By Gabriela Baron
“It is sheer numbness to say that the SOGIE Equality Bill is not urgent.”
This was Senator Risa Hontiveros’ remarks following Senator Joel Villanueva’s statement that the passage of the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sexual Characteristics (SOGIESC) Equality Bill is not a priority.
The proposed measure, which had been filed first by late Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago and then Akbayan Partylist Rep. Etta Rosales, has been pending in Congress for over two decades.
It seeks to ban discrimination against individuals based on their SOGIESC.
“Bigyan natin ng hustisya ang ating mga kababayang hindi malayang nakakapamuhay dahil lang sa kasarian nila,” Hontiveros said in a statement released Wednesday, June 7.
“Paulit-ulit sa balita ang mga mag-aaral na nabubully dahil sa kanilang SOGIE, mga napagkakaitan ng serbisyong medikal, at hindi nakakakuha ng ganap na benepisyo sa trabaho dahil sa diskriminasyon,” she added.
Hontiveros filed anew the bill in 2020, labeling it at SOGIE. It recently reached House committee level in May.
“I expect that the bill will be allowed to go through the proper legislative process, according to the rules of the Senate,” Hontiveros continued.
“Dalawang dekada na walang proteksyon ang ating mga kababayang miyembro ng LGBTQ+ community. Let us not forget that they are our fellow human beings and citizens, too.”
In response, Villanueva said he is not against the LGBTQ+ community, even mentioning that he is “super close” to some members of the community.
“Who wants to be discriminated? Discrimination is pure evil! So let’s extend this right against discrimination to all sectors,” he added. with reports from Daniel Manalastas
-ag
