Students to conduct seminar on LGBTQ rights

CEBU, Philippines — In an effort to empower the LGBTQ+ community with knowledge on how to navigate online spaces safely, Communication students from Cebu Normal University (CNU) will host a seminar that provides insights into cyber libel laws and self-defense strategies in digital environments.

The seminar, titled 'Queer Voices, Legal Choices: Navigating Cyberlibel', will be held this December 13 at the CNU Learning Resource Center, organized by third-year Print Journalism and Integrated Marketing Communications & Press Relations (IMC&PR) students, in line with the culmination of their Mass Media Laws course.

This seminar is not exclusively for Normalites, outside guests who wish to take part in the students' advocacy project are also welcome to attend.

The students are inviting two lawyers to speak on topics such as what constitutes cyber libel, the process of filing a cyber libel complaint, and legal liabilities associated with cyber libel.

Instead of simply holding a typical culmination event, the students decided to organize a seminar as part of their initiative to promote a safer and more inclusive digital environment for LGBTQIA+ individuals.

“Under a collective decision, we wanted to create a meaningful and purposeful seminar for this advocacy of ours, and we believe that by educating the general public, most specially the LGBTQ+ community who are prone to cyber libel suits,” said IMC&PR student and head organizer Isabela Corpuz.

“We can create allies who not only uphold the protection of freedom of speech and expression, but also see to it that it is not abused in any online and social media platforms,” she added.

Corpuz added that as advocates for the right to freedom of speech and expression, part of their movement is to ensure that this universal right is not abused, especially in online spaces.

“With how people are treating social media right now, it’s important to spread awareness that even in online spaces, our words and actions also have lawful consequences,” Corpuz added.

She also mentioned that the seminar aims to address the growing need for LGBTQ+ individuals to understand their rights and responsibilities online.

Corpuz added that because social media is a vital platform for self-expression and advocacy, it is crucial to empower queer voices while safeguarding them from potential legal pitfalls, such as cyber libel.

“As the organizer, we hope participants will feel more empowered to express themselves responsibly online and understand their legal rights,” said Corpuz.

She added that they want to build a network of advocates for freedom of speech and expression in online spaces.

This network aims to create more watchdogs who will help enlighten and hold others accountable, promote responsible digital citizenship, and protect vulnerable communities from misinformation and online abuse.

Corpuz guaranteed that attendees will not only gain legal knowledge about protecting and safeguarding their rights online, but also have the opportunity to connect with a community of like-minded individuals who share the same passion. — (FREEMAN)