Expression Bill
Submitted By:
Fernandez, Aira S.
Submitted To:
Going back to the basics of being a human, our gender and sexuality have always been
overlooked by almost everyone. This is often overlooked in a way that this topic should not even be
argued (G.Banares, 2018). Coming out of the closet is probably one of the hardest things a lesbian, gay,
bisexual or transgender has to do. Whether he or she can be accepted by the family, by the church or by
the people he or she works with plays an important part in shaping their lives. Years have passed, times
have changed, laws have been consequently filed and yet homophobia, transphobia and discrimination
against the members of the LGBT community still remain to be a global phenomenon. Such
discrimination is underpinned by the idea that heterosexuality is the only “normal” sexual orientation
and that each sex plays a specific role in life (gender roles).
The SOGIE (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity or Expression) 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 bill does not affect religious beliefs,
does not oppress other people’s rights as it is an anti-oppression bill, and does not legalize same-sex
marriages. The advocacy helps to end gender-based discrimination and recommends the passage of an
anti-discrimination bill that prohibits discriminatory practices based on SOGIE. The enactment of such
law is deemed necessary towards ending all forms of gender discrimination, and the achievement of
gender equality
BODY
The Philippines may be one of the most gay-friendly countries in the world, but the results of a
recent survey indicated that three of five Filipinos oppose the civil union of same-sex couples. A survey
conducted by Social Weather Stations (SWS) from March 23 to March 27, showed that nationwide, 61
percent of the 1,200 respondents were against legalizing the civil union of two men or two women.
Forty-four percent strongly disagreed with such a law, while 17 percent somewhat disagreed.
Persons with diverse sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGIE) experience abuse and violence
(ranging from subtle jokes to extreme forms of stigma and assault) from their families, neighbors,
educational/training institutions and even from government institutions. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and
Transgender (LGBT) people also experience lost economic opportunities due to discrimination in
employment such as being required to wear clothes according to their sex-assigned at birth as condition
for hiring and outright refusal to hire applicants on the ground of their SOGI. Prejudicial attitudes of
some law enforcers and service providers towards LGBT people deter them from reporting cases of
According to the Philippine LGBT Hate Crime Watch research6 on violence against the LGBT population
in the Philippines, around 141 deaths of LGBTs with varying elements of motives of hate or bias,
extrajudicial killing, and/or discrimination-related violence related to sexual orientation and gender
identity have been documented in media mass media reports and oral testimonies since 1996.
Section 3 of Republic Act 9710 otherwise known as the Magna Carta of Women (MCW) provides that all
individuals are equal as human beings by virtue of the inherent dignity of each human person. No one
should therefore suffer discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, gender, age, language, sexual
orientation, race, color, religion, political or other opinion, national, social or geographical origin,
full respect for human rights” (Article II, Section 11). It also guarantees every person the right to life,
security of person and privacy, right to be free from torture, arbitrary arrest and detention, the right to
be free from discrimination and the right to freedom of expression, and the right to organize
Civil Service Commission Memorandum Circular No. 29-2010 prohibits discrimination against LGBT
people applying for civil service examinations. In addition, the CSC’s Revised Policies on Merit and
Promotion plan include a provision that inhibits discrimination in the selection of employees based on
Recently, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) issued a Memorandum
respecting the right of persons of diverse SOGIE to wear uniform of their preferred sexual orientation
SOGIE Bill or Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression Equality Bill is meant to fulfill the
rights outlined in the 1987 constitution, particularly the equal protection clause. In my point of view, the
proposed bill is quite good for it serves as a leap from our traditional way sand perspectives. In line with
this, I am in favor of turning SOGIE Bill into law. Since the primary focus of the said bill is equality, they
are part of our society as well. The community of LGBTQIA++ does not seem to have a negative impact
On the other hand, some religious people who tend to disagree with this concept is a separate matter.
However, the said community continues to wish for their understanding. All people sin. Therefore, we
could not easily conclude and point that LGBTQIA++ individuals have committed a grave sin. These
individuals are just like us, wanting to belong in society. What has been written in the scriptures are
true– homosexuality is as sin. However, such a bill does not encourage these people to sin but to protect
those people who still seemed to be confused with their identity, still puzzled – just like us. It would
always depend on whether the person takes delight into lustful activities with people that they hardly
know. For your body is the temple of God, therefore it is a sin engage in such activities
In the end, we should not condemn anyone, even though they belong to LGBTQIA++community or not.
What we must do is condemn the act and not the person to show love and support for them. No doubt
God sees everything, and every injustice will not go unpunished. He is love and firm as well
REFERENCES
https://www.scribd.com/document/418304434/Sexual-Orientation-and-Gender-Identity-Expression-
Equality-Bill
https://www.scribd.com/document/374042611/Gender-Matters-Philippines-Political-Economy-on-
Gender-Issues