Duterte hosts thanksgiving party for LGBT members in Malacañang

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday hosted a thanksgiving party for members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in Malacañang.

Photos released by the Palace showed Duterte interacting with the members and administering the oath of office to the officers of the LGBT Pilipinas, Inc.

Among those present in the event was transwoman Gretchen Diez who became controversial in August after she was apprehended for trying to use the female restroom of a Quezon City mall.

LGBT party with President Duterte at Palace. MALACAÑANG PHOTOS

Diez’s ordeal had sparked fresh calls to pass the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression Equality (SOGIE) bill which the Commission on Human Rights said was necessary to protect the LGBT community against all forms of discrimination.

According to the camp of Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, who was also present in the event, the President expressed his support for the LGBT community and emphasized that the dignity of all human beings must be protected.

Duterte also said that he recently signed an executive order aiming to institutionalize the diversity and inclusion program and creating an inter-agency committee on diversity and inclusion. —LBG, GMA News