All government agencies, private offices and commercial establishments in Quezon City are required to have gender-neutral restrooms under the municipality’s new LGBTI anti-discrimination law.

All public buildings in the Philippines’ largest city must have restrooms labelled ‘All Gender CR’, an acronym for comfort room.

The provision falls under the citywide Gender Fair Ordinance, which was passed unanimously last week.

Employers are also required to give LGBTI people the same wage and benefits as other employees and provide annual gender sensitivity training to eliminate discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression.

Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte, one of the main backers of the law, said in an earlier statement, ‘The LGBT community has been a significant partner in ensuring the success of Quezon City. While contributing on various arenas – politics, arts, business, sciences, education, among others – they have long been ignored, their rights unrecognized, and worse, they are often discriminated. This is the city’s way to protect its citizens, by saying no to discrimination.

‘With political will, we would be able to realize the equality that everyone has long hoped for. In Quezon City, everyone stands equal.’

In May a transgender call center employee in the city filed a criminal complaint against two security guards for refusing to let her use the female restroom. The case is currently pending before the city prosecutor’s office.

In May a transgender call center employee in the city filed a criminal complaint against two security guards for refusing to let her use the female restroom. The case is currently pending before the city prosecutor’s office.

However, the Star reported that several key provision in the proposed ordinance were removed from the version, such as an additional gender option on government and health forms, a review of school textbooks for sexist material, gender orientation activities in schools and allowing LGBTI university students to choose their manner of dress.