Article by Arabella Balderama

Senator Risa Hontiveros, one of the leading proponents of the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression and Sex Characteristics Equality Act or SOGIE bill, said it was “sheer numbness” to deem that the SOGIE bill is “not urgent”, as remarked by Senator Joel Villanueva last June 6.

“It is sheer numbness to say that the SOGIE Equality Bill is not urgent. Bigyan natin ng hustisya ang ating mga kababayang hindi malayang nakakapamuhay dahil lang sa kasarian nila,” Hontiveros commented on Villanueva’s claim, adding that news regarding students being bullied due to their SOGIE and people being deprived of medical services as well as work benefits because of discrimination have become more common.

Hontiveros, the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality, stressed that she expects the SOGIE bill to undergo a “proper legislative process” in accordance with Senate rules.

“Iyong Maharlika bill nga na isang beses lang inihain sa Senado, na hindi naman kailangan sa ngayon, naipasa agad. Bakit iyong SOGIE bill na napakatagal nang nandiyan, hinaharangan?” she asked.

Even after around 20 years since its original iteration was introduced to Congress, the SOGIE bill had still seen little progress. 

According to Hontiveros, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) community did not receive the protection they needed during those years.

“Let us not forget that they are our fellow human beings and citizens, too,” she said.

ICYMI: the SOGIE bill’s current status

The Senate Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality Committee signed the report recommending the SOGIE bill in December 2022, which totaled 19 signatures out of 24 senators.

Senator Risa Hontiveros was also ready to take on the responsibility of funding the SOGIE bill when it came up for sponsorship in the plenary.

On February 8, 2023, the SOGIE bill was reverted back to the committee level after Senator Joel Villanueva presented letters from concerned religious groups at the Senate session.

The letters from various religious organizations argued that they were not consulted during technical working group meetings or wanted more opportunities to discuss the proposed law.

Last May 23, 2023, Gabriela Partylist Representative Arlene Brosas confirmed that the bill had also successfully passed the House Committee Level.

“We, in the Gabriela Women’s Party, laud the committee approval of the [SOGIESC] Equality Bill. This is a step towards the long-overdue enactment of legislation which will prohibit all forms of discrimination and harassment against the LGBTQIA+ community,” Brosas stated.

The SOGIE bill became the longest-running act under Senate interpellation in Philippine history due to decades of delay in Congress, spreading of disinformation regarding it online, as well as opposition from conservative groups. 

Thumbnail from Rappler