CEBU CITY- Her appointment by President Rodrigo Duterte as chair of the National Youth Commission (NYC) is a big step towards recognizing the LGBT community.
Thus said Cariza “Aiza” Seguerra who formally took the post on Tuesday (August 16).
Seguerra, one of the country’s best singers, said that she is happy that Mr. Duterte appointed her to the position which she could use to advance the interests and welfare of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
“I am happy that the President is very inclusive,” Seguerra said when interviewed during a small media forum on LGBT rights held in Cebu City last August 13.
According to Seguerra, members of the LGBT community, especially those still young, are the most prone to discriminations and abuses which she want to address as the new NYC chairperson.
“Napakaraming beses na ang mga tao na tu-turn away sa mga trabaho dahil lang sa kanilang sexual identity. I heard a lot of stories na sobrang qualified sa trabaho but she is a transwoman, hindi tinatanggap dahil ayaw ng boss,” Seguerra said.
As an LGBT advocate, Seguerra said that she will encourage establishments and government offices to stop discriminating LGBT and accept them on the basis of their qualification and not reject them because of their sexual preferences.
Promoting the rights of the LGBT community will also be one of her agenda as the new NYC chairperson.
“Because I think, the mere awareness is already a big step in understanding who we are.Nawawala yung takot, yung hate,” Seguerra said
Seguerra describes herself as a “transman” or a woman by birth but whose gender identity is a man but has not undergone sex change, and wants to be addressed by the pronoun “he.”
“His” wife Liza Diño was also named as the chairperson of the Film Development Council of the Philippines by Pres. Duterte.
The couple supported the presidential bid of Duterte.
But Seguerra insisted that they were named to their respective posts by the President on the basis of their qualifications and not as a reward for supporting Mr. Duterte. (JOEY A. GABIETA)
