The Quezon City government on Wednesday announced a special program dubbed "Graduation Rights: March with Pride in QC" for LGBTQIA+ community members who have been banned from marching in their school’s graduation ceremonies due to their sexual orientation, gender identity and expression (SOGIE).

This is a special commencement exercise to acknowledge the right of students to graduate and give them a chance to march freely according to their preferred gender expression. 

“Sa QC, graduation rites are everyone’s rights, regardless of expression,” Quezon City local government said in their post on its official Facebook page.

The special graduation rights will happen on June 22, 2024, and is open to students who are:

* Part of the LGBTQIA+ community

* 18 years old and above

* Quezon City resident or those who graduated at schools located in Quezon City

* Were not able to march for their senior high school or college’s graduation ceremonies because of their SOGIE.

Registration for the program started on May 29 and will close on June 7.

The special graduation ceremony is one of the special activities of the local government unit in celebration of the 85th anniversary of Quezon City.