Gretchen Diez urges Duterte to back SOGIE bill

Transgender woman Gretchen Diez

on Friday called on President
Rodrigo Duterte to urge Congress to
pass the Sexual Orientation and
Gender Identity and Expression
(SOGIE) Equality Bill.

"It is a very big step that he signed

the Bawal Ang Bastos law, and it's
very admirable of him. And it just
shows how much he loves the
LGBTQ+ community," Diaz said in
a press conference.

"So, Mr. President, naumpisahan na po natin. Sana ituloy-tuloy na po natin na ipasa ang SOGIE
equality bill."

Diez had earlier filed a complaint against the management of Cubao a mall, where she was not
only prevented from using a female comfort room, but ended up in handcuffs at the Quezon City
Police Department (QCPD) Station 7.

In her complaint, Diez accused the mall's management of "discriminatory acts" which were clear
violations of the city's Gender-fair Ordinance.

After the filing at the QC Hall, the transgender woman emphasised the need for the passage of
the SOGIE Equality bill, which had failed to prosper in Congress.

"I think it’s about time for us to wake up. Ilan pa po bang katulad ko ang maha-harass? Ilan pa
po bang katulad ko ang babastusin? Ilan pa po bang katulad ko ang made-deprive ng karapatang
gumamit lamang ng simpleng palikuran?" argued Diez.

She also emphasized that all she had really wanted to do was "PEE."

"'Pee' is P-E-E. I just want to protect, educate and empower. And, hopefully, everyone would
like to 'PEE,' as well because we all have our rights to protect," she added. — DVM, GMA
News

Reference:
https://www.msn.com/en-ph/news/national/gretchen-diez-urges-duterte-to-back-sogie-bill/ar-
AAFTkLM
 Duterte meets with trans woman Gretchen Diez,
vows to push for SOGIE Equality Bill passage
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines,
August 20) — The meeting between
President Rodrigo Duterte and
transgender woman Gretchen Diez
on Monday was a step towards
equality for the members of the
LGBTQ+ community, both camps
said.

Duterte met in Malacanang Palace

with Diez, a trans woman who was
barred from using the women's
restroom in a Cubao mall and
arrested for videotaping the incident.
They were joined by LGBTQ+ champions including Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman, the first
transgender person elected in the Philippine Congress.

Diez said the meeting was fruitful, hinting there are actions that will shock the public.

"Positive feedback from the President. After two decades, the LGBTQ+ community finally sees
the light at the end of the tunnel. Many confidential actions were drafted that are guaranteed to
astonish the public," she said in a text message to CNN Philippines.

Senator and former presidential aide Bong Go also shared highlights from the meeting, including
several proposals to prevent the discrimination of the queer community. He quoted Duterte as
saying he will work to push Congress to finally pass the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and
Gender Expression (SOGIE) Equality Bill.

Presidential Spokesperson Sal Panelo said Duterte wants separate restrooms for the queer
community.

Diez earlier urged Duterte to certify the SOGIE Equality Bill as urgent, but Panelo said he can't
say if it will be certified as urgent. It was passed by the House of Representatives in the previous
Congress, but was blocked from passing in the Senate by senators who repeatedly insisted to
interpellate proponents of the proposed law.

Go added that one proposal was to create a commission for the LGBTQ+ pending the enactment
of the SOGIE bill.

He said the Duterte administration, with the help of LGBTQ+ groups, is also looking to organize
a national convention for members of the community to air their concerns and come up with
policy proposals to promote and protect their welfare.

"The LGBTQ advocates expressed their gratitude after the meeting and are looking forward to
the passage of a law that will protect them from discrimination before the President’s term ends,"
the senator said in a statement.

REFERENCE
https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2019/8/20/Duterte-Gretchen-Diez-SOGIE-Equality-Bill.html