SOGIE BILL | CHR urges Congress to approach SOGIE equality bill with ‘open mind’

June 15, 2023 , 07:40 PM

By Clarist Zablan

(June 15, 2023) – The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Tuesday urged the Congress to keep an “open mind” in deliberating a pending measure on prohibiting discrimination based on gender and sexuality, stressing a need to uphold equality.

In a statement, the constitutional body said legislators must view the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender Expression, or Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) Equality Bill with consideration to the government’s obligation to be “unwavering in pushing for genuine equality in rights and dignity in our society.”

“The Commission urges the members of both the Senate and the House of Representatives to approach the bill with an open mind, seek to recognise its importance, and prompt for its continued deliberation,” the CHR said in a statement.

Progressive groups have reiterated their calls for the passage of the SOGIE Equality Bill in commemoration of Pride Month this June.

The proposed anti-discrimination law, which seeks to penalize acts such as denying public services from a person on the basis of their gender and sexuality, has faced setbacks since it was first introduced in Congress in 2004 amid opposition from religious groups.

A Lower House panel approved a consolidated version of the SOGIESC Equality Bill last month, which advocacy organizations lauded as a step forward in ending discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community.

The measure has also been approved in the Senate at the committee level. But it failed to reach the plenary after Majority Leader Joel Villanueva pushed to remand its committee report to his rules panel, citing demands from pastors to debate on the bill further.

The CHR said the measure’s passage is “urgently needed and long overdue,” and it hopes its passage in the Lower House is a sign that the bill is progressing towards becoming law.

“In observance of the Pride Month, we hope to see concrete and serious strides in advancing the plight of the LGBTQI sector through the swift progress of the equality bill,” the CHR said.

“In line with the State’s duty to continuously uphold the life and dignity of its people, particularly the marginalised ones, it is crucial that both chambers of Congress see the bill to its fruition. A crucial facet of democracy is to recognise and celebrate the diversity of all individuals.”

(MM)

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Reliance corner Sheridan Streets
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