MANDATORY haircuts, denying the right to crossdress based on their perceived gender identity, and making fun of LGBTQIA+ individuals in schools, companies and other institutions are punishable offenses, according to the proposed Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Mandaue City's Anti-Discriminatory Ordinance for People of Diverse Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Gender Expression (Sogie).
The acronym LGBTQIA+ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex and asexual, while the + is meant to include other gender and sexual identities as they emerge.The final review of the IRR was conducted on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024, at the Mandaue City Session Hall, with representatives from the Department of Education, Mandaue City Police Office, Mandaue City Council's committee on women and family, Mandaue City Government, LGBT presidents of the city's 27 barangays and Mandaue-based LGBT groups.In December 2023, a write-shop was organized to create the IR