Respect Students’ Gender Expression In Graduation Attires, Schools Told

An official of the Department of Education (DepEd) reminded schools to respect students’ gender expression and allow them to attend graduation rites and other activities wearing clothes aligned with their gender identity.

The reminder came following public outcry as four graduating transwomen were barred from attending their graduation ceremonies because of their long hair and the school’s dress codes.

DepEd National Capital Region director Wilfredo Cabral issued a memorandum reiterating the agency’s gender responsive policy, which seeks to promote gender equality, equity, sensitivity and non-discrimination in the provision of basic education. This policy was based on DepEd Order No. 32 series of 2017.

Miss Trans Global 2020 Mela Habijan posted a screenshot of the DepEd memo on Tuesday, June 28. She also said in another Facebook post that three of the transwomen were eventually allowed to march wearing their outfits of choice on Monday, June 27, and the other one on Wednesday, June 29.

“This office reminds the field to respect the gender expression of students. Gender expression refers to the way in which a person acts to communicate gender within a given culture, for example, in terms of clothing, communication patterns and interests,” read the memorandum dated June 23 and released on Wednesday.

“In line with the foregoing, school heads/school administrators and all school personnel are hereby advised to allow students to attend school-initiated activities, such as end-of-school year rites wearing clothes which are aligned with their gender identity, without restricting students' gender expression provided that the same is approved by their parents/guardians,” it stated.

Cabral, who is officer-in-charge of DepEd’s Office of the Undersecretary for Human Resource and Organizational Development, said other regional offices have also reiterated the 2017 order.

The policy sought to enable DepEd to undertake gender-mainstreaming in education to address enduring and emerging gender and sexuality-related issues in basic education, as well as promote the protection of children from all forms of gender-related violence, abuse, exploitation, discrimination and bullying.

The DepEd earlier set the schedule for graduation rites and other end-of-school year activities from June 27 to July 2 for public schools that did not suspend classes during the school year.

While face-to-face activities were highly discouraged, schools and community learning centers in areas under Alert Levels 1 and 2 were allowed conduct hybrid graduation rites, in consultation with the local government and the parents or guardians of the students.

DepEd reminded those that will do so to strictly comply with protocols set by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

“Schools must obtain parental consent for learners to attend the face-to-face ceremony. When applicable, schools in Alert levels 3, 4, and 5 shall hold their virtual end-of-school year rites, and with the consent of the parents, they may livestream the rites via appropriate online platforms,” it said.