Hontiveros calls on new Senate leadership to pass SOGIESC bill

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday urged the new Senate leadership to act on the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) bill which remains pending on second reading in the Upper Chamber.

The pro-LGBTQIA+ community advocate made the statement amid the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Manila's call for the Philippine Congress to pass a law against discrimination against the members of the community.

"I have asked the Majority Leader to look into the committee report which has remained pending in the Committee on Rules and he has promised to do so. Sana ang bagong liderato ng Senado ay tumindig para sa ating LGBTQIA+ community ngayong Pride Month at pati na rin sa araw-araw nilang pamumuhay bilang mga tao," Hontiveros said in a statement.

(I hope that the new Senate leaders will stand up for the LGBTQIA+ community this Pride Month and every day of their lives as a human being.)

"Nineteen of my colleagues signed the committee report on the SOGIESC Equality Bill. That should speak to its acceptability across the aisle," she stressed.

In a text message, newly installed Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero said that the proposed Anti-Discrimination Act has better chances than the Hontiveros-sponsored SOGIESC bill.

"Unless the proponents of the SOGIE(SC) bill accede to some amendments, it will continue to face rough sailing in the Senate. The anti-discrimination bill, I believe, has a better chance of passing this year," Escudero said.

Last May 8, the Senate committee on social justice, welfare, and rural development, chaired by Senator Imee Marcos, conducted a hearing on several comprehensive anti-discrimination bills which were proposed by some senators in lieu of the SOGIESC Bill.

To recall, the SOGIESC Bill produced by Hontiveros-led Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality had been referred to the Committee on Rules for further study after receiving opposition from several religious groups and various sectors.—AOL, GMA Integrated News