Kabataan Party-list today reinforced calls for Congress to create laws advancing the right and welfare of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexuals and Transgenders (LGBTs) as the youth group joined the annual Pride March.

“While laws of the land trumpet gender equality between men and women, there are no specific laws that define or expressly protect sexual orientation and gender identity, and define what constitutes discrimination against LGBTs. As a result, educational institutions and workplaces have formulated and implemented policies that are discriminatory, while LGBTs have limited legal and administrative protection against various forms of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity,” the group said.

Kabataan Party-list filed in Congress a dual measure in the form of House Resolution no. 1333 which seeks to investigate various forms of discrimination experienced by LGBTs in educational institutions and House Bill no. 5512 which seeks to integrate in the curriculum of all education institutions and levels age-appropriate lessons on education on sexual orientation and gender identity and gender rights, equality and welfare.

“The education system in the country generally remains to be sexist and homophobic as many schools implement rules and regulations that force LGBTs to suppress their sexual orientation and gender identity. Such discriminatory rules and regulations, among many other factors, prevent the development of the LGBT youth inside and outside the academe. There is indeed a pressing need to create measure that will allow, not hinder, our LGBTs to realize their full potentials as members of the society,” the group said.