The Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality passed on Tuesday, December 6, the bill seeking to penalize discrimination against persons based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC), committee chair Senator Risa Hontiveros announced.
After a long fight for what is right and just for the LGBTQIA+ community in the country, the SOGIE Equality Bill has been approved at the senate committee level.
Last, Tuesday, December 6, the Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality finally passed on the bill seeking to penalize discrimination against persons based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC), authored by the committee chair Senator Risa Hontiveros.
According to Hontiveros, nineteen of 24 senators signed the committee report.
“Mas lalo akong nabuhayan ng loob na sa Kongresong ito, maipapasa na sa wakas ang SOGIE bill,” Hontiveros said. (I am so excited that, within this Congress, the SOGIE bill will be passed at last.)
Apart from Hontiveros, the following senators signed the committee report:
- Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III
- Senator Sonny Angara
- Senator Imee Marcos
- Senator Cynthia Villar
- Senator Nancy Binay
- Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa
- Senator Grace Poe
- Senator Mark Villar
- Senator Francis Tolentino
- Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito
- Senator Robinhood Padilla
- Senator Raffy Tulfo
- Senator Jinggoy Estrada
- Senator Lito Lapid
- Senator Chiz Escudero
- Senator Loren Legarda
- Senator Bong Go
- Senator Bong Revilla
“The SOGIESC bill’s message is clear: our country should not tolerate any act of discrimination,” Hontiveros stressed. “Buhay at hanapbuhay ang ipinagkakait natin sa mga miyembro ng LGBTQIA+ nang dahil lang sa mga paniniwala at tradisyong kailangang iwasto. 2022 na, our laws should reflect the realities of our culture.”
A deeper look into the proposed SOGIESC Equality Act
Among the discriminatory practices deemed unlawful under the proposed SOGIESC Equality Act are the following:
- Including SOGIESC, as well as the mandatory disclosure of their SOGIESC, in the criteria or standards set by employers or contractors
- Refusing admission or expelling a person from any educational or training institution open to the public on the basis of their SOGIESC
- Imposing disciplinary sanctions, penalties harsher than customary on the basis of the SOGIESC of students and their parents or guardians
- Refusing or revoking accreditation, formal recognition, registration or plan to organize any body or establishment on the basis of the SOGIESC of their members or target constituents
- Subjecting person deprived of liberty to extortion, physical, verbal abuse, or sexual abuse, and cruel and degrading punishment due to their SOGIESC
- Subjecting or forcing child to undertake medical or psychological examination or procedures to determine and/or alter their SOGIESC
- Preventing or manifesting rejection of child exhibiting or expressing their sexual orientation or gender identity
- Denying access to public services to anyone on the basis of their SOGIESC
- Denying application for or revoking a professional of any government-issued document due to their SOGIESC
- Denying person access to or use of publicly open facilities or services on the basis of their SOGIESC
- Subjecting any person or group to unwarranted investigatory activities on the basis of their SOGIESC or presumptions about their SOGIESC
- Denying individuals access to emergency and/or necessary health services open to public on the basis of their SOGIESC
“Isa sa pinakamahalagang ginagawa ng SOGIESC bill ay pagsigurado na ang bawat Pilipino, kahit anuman ang kasarian, ay makakatanggap ng karampatang serbisyong-medikal kapag kinakailangan,” Hontiveros said.
