THE first-ever Quezon City Pride Volleyball Cup, presented by Philippine Superliga (PSL) and SportsCore Event Management and Cosultancy Inc. (Score), kicked off on Saturday at Amoranto Sports Complex in Quezon City and will run until Sunday.
PSL Chairman Phillip Ella Juico and his daughter First District of Quezon City Councilor Lena Marie “Mayen” Juico spearheaded the opening of the first gay volleyball league in the city.
“Actually this is history in the making,” Juico said. “I’m not sure if this is just the first tournament organized in Quezon City [but also] I think in the whole country.”
“This is an expression giving life to the concept of sports for all because the concept of sports for all is every person has the right to play the sport,” Juico added. “Everyone should have access and the right to play to your sport regardless of age, talent, religion, political color and gender.”
PSL tied up with Quezon City’s “gender-gair” city ordinance authored by the younger Juico, which aims to protect lesbian gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights in the workplace, schools, accommodation and accessing basic services.
“We first passed our gender-fair city in September 2014 and before that year our IRR [implementing rules and regulations] was already crafted and signed,” the Quezon City councilor said.
“Our pride cup today is a testament on how we are really staying true to that promise in taking care of our LGBT,” she added.