Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte speaks to members of the press during the opening of the World Water Day 2024 Exhibit at Quezon City Hall on March 18, 2024. Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA — With the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression or Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) Equality Bill still languishing in Congress, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said Tuesday that local government units can be "cities for change" if they push for programs inclusive to the LGBT community.

The Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality filed a consolidated SOGIESC Equality Bill in 2022 after committee hearings. Versions at the House have been transmitted to its Committee on Appropriations.

Opponents of the bill — including Sen. Joel Villanueva and his father, religious leader and CIBAC party-list Rep. Eddie Villanueva — worry that passage of the bill would create "special rights" for LGBTQIA+ people and threaten "social order." 

In a press conference held Tuesday, Belmonte shared how her programs such as her partnership for the QC Pride March, the Right To Care Card, which seeks to give access to healthcare for queer couples, and giving free transition services to the trans community, are a form of activism in the hopes to influence other LGUs.

READ: Chiz says SOGIE bill must be amended first to get Senate approval

"There is still so much to be done and we are one with the community in of course fighting for the passage of the SOGIESC Equality Bill," Belmonte told reporters.

"Part of what we are doing here is of course an act of activism, our contribution to the fight towards finally the passage of this bill ... we have a lot in terms of influencing local government units," she added.

Belmonte stressed how cities can create ripples of progress with gender-inclusive programs and support for the SOGIESC Equality Bill.

"In our own little [ways], even if the national government has not an all encompassing law at that level, at the level of cities, what the message we are trying to impart is that cities are also centers of change and change can happen in cities with very supportive local chief executives," the QC mayor said.

"The fight can be in the realm of the city and we will continue to support all cities as well who are interested to learn from our best practices," she added.

Pride PH convenor Vince Liban said that they are expecting 200,000 attendees for this year's Pride March.

"Because also in the increase on sign-ups, we're expecting 200,000 ... what are we gonna expect this year? Mas bongga po ang Pride March natin because we have two Pride Marches, the Love and the Laban March that will eventually merge," he said.

Belmonte is looking forward to host the Pride March anew, hoping for a bigger crowd to drumbeat the advocacies of the LGBT community.

READ: As Pride 2024 opens, LGBT community promises 'show of force' to pass SOGIESC Equality Bill

"Ipagpapatuloy natin ang ating adbokasiya para manguna sa pagsusulong ng isang makulay at inklusibong bansa. Batid natin na mas marami pa ang dadalo sa ating pag-organisa ng Pride Festival ngayong taon kasama ang Pride PH," Belmonte said.

"Hanggang ngayon ay ikinatutuwa pa rin natin ang hindi mabilang na performers at host na nakikiisa sa atin, sa pangunguna nina Vice Ganda, Ben&Ben, BINI, Juan Karlos, Marina Summers, Gloc 9, at maraming-maraming pang iba, 'yung iba surprise taon," she added.

"Ang lahat ng ito ay pasulyap lamang ng programang handog ng lokal na pamahalaan ngayong darating na Sabado para sa ating minamahal na LGBTQIA+ community. Hangad ko ang muling pakikipagtulungan ng lahat para sa isa na namang matagumpay at makasaysayang pagdiriwang ng pagkakaiba-iba, pagkakapantay-pantay at pagmamahal ngayong Pride Month. Maaasahan niyo na sa QC lahat ay tanggap, tayo ang QC kaya lahat ay kasama sa pag-unlad."