LGBTQ couples in the Philippines don’t have access to medical decision-making when their partners get hospitalized. By law, it is illegal and only the next of kin and/or legal spouses can do this.

They launched the Right to Care card. This card takes something that is already accepted by law in the Philippines – a Special Power of Attorney is usually used to protect financial transactions. We repurposed this legal document into a portable proof that can grant LGBTQ couples medical decision making rights for each other.

The card is a first of its kind.

In the Philippines, it’s illegal for queer couples to make crucial decisions for each other during medical emergencies. Without same-sex unions, the law does not see them as partners. Without The SOGIE (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression) Equality Bill that will legalize same-sex unions, hospitals have no choice but to follow the law and allow the next-of-kin and/or legal spouses to do this.

To remedy this healthcare injustice, The Quezon City government launched The Right to Care card on the last day of Pride Month. This card repurposes a Special Power of Attorney (legal document commonly used in financial transactions) into portable proof that grants LGBTQ couples decision-making rights during medical emergencies.

The inaugural batch started with 1,462 registrations and is still increasing every day. The Department of Health and Commission on Human Rights declared national support. Talks have begun with multiple cities about adopting the card.

The SOGIE (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression) bill is the longest unpassed bill in the Philippine Senate, languishing over decades. The Philippines has a Catholic majority, and this religious bias has been used to deny its passage. As a result, same sex marriage and civil union still remains illegal in the Philippines. The law should be able to protect everyone, but without this bill, gender-based healthcare discrimination persists.

The Right to Care Card creatively repurposes a Special Power of Attorney (legal document commonly used in financial transactions) into portable proof that authorizes LGBTQ couples to decide for each other during medical emergencies. While LGBTQ couples cannot be legally married in the Philippines, they should have the right to make medical decisions on behalf of their partners.

Created together with multiple legal teams, the Right to Care Card legalizes what was previously thought to be impossible while still obeying the Philippine Constitution.

As a card, it’s easy to carry and show at hospitals. While it is simple on the surface, it is a truly innovative approach, and a giant step for equality in the healthcare system of the Philippines.

The Right to Care card is proof that everyone should have the equal right to take care of their loved ones. It is a tool that allows people to protest against a healthcare injustice perpetrated by the law.

We let the Right to Care card get launched by an equality champion –– the Mayor of Quezon City as a form of protest to this healthcare injustice on the day of Pride March, the biggest Pride March in Southeast Asia.

Launching it on Pride March, with the lack of national government’s inaction, made the launch a stand out as the Quezon City Local Government was able to provide its constituents a tool to fight this healthcare injustice.

By doing this, the Quezon City Local Government will now be known as the city that made their health system more inclusive for the LGBTQ community.

We made the Mayor of Quezon City announce the card on Live TV, in an interview a day before the official launch. She reiterated the lack of rights given to the LGBTQ community.

And then, she announced the Right to Care card that will be officially launched the next day, during the Pride March. Because of this, people started talking about the event and the healthcare injustice that the card tries to remedy.

And then after the interview, we posted content about the card to sustain the hype it generated.

During the official launch, we let the Mayor explain the relevance of the card on the stage and in front of 110,000 attendees. Afterwards, KOLs talked more about the card on their socials.

We harnessed the momentum from online conversations and huge media coverage, converting it to wider action of change.

The launch of the card hit the hallmarks of newsworthiness.

Impact - Millions of LGBTQ couples have been put under the spotlight, raising awareness about the healthcare injustice they experience.

Half of the total Pride-related online buzz on Twitter mentioned the card with organic pickup by 132 media outlets and a total of 85.2 million organic impressions online.

Proximity - The launch of the card happened in front of 110,000 live audience with millions watching via the news coverage online.

Personality - The card was launched by an equality champion, turning her the icon of the Right to Care card.

The inaugural batch started with 1,462 registrations and is still increasing every day. The Department of Health declared support. The Commission on Human Rights released a full statement hailing the card as a brave step towards equality. Talks have begun with multiple cities about adopting the card.