Calls to #MakePHSchoolsInclusive for transgender students continue

International Transgender Day of Visibility may be over, but the fight to make spaces safer for trans and gender non-conforming individuals continue.

In commemoration of the day, celebrated last March 31, non-profit organization PridePH launched a video putting the struggles of trans students in the spotlight as part of its calls to #MakePHSchoolsInclusive.

The video titled “Batang Hinarang sa Lupang Hinirang” features a transgender woman who is forced to present as a male during a flag ceremony at school. Unseen figures rip the female uniform off her and wipe off her makeup. They also cut off her long hair and style it to look more traditionally masculine.

“Kailangan po namin ng tulong dahil dini-discriminate po kami ng school namin,” Jelai Balbaera, the student who starred in the video said. She also shared how activities like moving-up day rites bring her anxiety as they don’t let her express her SOGIESC (sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics). “Hindi daw ako pagma-martsahin kung hindi daw ako mag-comply sa hair requirements for boys.”

 In 2017, the Department of Education (DepEd) released memorandum no. 32, s. 2017, which indicates that teachers and students should be respected and allowed to dress according to their gender identity. However, some schools refuse to follow this.

In June 2022, some trans students almost didn’t get to attend their graduation because of rules imposed by their schools, which required them to cut their hair. They were, however, finally allowed to march, with DepEd issuing a regional memorandum allowing students to wear clothes aligned with their gender identity during school activities, including graduation. There is no penalty or punishment for schools that do not abide.

“Transgender students and teachers deserve to be in schools and to present themselves as they are!” PridePH National Convener and Miss Trans Global 2020 Mela Habijan said. “We continue to get tragic accounts of trans nenes (girls) and totoys (boys) who are prohibited from expressing their true selves by their schools. Yet, we shall continue to fight.”

International Transgender Day of Visibility is an annual event commemorated on March 31 to celebrate trans and gender non-conforming individuals and raise awareness of the discrimination they continue to face.

The post <b>Calls to #MakePHSchoolsInclusive for transgender students continue</b> appeared first on WE THE PVBLIC.

Source: we the pvblic