First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos reaffirmed the Marcos administration’s commitment to promoting equality, inclusion, and meaningful engagement with the LGBTQIA+ community as she led the National LGBTQIA+ Gathering 2026 on Tuesday in Intramuros, Manila.

Dubbed “Pride in Unity: National LGBTQIA+ Gathering 2026,” the event brought together more than 200 representatives from LGBTQIA+ organizations, civil society groups, and community alliances from across the country.

The Office of the President, through the Social Secretary’s Office and the Special Committee on LGBTQIA+ Affairs, organized the gathering to strengthen the collaboration and sustain the dialogue between the government and the LGBTQIA+ community.

In her speech, Undersecretary and chairperson of the Special Committee on LGBTQIA+ Affairs Elen Pasion thanked President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for signing Executive Order 51 which established the Special Committee on LGBTQIA+ Affairs.

Pasion said the issuance of the executive order was a clear sign of the administration’s support for the community and its commitment to ensuring that LGBTQIA+ rights and welfare are integrated into government policies, programs and activities.

Pasion said the committee’s mandate is clear: to represent the LGBTQIA+ community, ensure that its rights and welfare are integrated into government policies, programs, and activities; and to develop a consultative mechanism that will sustain the dialogue between the government and the sector.

The event also highlighted the Philippines’ position as a regional leader in advancing LGBTQIA+ rights, with the Special Committee on LGBTQIA+ Affairs recognized as the first national-level government office in Southeast Asia dedicated solely to promoting and protecting the rights and welfare of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Among the objectives of the gathering are strengthening the collaboration between the government and LGBTQIA+ stakeholders, recognizing the contributions of advocates and community leaders, fostering unity among organizations from different sectors and regions, and institutionalizing the event as a regular platform for consultation and partnership.