According to her, the City Gender and Development Focal Point System will even continue to advocate for diversity and equality for an inclusive society.
The mini-job fair aims to offer employment opportunities to LGBTQ+ individuals and other marginalized sectors of society.
“This event would allow participants to apply for jobs that would provide a stable income and an opportunity to earn money for their families,” Lumbatan said.
The free HIV testing service offers the public the chance to get checked for sexually transmitted illnesses without paying any fees.
This initiative aims to increase awareness of HIV and other diseases that can be transmitted through sexual contact, promoting early detection and treatment.
The Tech-Voc scholarship offering, according to her also aims to provide opportunities for marginalized sectors of society to gain an education that will lead to better employment prospects.
“This initiative will help them build their futures and contribute to the development of society,” she said.
The free veterinary services provided during the occasion would provide pet owners the chance to have their pets' health checked by professionals.
“This service will help ensure that pets are healthy and well taken care of,” she said adding that particularly those belonging to marginalized individuals or families who may struggle to provide them with the proper care.
Overall, these series of activities aim to showcase appreciation and encouragement for LGBTQ+ people, according to Lumbatan.
They also help to raise awareness of the issues that marginalized sectors of society face, particularly unemployment, and the importance of early detection and treatment of sexually transmitted illnesses.
Meanwhile, City Mayor Rolando Klarex Uy garnered support for the LGBTQ+ community after issuing an executive order aimed at promoting gender equality and non-discrimination.
The executive order, which was released on June 24 to mark the end of Pride Month, establishes a Gender and Development Desk in all city offices to ensure they coordinate with the GAD Desk in implementing programs and services that support the community.
