VP Sara backs passage of SOGIE bill

Vice President Sara Duterte on Friday threw her support behind the passage of the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender Expression, or Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) Equality bill.

“While we wait patiently for the passage of the SOGIESC bill, what I would say on this is that good things take time. But we have advocates in the government, kasama na ako, sa inyong pangarap na batas for protection,” Duterte said during the first Office of the Vice President (OVP) Pride Reception event.

The SOGIESC bill states that discrimination on the grounds of a person’s SOGIESC intersecting or compounded by other factors such as age, racial or ethnic origin, religious belief or activity, political inclination or conviction, social class, economic status, marital or relationship status, disability, HIV status, health status or medical history, language, physical features, or other status shall be considered as discriminatory practice.

“Let us continue to press on in our shared cause for gender equality and social empowerment through avenues that will promote entrepreneurial collaboration and advancement across diverse socio economic industries,” Duterte, who last year said she identifies herself as LGBT, said.

The SOGIESC has been approved in the House of Representatives but has yet to move in the Senate. Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva earlier said there is no urgency to pass the SOGIESC bill.

During the same event, Duterte granted P150,000 to P300,000 livelihood assistance to each LGBTQ group across the country under the OVP’s Mag-Negosyo Ta ‘Day program.

"LGBTQI+ people already face enough obstacles on their own, but to sustain their enterprises and expand their businesses, they are far more likely to encounter issues that are specific to underserved and marginalized groups," Duterte said.

She noted that the LGBTQI+ community has been subjected to "systemic discrimination," with many of them experiencing "obstacles when attempting to access funds, licenses, produce sales, hire staff, or obtain insurance, in addition to not feeling safe going out or exploring business prospects consistent with their identity."

"May our civil society partners such as LGBT Pilipinas work hand-in-hand with the government in translating these civic causes to complete reforms to usher in thousands of  LGBT members to viable entrepreneurial opportunities for growth,” Duterte said. —KBK, GMA Integrated News