Hontiveros: SOGIE bill still the best tool to protect LGBT community

Senator Risa Hontiveros insisted Wednesday that the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) bill is still the best policy tool to protect members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community from discrimination, harassment, and violence.

Hontiveros made the statement after presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Tuesday said that President Rodrigo Duterte will back a general anti-discrimination bill instead of certifying the SOGIE bill as urgent, which the president earlier said he would. 

She said the correction shows Malacañang's policy confusion on how to address discrimination against the LGBT community.

“While an anti-discrimination measure is welcome, the SOGIE Equality Bill remains the best policy tool to protect members of the LGBT community from discrimination, harassment, and even violence,” she said.

“The SOGIE Equality bill does not only define and prohibit discrimination, it also addresses stigma against persons with diverse SOGIE through programs promoting equality and diversity,” she added.

She said the protective mechanism is unique to LGBT Filipinos, who experience not only discrimination but also stigma.

“We hope that President Duterte will seriously consider these points,” said Hontiveros.

The senator added that SOGIE advocates will continue to move the bill forward even as they continue to listen to different voices.

“We will also work to ensure that provisions against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression are included in a comprehensive anti-discrimination measure. We will fight for equality on all fronts,” she said.

“The struggle for the SOGIE Equality Law is a journey of more than two decades. The LGBT community is not asking for special rights and privileges. Ang kanilang tanging hiling ay ituring sila ng pantay at mamuhay ng payapa na malaya sa diskriminasyon,” she added. — BM, GMA News