Supreme Court Celebrates Pride Month
June 27, 2022
Associate Justice Amy C. Lazaro-Javier, Chairperson of the Supreme Court Committee on Gender Responsiveness in the Judiciary, addresses Court officials and employees at the Pride Month Celebration of the SC on June 27, 2022. Looking on are (from right) Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, Justice Ramon Paul L. Hernando, Justice Ricardo R. Rosario, Justice Japar B. Dimaampao, Justice Jose Midas P. Marquez, and Justice Maria Filomena D. Singh.
The Supreme Court joined Pride Month celebrations on Monday, June 27, 2022, with an event titled “The Judiciary Walks with Pride,” held at the the SC New Building courtyard along Padre Faura St., Ermita, Manila.
Supreme Court Committee on Gender Responsiveness in the Judiciary (CGRJ) Chairperson Associate Justice Amy C. Lazaro-Javier led the activity by presenting a brief background on the Pride movement. Justice Lazaro-Javier also invited each member of the Judiciary to contribute to the advancement of gender equality by giving support, respect, and acceptance to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgeder, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) community, and to defend and advocate inclusivity. Justice Lazaro-Javier also thanked the Justices for their support for the CGRJ and its activities.
Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, in his keynote message, underscored the Supreme Court’s role as a stronghold of the rule of law which checks unwarranted interference in basic human rights. “The Constitution guarantees that no person should be deprived of liberty and denied the equal protection of the laws…The Constitution is a covenant that any person is assured of due process and equal protection, without distinction, without discrimination. I believe that these constitutional provisions arise from the basic premise that we are all human beings, each entitled to respect and a life lived with dignity,” shared the Chief Justice. Chief Justice Gesmundo also stressed that the Court must accept diversity
and strive for inclusivity, with a reminder that “the Court will never condone intolerance and bigotry.”
The Chief Justice also shared the fruits of the Court’s efforts towards gender equality, among which is the recently approved Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027 which includes specific activities that expand access to justice, particularly on gender fairness, inclusivity, and equality. The Court also issued early this year the first ever organic Guidelines on the Use of Gender-Fair Language and Courtroom Etiquette, which is now being applied nationwide, together with the strengthening of the capacity of judges and court personnel on gender sensitivity. With these efforts, the Chief Justice hopes that “any person who comes to our courts will be treated with fairness, equality, and decency.”
In a recorded message, Justice Henri Jean Paul B. Inting, Vice-Chairperson of the CGRJ, invited members of the Judiciary to recognize the LGBTQIA+ community in a spirit of dialogue, and of mutual respect.” Justice Inting also hopes that the event “will be the first of many, so that greater dialogue may be fostered between the Judiciary and the LGBTQIA+ Community.”
The ceremony culminated with the signing of the “Wall of Pride” led by the Chief Justice and Associate Justices. Through this, participants were encouraged to write freely about their support for the LGBTQIA+ community.
The first and second level courts were also encouraged to join the SC Pride Month Celebrations. In a circular dated June 23, 2022, Court Administrator Raul B. Villanueva encouraged judges and court personnel to conduct simple Pride events to celebrate “self-acceptance, achievements, legal rights, aspirations, and pride of the LGBTQIA+ community.”
“The Judiciary Walks with Pride” was undertaken by the Supreme Court through the CGRJ and with the support of Australian AID and The Asia Foundation.
Associate Justice Amy C. Lazaro-Javier, Chairperson of the Supreme Court Committee on Gender Responsiveness in the Judiciary, signs the “Wall of Pride,” which signifies the Judiciary’s recognition, support, and affirmation of the LGBTQIA+ community, as the culminating activity of “The Judiciary Walks with Pride” on Monday, June 27, 2022, at the courtyard of the Supreme Court along Padre Faura St., Ermita, Manila.