LGBT community OK to SOGIE bill amendments, says Hontiveros

Members of of the Lesbian, Gay, Transgender, Intersex, Queer and Asexual (LGTBTQIA) community have agreed to at least a dozen amendments to the proposed SOGIE bill to enhance its chances of becoming a law, Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros said Monday.

SOGIE bill, which stands for Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender Expression (SOGIE) Equality bill seeks protection for individuals and communities at a greater risk of experiencing human rights violations.

“The community has made so much effort. They made adjustments, and I mentioned it to my fellow senators that they have amendments, that they are ready to agree with. I think it was around 11 or 12 amendments,” Hontiveros said during the Kapihan sa Senado.

“That is why I am calling for the return of the bill to the Committee on Women, Family Relations and Gender Equality so we can conduct another public hearing, and we can write a new committee report.  We can report it out of the committee, subject it to period of interpellation so we can refine it,” she added.

Among the amendments involve academic freedom, parental authority and a provision categorically stating that the bill does not provide for same sex marriage.

“As far as the community is concerned, as long as the heart and soul of the bill is there, they are open to consider amendments. Imagine, given their long struggle for this for over two decades, they are already offering a dozen amendments,” she said.

The SOGIE bill was approved at the committee level during the First Regular Session of 19th Congress, but the measure was stalled at the Senate Committee on Rules headed by Senate Majority Leader Villanueva.

Villanueva said that the measure was approved at the committee level with enough consultations, including among religious organizations.

“The SOGIE bill has become a sleeping beauty, but we will not stop working, campaigning, including here in the Senate to get support for a bill that provides for equality. We will look for ways to convince the Senate Committee on Rules to return the bill to our committee,” Hontiveros said.

“What the plenary asked is for us to conduct another hearing. Our committee committed to do that. For us to do our jobs, we call on the Senate to give the bill back to us and not stall it,” Hontiveros added.

The senator said legislators should allow the bill to take its natural course.

“We should follow the legislative process, regardless of what bill it is. Let the advocates, let we the authors prove its merit,” she said.—LDF, GMA Integrated News