SOGIE Bill

What is SOGIE?

The Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Expression (SOGIE) Equality Bill, also known as the Anti-Discrimination Bill (ADB), is a proposed legislation of the Congress of the Philippines. It is intended to prevent various economic and public accommodation-related acts of discrimination against people based on their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. The current versions of the bill are championed by Kaka Bag-ao, Geraldine Roman, and Tom Villarin in the House of Representatives, and Risa Hontiveros in the Senate. The version in the House of Representative passed its third reading most recently on September 20, 2017, but died in the Senate. It has been refiled for the 18th Congress.

The bill was first filed in congress in 2000 by then-senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago and then-Akbayan party-list Representative Etta Rosales. The bill passed 3rd reading in the House but stalled in the Senate. Similar measures were filed by other senators in the 15th and 16th congresses without success.[5] The bill was re-filed by Defensor-Santiago in every congressional period in the Senate until her last term in 2016. The counterpart bill in the House was also filed continuously by the representatives of Akbayan party-list.

The SOGIE Equality Bill is meant to fulfill the rights set forth in the 1987 constitution, particularly the equal protection clause. It recognizes the LGBTQ++ as equals and ensures that their rights are protected inasmuch as everyone’s is. The bill also acknowledges the Philippines duties under international law particularly the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It thus recognizes the non-discrimination of the LGBTQ++ as both a national and international duty.

Let’s also define SOGIE:

SEXUAL ORIENTATION: a person’s sexual identity in relation to the gender to which they are attracted; the fact of being heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual.

GENDER IDENTITY: the personal conception of oneself as male or female (or rarely, both or neither). 

GENDER EXPRESSION:  how a person outwardly shows their gender identity. It includes physical expressions such as person’s clothing, hairstyle, makeup, and social expressions such as name and pronoun choice. Some examples of gender expression are masculine, feminine, and androgynous.

FACTS OVER FAKE NEWS!

• It is NOT a same-sex marriage bill.
• It will NOT penalize people who practice religious or academic freedom.
• It will NOT dictate churches on their teachings or hiring process.
• It will NOT allow a change of gender-makers in birth certificate.
• It DOES NOT violate rights of straight people.

THE TRUTH

• It protects LGBT persons from discrimination.
• It gives equal access to LGBT persons to employment, education, & social services.
• It will promote programs for non-discrimination and diversity in schools and workplaces.
• It will penalize employers who discriminate against LGBT persons.
• It will provide programs to protect LGBT kids in schools.
• The bill extends equal rights to all persons. Gay or straight, sexual harassment and assault are punishable by law.