In March 2023, the Lasallian Center for Inclusion, Diversity and Well-being (LCIDWell) launched its Pantay Lecture Series (PLS), initially only as part of its month-long celebration of National Women’s Month. Over a year after, the series has grown to foster gender inclusivity within and outside DLSU through online lectures and talks coming from University professors, experts, and sectoral representatives.
Under the project, LCIDWell has organized numerous lectures centered on women and the LGBTQ+ community, usually held through Zoom and Facebook Live. For Pride Month this year, the center held lectures titled Exploring Catholic Responses to Inclusion and Respect on May 29 and Why SOGIESC Equality is a Development Issue on June 11. Another lecture titled “How Inclusive Language Cultivates Gender Equality and Inclusion in Society’’ was held on July 10.
Sparking change
According to Christian Derek Guerra, program lead and coordinator of the LCIDWell Gender and Development and Safe Spaces Unit, the series was formed to “democratize and popularize” conversations on gender-related matters.
“This initiative provides a platform for experts and practitioners to address complex and pressing matters surrounding gender diversity and social inclusion and to offer well-informed solutions. By structuring a series of learning sessions and discussion forums, we aim to foster deeper understanding and encourage active engagement in these critical topics,” Guerra explains.
Since its onset, the Pantay Lecture Series has gained a steady increase in engagement, from gathering only 50 participants to having approximately 1,000 participants in each learning session. Guerra says that audience response toward the lectures has been overwhelmingly positive, seeing potential in how the series can be the beginning of “something promising.”
“Some members of our community are starting to ask questions and consult with us because they’re curious, which indicates we’ve started important discussions…These initial interactions suggest that we’re on track to achieve our goal of using dialogue as a means to foster respect, mutual understanding, and a sense of community,” Guerra discloses.
Standing tall
With more progressive takes on queer topics, LCIDWell—and the University as a whole—is no stranger to criticisms from religious individuals and groups. A number of posts on social media that show DLSU bannering gender inclusivity and celebrating Pride Month have been bombarded with comments on how the University is going astray from its Catholic ideals and origins.
Amid these criticisms, Guerra believes these values are not necessarily exclusive, noting that the University’s mission remains grounded on love and respect and that everyone, regardless of how they present themselves, is worthy of respect.
“While some criticize us, we see it as essential to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, who emphasized compassion for all. Our goal is to create a university where diversity is respected and everyone feels valued and included. We’re dedicated to ongoing dialogue and reflection to ensure our actions align with our mission as a Catholic educational institution,” Guerra explains.
He furthers that LCIDWell does not take these differences in perspective as negative feedback but as opportunities to spark productive conversations. They do this by providing guest lecturers in advance with a list of questions that they may address during their respective sessions.
Moving forward, LCIDWell hopes to expand the series’ scope by covering issues encountered by other marginalized groups and providing more intersectional perspectives on inclusivity and various sociopolitical matters. With DLSU reaffirming its commitment to its safe space policies, the office also vows to further push for inclusivity.
“We also hope to make an impact in changing inaccurate perspectives and non-inclusive and discriminatory practices within the University. Outside DLSU, we hope to have the opportunity to collaborate with like-minded organizations and institutions to carry out our vision of a more inclusive and equitable society,” Guerra shares.
This article was published in The LaSallian‘s June 2024 issue. To read more, visit bit.ly/TLSJune2024.
