Quezon City: If we are serious about achieving gender equality, we must recognize all women in their diverse and intersecting identities. You can't talk about peace and security if queer women and gender minorities are excluded. Gandeza's advocacy is rooted in his own experience living with what he describes as the benevolent tolerance of queer identities in the Philippines, where acceptance is often conditional. There's this unspoken rule that you're okay until someone finds you offensive. And that shapes how queer people move through society, he explains.

According to UN Women, working within the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, Gandeza has championed the inclusion of diverse identities. Early in the process, he was part of a critical conversation: Should the policy evolve from a "Women, Peace and Security" framework to a more inclusive "Gender, Peace and Security" approach? While the terminology remains debated, Gandeza and his colleagues achieved a milestone, ensuring that the plan explicitly refers to women in all their diverse and intersecting identities.

This language matters. It acknowledges trans women, non-binary people, and other gender-diverse individuals who have traditionally been excluded from peace and security discussions. "Inclusion should not be conditional," he says.

Quezon City is a great example of how local leadership can create inclusive spaces, Gandeza says. But we need this to be the norm, not the exception.

Gandeza works with local governments and grassroots organizations to build awareness and advocate for policies that protect all gender identities. "We need leaders at every level who understand intersectionality," he explains. "Our communities are diverse, and our policies need to reflect that."

Paving the way for inclusive and intersectional leadership, Gandeza remains steadfast in his commitment to inclusive peacebuilding as the world reflects on three decades since the adoption of the BPfA. He continues to call on policymakers, humanitarian organizations, and feminist movements to prioritize intersectionality. "True gender equality demands that we recognize the unique experiences of queer women and gender-diverse people," he says. "We can't achieve peace and security if parts of our communities are left behind."

With his work, Gandeza is helping to redefine what equality means in the Philippines and ensure that the vision of the BPfA includes all women and girls, in every identity and expression. "We're not asking for special rights. We're asking for the same rights. To be seen. To be heard. To live with dignity," Gandeza concludes.