Advocacy group Bahaghari has criticised the Land Transportation Office of the Philippines for including LGBTQ+ people in its priority lanes. The lanes, which are intended for senior citizens, pregnant women, persons with disabilities and others facing difficulties, suggest being an LGBTQ+ member is an impairment, said Bahaghari’s national chair, Reyna Valmores. LTO spokeswoman Divine Reyes explained that the inclusion was a part of the agency’s “gender and development” project for the month of March.

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) of the Philippines has been criticised by LGBTQ+ advocacy group Bahaghari for including LGBTQ+ individuals in its priority lanes. The lanes are designed to serve people coping with particular difficulties, including seniors, pregnant individuals and people with disabilities. Bahaghari argues that people who identify as LGBTQ+ do not face the same kinds of obstacles. Images of an LTO San Isidro District Office sign indicating priority status for “senior citizen, pregnant woman, person with disability and LGBTQ” have been circulated on social media. The LTO’s inclusion of LGBTQ+ pride balloons in a Batanes District Office “special lane” was also publicised on Valentine’s Day. LTO spokesperson Divine Reyes stated that the programme aimed to “make sense and elevate the confidence of [a] sector which has been, until now, discriminated and ostracised, thus we are fostering the understanding and acceptance of the members of the LGBTQ as equal” as part of its “gender and development project”.