THE UNIVERSITY of the Philippines-Cebu has allowed students to wear their preferred clothes to express themselves freely during  graduation rites.

The university will hold its 83rd Commencement Exercises on July 29.

“UP Cebu is allowing ALL graduates who will march on the 83rd Commencement Exercises to wear their preferred attire in accordance to their lived identities in terms of sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression,” it said.

It added that graduates will not be obliged to conform to “heteronormative standards.”

“The graduating classes of academic years 2020, 2021, 2022 and beyond deserve to culminate their journey in UPC wearing attires that stand for who they are, and not who they are expected to be,” the school said.

The announcement came after the UP Visayas student council in Iloilo condemned the school administration’s plan to compel LGBTQIA students to inform the school about their dress preference for the commencement exercises.