The President of the Lesbian Gay Bisexuals and Transgenders Federation of Zamboanga (LGBTFZ) cried foul against homophobic acts in the city as he called for increased advocacy and education on acceptance of their community members into society. This, after a gay person who was returning home last Sunday was sneered at by seven minors, one of whom gave the victim a flying kick on the head. Alvin Toni Fernandez, LGBTZ Federation President, said the city has an Anti-Discrimination Law that should be heeded. The seven offenders – aged 15 to 17 — were arrested Wednesday but released after 72 hours when the victim did not show up to file a complaint. The suspected offenders are allegedly part of a group of seven male minors, six of them residents of Barangay Camino Nuevo and the other a resident of Barangay Tetuan who assaulted a member of the LGBQTIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual) Sunday dawn in Tetuan. An eighth boy, aged 19, is not classified as a minor. “Violence, at this time of pandemic, is too much. We cannot afford to see … these inhumane acts against a member of LBGTQIA+. Everybody, regardless of your Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) should be treated justly,” said Wilfredo Aporongao, Focal Person of the City Gender and Advocacy. “Our office has been at the forefront in raising awareness on the different laws protecting our constituents, and advocating for anti-discrimination is one. The Gender and Development Section of the Office of the City Mayor deeply condemns such act of violence,” Aporongao said. Officials of barangay Tetuan, Camino Nuevo and Canelar jointly conducted a search and manhunt operations against the suspects, following the viral spread via social media of the video of what transpired Sunday dawn.