“Never reduce life to black and white for you will never see rainbows.”
 
These words were written on the Pride Freedom Wall put up at the Laoag City Hall during the city’s commemoration of Pride Month 2023.
 
A short message with simple words but has a powerful meaning.
 
“The life of a person needs to be colorful. If you limit your mind to only one belief, you will not progress as an individual and you will not prosper as a human being. That is why it’s important to see and accept all aspects and new ideas,” Laoag City Councilor Michael Fariñas explained.
 
During the simple Pride Month celebration in the city, the local officials led the signing of the Freedom Wall to signify their support for the advocacies, rights, and interests of the LGBTQIA+ community.
 
The city government also showed their appreciation for the invaluable contributions of the Dayaw iti Laoag Inc., an LGBTQIA+ organization in the city, in the promotion of the rights and interests of the community in the city.
 
“Pinaglalaban namin ang pantay-pantay na pagmamahal, pagkilala, at pagtangap sa amin. I am proud to be a member of the LGBTQ community and proud to be a member of Dayaw iti Laoag where we fight for liberty, equality, and dignity,” Gian Cartado, an officer of Dayaw iti Laoag share.
 
With this, the Sangguniang Panlungsod has promised to review the implementation of its Anti-Discrimination Ordinance to ensure that no Laoageño is discriminated against because of their gender orientation.
 
“The 11th Sangguniang Panlungsod already passed an ordinance to support the LGBTQ community. We need to revisit this and strengthen this ordinance and make needed amendments, kung ano ‘yong pwedeng ma-improve sa ordinance. For now, I tend to pass a resolution supporting the SOGIE Bill,” Councilor Handy Lao said.
 
Lao shared that as a city official who is a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, he wants to set an example and educate the youth that the rainbow symbolism is not just simple colors, but rather, a representation of happiness and being one’s true self.
 
Life can be grey at times.
 
Let’s not be the one who adds dullness to other people’s lives, rather, be their allies as they show their true bright colors. (JCR/AMB/EJFG, PIA Ilocos Norte)