June 10, 2024 - The Supreme Court (SC) officially kicked off its Pride Month celebration today, June 10, 2024, with a ceremony held at the SC courtyard in Ermita, Manila. This initiative underscores the Court's commitment to fostering "equal and inclusive justice" as outlined in the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027 (SPJI).
In his keynote address, Associate Justice Henri Jean Paul B. Inting, Co-Chairperson of the SC Committee on Gender Responsiveness in the Judiciary (CGRJ), emphasized the importance of Pride Month. He stated, "It's a time to reflect on the progress made towards equality and recommit to creating a world where everyone feels free to be themselves without fear of discrimination or prejudice." He further highlighted the celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community's achievements.
Justice Inting urged his colleagues, court officials, and staff to "stand together in solidarity, celebrating love, acceptance, and the right to live authentically."
The SC's Pride Month festivities encompass various activities beyond the kickoff ceremony. These include:
- A seminar titled "Embracing Diversity: Empowering Families to Support their LGBTQ+ Children"
- An outreach program benefitting the Home for the Golden Gays in Pasay City
- A workshop on basic salon services
- An education and awareness drive concerning the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) with a pre-exposure prophylaxis program
- Free HIV testing for SC employees, with strict confidentiality regarding results.
The CGRJ is co-chaired by Justices Inting, Jhosep Y. Lopez, and Maria Filomena D. Singh.