On 5 August 2024, the campus ministers of Xavier University gathered for a timely orientation on SOGIESC (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics). Atty Khristine Kay Lazarito-Calingin facilitated the session. She was formerly the regional head and the Chief Gender and Development (GAD) specialist of the pilot field office of the Philippine Commission, a certified member of the pool of Gender and Development resource persons, and serves as one of the legal officers of BALAOD Mindanaw Inc, or the Balay Alternative Legal Advocates for the Development of Mindanaw (BALAOD).
The Campus Ministers wanted to enhance their understanding of the issues related to the formation of young people. Dr Danikka Rose Fabela, Director of the Campus Ministries Office, believes that one of the most pressing issues today is how to effectively support the LGBTQ+ community, particularly in the context of recollections and retreats.
The key points of Atty Lazarito-Calingin’s talk focused on raising awareness among campus ministers about gender sensitivity and its significance in personal and professional lives. She emphasized the importance of understanding the diverse SOGIESC (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Expression, and Sex Characteristics), illustrating the experiences of people with diverse SOGIESC about gender issues, and fostering greater sensitivity towards these individuals. Atty Lazarito-Calingin thoroughly discussed these terms to break misconceptions that hamper the achievement of gender equality and women's empowerment, protect and promote the rights of people with diverse SOGIESC, and promote gender sensitivity.
The discussion on SOGIESC mattered to the campus ministers as the knowledge they acquired will help them support students without passing judgment and make them feel like members of the Xavier University community regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation. The session was a step towards ensuring that the pastoral care provided by the university was informed, respectful, and inclusive of every individual’s lived experience.
Mr Michael M Acenas reflected that the session was insightful and eye-opening. He comes from a generation whose understanding of gender was only confined to being gay and lesbian, and there was nothing in between them. The seminar has helped him realize that gender is diverse and we need to acknowledge it. Given its diversity, respect is very important. Talking about respect, as an example, the seminar has taught him always to ask someone how we could address them. Now, for him, it is not respectful to call a lesbian woman “Miss” or a gay person “Mister." Asking their preference on how to address them is a show of respect.