QC government to hold third annual commitment ceremony for LGBTQIA+ couples in February
Quezon City continues to take steps toward gender inclusivity as it announces its third annual commitment ceremony for queer couples, in line with Valentine's Day.
On its social media account, the local government shared that this year's ceremony for LGBTQIA+ couples is taking place on Saturday, Feb. 17, at Quezon, Memorial Circle.
In case you didn't know, QC has held two other commemorations of queer love in the past. A total of 222 queer pairs took part in the love-filled affair in 2022, where they declared their love and strengthened their commitment to each other.
"Love always wins sa QC! Kaya naman muling handog ng Quezon City Government ang Commitment Ceremony para sa LGBTQIA+ couples," the caption read.
QC mayor Joy Belmonte also stated that a unique partnership between the Office of the Mayor and the QC Gender and Development Council will enable the event, highlighting how the city is a "gender-fair" where the LGBTQ+ community is treated with dignity and equality.
How to participate?
Speaking to PhilSTAR L!fe, Jhelai Pasco, a member of QC Pride Council Technical Working Group as well as the Officer-in-Charge of Pride Council Secretariat, said that the ceremony is open for QCitizen LGBTQIA+ couples, highlighting that they will have consideration for couples whose partner is not a QC resident.
"As much as possible, it's for QCtizens only, But we are giving consideration to couples whose partner is not a resident of QC," she told L!fe.
If you and your significant partner want to be a part of the commitment ceremony, you would need to submit a copy of your QCitizen ID, barangay certificate of residence, accomplished registration form, picture of applicants at the QC Gender and Development Council Office or through its field coordinators in each district officers.
Walk-in applicants can get a copy of the registration form from the GAD Council Office.
For other inquiries, visit the QC Government Facebook page or the city's GAD Office on the 6th Floor, High Rise Building, Quezon City Hall.
Meanwhile, this is not the first time that the city has taken a huge leap toward the inclusivity of its resident queer couples.
On June 24, the same day as the city's Pride festival, the LGU launched the country's first "Right to Care Card" for LGBTQ+ couples, an initiative that will allow resident queer couples to make medical decisions for their partners.
“Dito sa care card na ito ang isang LGBT couple na matagal nang nagmamahalan through special power of attorney will be able to have authority over the health care decisions na dapat gawin or kailangan gawin para sa isang partner,” Belmonte said on Friday, June 23.
"Ito ay pinag-aralan namin. We have a battery of lawyers go through this kung puwede nating gawin ito. At sabi ng mga abogado puwedeng-puwede through a special power of attorney, parang special contract siya," she added, citing it as a historical move for queer couples in the country.
This Special Power of Attorney card authorizes queer partners as next-of-kin during health-related emergencies and become beneficiaries in their life insurance policy, which was not allowed in the city before.