By Sophia Angeline G. Delantero, UC student
Is it always about coming out of the closet?
June is filled with events that celebrate and empower the LGBTQIA+ community through film screenings, art exhibits, performances, and small gatherings that exhibit belonging and create safe spaces. But what happens after June ends?
The safe spaces built over a month often disappear, reducing Pride to a celebration rather than recognizing it for what it really means, a protest and a continuing fight for equality. Now, does the closet close again once Pride Month is over?
In a country where progress is slow, safe spaces have their limits. The SOGIE (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression) Equality Bill was first filed in January 2000 during the 11th Congress by the late Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago and former Akbayan Party-list Representative, Loretta Rosales. More than two decades later, it has yet to become a law.
This prolonged delay has made the closet feel even smaller. It is no longer just a place of concealment but a box reinforced by societal expectations, traditional beliefs, and institutional inaction.
That is why coming out is never just a personal decision. It is very much difficult to embrace one’s identity when the government has yet to fully prioritize policies that protect inclusivity and guarantee equal rights. The conversation should not focus solely on asking people to come out, but also on whether society is willing to create a world where they no longer have to fear doing so.
Is it always about coming out of the closet?
No. It is also about our willingness to create spaces where people can live as their authentic selves. It is about extending acceptance beyond symbolic celebrations, building communities that support them, and having a government that stands with them through legislation.
It is hard to justify why people continue to oppress individuals whose only intention is to live truthfully, while those in power repeatedly fail to deliver the change they promise.
June is filled with advocates who continue to challenge prejudice and push for equality. But as long as the SOGIE Equality Bill remains unpassed, the LGBTQIA+ community will continue to face barriers that restrict their freedom and safety.
Until real change happens, Pride risks becoming a yearly performance instead of a lasting commitment. Inclusivity should not be confined to a single month. It should be reflected in a country that is safe every day, in communities that welcome everyone, and in a society where acceptance is no longer the exception but the norm.
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