Pia Wurtzbach urges end to discrimination vs LGBT community

Miss Universe 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach has repeated her call to end discrimination against members of the LGBT (Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, and Transexuals) community as the world observed the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.

“There is still a lot of discrimination in our society today. It is still important that we come together as a community to fight for our friends and loved ones,” Wurtzbach said on her Instagram stories.

The Filipino-German beauty queen made the comments during the global observance of International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. It was commemorated in 136 countries.

Wurtzbach cited the need for schools to help educate the public on the stigma about the LGBT community.

“Education is the strongest way to reduce stigma around the LGBT community,” she said.

“In the Philippines, where most people are conservative, schools influence how the people perceive the LGBT community,” the beauty queen-turne-dactress said.

Wurtzbach said there is a need for guidance counselors to help step up the campaign in schools for the LGBT learners.

“I believe that guidance counselors can help make a positive impact on the school environment,” she said.

In the Philippines, by virtue of a legislative measure forwarded by the House of Representatives Committee on Women and Gender Equality, May 17 every year will be the “National Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia.” Homophobia, biphobia and transphobia refer to prejudice or hatred of homosexuals, bisexuals and transsexuals and/or transgenders.

The international global movement recalls the day when the World Health Organization (WHO) eliminated homosexuality from its roster of mental disorders in 1990.

While in some countries, homosexuality is prohibited and people are punished and even killed on the basis of their sexual characteristics, in Asia and elsewhere around the world, the Philippines is praised for being one of the most gayfriendly nations.

In the 2013 Pew Research Center survey of 39 countries, it ranked 10th and was leading among 17 states that are accepting of homosexuality and other sexual orientations.

The Philippines is also one of the top countries that quickly adapted to the understanding of the wider spectrum of sexual identities with the expanded LGBTQI, which stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT), including queer and intersex. It won’t bear any harm if Filipinos express their willingness to be accepting of more types of people’s sexual identities.

The Forum for Family Planning and Development (The Forum), the advocacy organization that works in communities to advance reproductive and sexual rights, said the accepting attitude of Filipinos is a sign of the maturing of society.

“If we continue to hold our LGBT family members, friends and colleagues and even LGBT strangers equal with everyone else, then we are a tolerant society that chooses to move towards one that is respectful of human diversity,” Chi Laigo Vallido, director for programs and advocacy of The Forum, said.