LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY

THE PERSPECTIVE OF FILIPINOS ON LGBTQIA+ EQUALITY

LGBTQIA+ is an inclusive term that includes people of all genders and
sexualities, such as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, queer,
intersex, asexual, pansexual, and allies. While each letter in LGBTQIA+
stands for a specific group of people, the term encompasses the entire
spectrum of gender fluidity and sexual identities.

SOGIE BILL
House Bill No. 4982 or “An Act Prohibiting Discrimination on the Basis of
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity or Expression (Sogie) and Providing
Penalties Therefor” is the first of its kind in the country. Other anti-
discrimination bills have been filed in the past, but these were never SOGIE-
specific, lumping the lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual, and queer sector
(LGBTQ++ sector) with others such as the differently abled or the indigenous

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groups.
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.

It then lists the practices to be considered discriminatory and unlawful under the bill, like the
denial of rights to LGBTQ+ community on the basis of their SOGIE, such as their right to access
public services, right to use establishments and services including housing, and right to apply for
a professional license, among others. Differential treatment of an employee or anyone engaged to
render services, denial of admission to or expulsion from an educational institution, refusal or
revocation of accreditation to any organization due to an individual’s SOGIE will also be
penalized. The bill also deems as discriminatory the act of forcing any person to undertake any
medical or psychological examination to alter his SOGIE, the publication of information
intending to “out” a person without his or her consent, public speech meant to vilify LGBTQ+,
the harassment and coercion of the latter by anyone especially those involved in law enforcement,
and gender profiling. Children under parental authority are given particular attention in the bill, as
the prevention of the expression of their SOGIE will also be penalized. Any act of harassment or
coercion directed to the LGBTQ+ is a discriminatory act under the SOGIE
SOURCE: https://www.divinalaw.com/news-and-updates/sogie-equality-bill/