A bill recently filed by a congressman has been widely slammed and criticized. Representative Bienvenido "Benny" Abante from the sixth district of Manila filed House Bill 5717 or The Heterosexual Act of 2022 in the House of Representatives on 26 October. The proposed law seeks to recognize, define and protect the rights of heterosexual persons, including their views on and beliefs on the LGBTQ+ persons as well as the expressions of these beliefs, among other things.

"Heterosexuals should be respected and protected," he said, believing that they "are actual and direct creations of God."

An evangelical pastor, Abante also supports the reinstatement of the death penalty.

The reactions, especially on social media, are quick and scathing, particularly from the LGBTQ+ community and allies.

Reyna Valmores deems the bill "a pathetic joke of a law, clearly drafted to mock those advocating for gender equality.

"It is a waste of resources, space, and precious time better spent affirmatively addressing actual concerns of Filipinos facing discrimination and violence," she highlighted.

"The reality is, it is overwhelmingly women and LGBTQIA+ persons who are persecuted in a patriarchal, macho society like ours," the LGBTQ+ activist and chair of the LGBTQ+ group Bahaghari explained. "Kaya wala pong pakinabang ang isang batas na 'for heterosexuals' given that heterosexual o straight ang matagal nang tinitingnan bilang 'normal.'"

On the other hand, transgender woman TV personality and comedian KaladKaren wrote on Twitter (@jervijervi): "Again, giving equal rights to the LGBTQIA+ community does not mean fewer rights for others. It's not a pie. How can they grant this 'Heterosexual Act' when heteros aren't really oppressed? Ang galeng."

"Uhm. Benny Abante trying to protect the rights of the OPPRESSOR. What is there to protect when you have ALL the privilege? THIS IS A BILL TO EMPOWER DISCRIMINATION AND BIGOTRY. Ito ang tunay na imoral at hindi makatao," exclaimed drag performer Eva Le Queen on Twitter (@eva_lequeen)

Trans activist and beauty queen Mela Franco Habijan addressed Abante on her Twitter account (@MissMelaHabijan), saying, "ITIGIL NA PO NATIN ANG INYONG KASAMAAN (Stop your evil)! Stop with your lies that God hates us and that we are wrong and lost souls. Stop pushing us to denounce our identities. Stop pushing us away from God. WE, NOW, KNOW BETTER!"

For human rights lawyer Chel Diokno, the proposed bill "only serves to legitimize the very real oppression experienced by LGBTQIA Filipinos now."

"Ang bill na ito ay nagbubulag-bulagan sa mga naranasang araw araw na tinatanggihan ng serbisyo o tinatanggalan ng oportunidad sa eduksyon at trabaho dahil lang sa kanilang sexual orientation o gender identity/expression," he said on his Twitter account (@ChelDiokno). "Ginagawa nitong legal ang pagkait ng dignidad ng ibang tao. Anuman ang ating pinaniniwalaan, magkakasundo naman siguro tayong mali ito. Imbis nitong bill, dapat isabatas na ang SOGIE Law.

PANTAY (Philippine Anti-Discrimination Alliance of Youth Leaders) asked why heterosexual people now need "special rights?"

"Rep. Abante, staunch opposition to LGBTQ+ rights, has always portrayed it as a 'class legislation' as it gives 'special rights to certain people,'" the group explained. "The Heterosexual Act, for the heterosexuals who are not even marginalized, mocks the everyday marginalization that the LGBTQ+ community confronts. This only stresses the need for the SOGIE Equality Bill, which has been on the back burner for more than 20 years.

The organization said they propose "the prioritization of equality legislation, the SOGIE Equality Bill, which seeks to protect the rights of ALL Filipinos, regardless of their SOGIE. Fun fact: heterosexuals have SOGIE too," and is asking "Rep. Abante to instead take part in our call for the passage of the pending SOGIE Equality Bill in the 19th Congress.

"A separate bill will not do anything but further divide the Filipino people and it contradicts the ideals of equality for all," they concluded.