LGBTQIA+ group to Marcos: Prioritize passage of SOGIE Equality Bill

A lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) group urged anew President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to prioritize the passage of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Gender Expression (SOGIE) Equality Bill.

This after Marcos signed Executive Order (EO) 51, creating a Special Committee on LGBTQIA+ Affairs.

While Bahaghari, an alliance of LGBTQIA+ organizations, welcomed EO 51, it said that the move was “insufficient” and “imprecise.”

“Hindi po komite o espesyal na grupo ang kailangan ng LGBT. Ang kailangan po natin at napakatagal na nating malinaw na hinihingi ay ang SOGIE Equality Bill: isang kongkretong batas na magpoprotekta sa lahat ng Pilipino laban sa diskriminasyon batay sa kasarian,” Bahaghari said in a statement.

[We do not need a committee or a special group. What we need is the passage of the SOGIE Equality Bill: a concrete law that will protect every Filipino from discrimination based on gender.]

“We are wary and guarded against flip-flopping trapo tactics. We have seen this during Duterte’s administration, where he claimed to support the SOGIE Equality Bill then immediately switched positions, instead issuing a toothless Executive Order which ordinary Filipinos do not feel the impact of,” the group added.

Bahaghari pointed out that EO 51 is “merely an amendment to the previous EO by Duterte.”

“Instead of skirting around the issue, Marcos Jr. should publicly voice his opinion on the SOGIE Equality Bill, which could have easily been passed into law within a month if he made it his legislative priority and certified as urgent,” Bahaghari stressed.

It has been over 20 years since the first legislation recognizing and criminalizing discrimination was first filed in Congress.

However, the Philippines has yet to pass legislation that provides proper safeguards and protection for people with diverse SOGIE.

‘Welcoming move’

In separate statements, PANTAY and Queer Safe Spaces both welcomed EO 51, saying it will play a big role in implementing policies to fight discrimination.

“Kaakibat nito ang pagbabantay ng komunidad sa pagpapaunlad nito ng karapatang pantao at mga konkretong aksyon gaya nang pagpapasa ng Equality Bill,” Pantay said.

“[May] this measure, in turn, hasten the passage of SOGIESC Equality Bill. We also hope that this will effectively address the concerns on harassment, discrimination, and abuse against the members of the LGBTQIA+ community,” Queer Safe Spaces said.