COVID 19 exacerbates pre-exiting stigma and discrimination. Persistence of stigma and discrmination also impact access of LGBTQI individuals to much needed relief, social protection, health and other services. Research by Outright, for instance has highlighted how the pandemic amplified vulnerabilities of LGBTQI community, and that this included experiences of scapegoating and societal discrimination. This is also shown in the report by Curls of Cebu during a webinar conducted by the Commission - Curls shared how in one community in Cebu, members of the LGBTQI were blamed for the COVID-19 virus. Monitoring of the Commission itself also revealed discriminatory punishment meted out against members of the LGBTQI community. All these attest to persistence of stigma and discrimination amidst the pandemic. In this section, we highlight stories and accounts of stigma and discrimination. We read of members of the community experiencing challenges in accessing needed hormone therapy, we read stories of exclusion from government provided social amelioration programs, we read of violence and discrimination in online spaces, and of the mental health impact of the pandemic. As part of the Commission’s response to the pandemic, we highlighted the need to ensure gender-responsive and intersectional interventions to the COVID-19 Pandemic. To ensure that this is mainstreamed in other government agencies, the Commission partnered with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in the issuance of a Joint Memorandum Circular to such effect. This is important as we can see in the stories and accounts of LGBTQI individuals and organizations - that members of the community face distinct risks and vulnerabilities - these include possible exclusion as beneficiaries due to the stigma on the basis of SOGIESC, these could also include heightened risk to GBV. If responses are not intersectional, many members of the LGBTQI community will be left behind. Accounts shared in this section attest to the need to ensure such gender-responsive interventions, one that renders visible and responds to the specific experiences and vulnerabilities of members of the LGBTQI community.