It’s sad that they felt it necessary, but the Office of the City Administrator of Laoag City has put out a memorandum directing all city employees to refrain from using derogatory language to address or describe colleagues who are members of the LGBT community.
In a memorandum released by Laoag City Administrator John Michael Fariñas on Tuesday, all department heads and employees are directed to refrain from using the terms “bakla” (roughly equivalent to the epithet “fag”), “tomboy”, or “tranny.”
According to Farinas, this is in line with the city government’s support of the LGBT community and the pending anti-discrimination bill.
Fariñas also stressed that he wants every employee of the city to practice and maintain respectful attitudes and behaviors towards everyone, regardless of gender.
“I want my workplace to be respectful to everyone, may it be male, lalaki [male], babae [female], or the members of the LGBT community. Like the saying goes, we are all created in the image and likeness of God. As far as I’m concerned, I want to start it in my workplace to be respectful and equal to everyone,” he said.
It is also stated in the memorandum that if the person’s gender preference is a he or she, the person should be addressed by their preferred pronoun.
Any employee violating the directive will face administrative charges for unbecoming conduct, disrespect, and insubordination.
Re-published from ABS-CBN News. *All Filipino quotes translated to English
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