Right to Care Act: A Game-Changer for LGBT+ Health Rights

### The Right to Care Act: A Beacon for Health Rights in LGBT+ Relationships

Picture this scenario: your beloved partner is critically ill in the hospital, and you, their steadfast companion, find yourself pushed aside because society fails to recognize your relationship as valid. It’s an all-too-common heartbreak, isn’t it? But change may be on the horizon, thanks to the **Right to Care Act**, a promising legislative proposal that aims to empower queer couples to stand by each other’s side during medical emergencies.

#### Moving Towards Equality, One Step at a Time

Crafted by Akbayan Representative Percival Cendana, House Bill No. 2786 seeks to allow individuals, irrespective of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Expression (SOGIE), to appoint their partners as healthcare agents. This can be done easily through a power of attorney or a PhilHealth proxy, thus granting authority over crucial decisions like ventilator consent, Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) orders, and bedside visits, thereby avoiding the necessity of involving distant relatives. Cendana describes it as “life-saving common sense,” a move that could eliminate the cumbersome process hospitals endure searching for next of kin. As [Inquirer reports](https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2089982/right-to-care-for-couples-in-diverse-sogies-sought), this initiative reaches beyond the bounds of marriage equality in our predominantly Catholic nation, where SOGIE-related legislation often encounters hurdles.

#### Quezon City: A Trailblazer in LGBTQ+ Rights

Quezon City has been at the forefront of this change since June 2023, unveiling the Right to Care Card during Manila Pride, which saw an impressive turnout of over 110,000 participants. To date, more than 468 queer couples have been empowered to make health-related decisions via a Special Power of Attorney. Celebrated trans advocate Ash Musnit and partner Leslie Ampo-an, who have been together for 18 years, were among the first to receive theirs, overcoming challenges like urban poverty and family resistance. GAD chair Janete Oviedo praises it as a significant “baby step” toward equality, with a mandate for all hospitals to honor it. [Interaksyon highlights](https://interaksyon.philstar.com/trends-spotlights/2025/05/07/295887/philippines-right-to-care-act-could-propel-lgbtq-rights/) this development as a critical test, inspired by painful COVID-19 stories where partners were denied participation in decisions.

#### Expanding the Movement to More Cities

San Juan City followed suit during Pride Month in 2025 with Ordinance No. 16, becoming the second city after Quezon City to allow LGBTQIA+ partners to approve or refuse medical treatments. Mayor Joy Belmonte expressed her support with heartfelt enthusiasm, and Cendana, involved in consultations, emphasized that every partner deserves the legal recognition of being a “mahal sa buhay.” [Manila Bulletin confirms](https://mb.com.ph/2025/06/14/right-to-care-card-approved-in-san-juan-for-lgbtq-partners) this key step.

For those interested, Quezon City’s official website offers detailed application instructions, marking a first in the Philippines, updated as of June 2025. [Quezon City GAD](https://quezoncity.gov.ph/program/right-to-care-card/) provides more information. Filed in Congress in November 2024, as reported by [ABS-CBN](https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/2024/11/5/bill-allowing-queer-couples-to-make-medical-decisions-for-their-partners-filed-1441), this Act could potentially spread this empowerment nationwide. While it isn’t marriage, it stands as a powerful form of recognition. *Will Congress embrace this change? Let’s keep our hopes high as we continue to strive for equality.*