The Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics Equality Bill got a boost on 6 December. From eight signatures in the 18th Congress of the Philippines, 19 senators during the current 19th Congress signed the committee report on the bill, approving it on the senate committee level.

Committee Report No. 15 was submitted by Senator Risa Hontiveros, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality.

"I am ecstatic that 19 of us colleagues in the Senate have come together to support the SOGIESC Bill. Sa isang araw lang, nahikayat natin sila na pumirma sa committee report. Mas lalo akong nabuhayan ng loob na sa Kongresong ito, maipapasa na sa wakas ang SOGIESC bill (I am more optimistic about this congress, that the SOGIESC bill will be finally passed)," said the long-time LGBTQ+ ally and a rare opposition lawmaker.

The bill, which mandates the state to address all forms of discrimination and violence on the basis of SOGIESC not only of LGBTQ+ persons but also of heterosexual persons, has been languishing in both congress and senate for more than 20 years now.

Hontiveros expressed gratitude to the senators who signed — Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel, Sonny Angara, Imee R. Marcos, Cynthia Villar, Nancy Binay, Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, Grace Poe, Mark Villar, Francis Tolentino, JV Ejercito, Robinhood Padilla, Raffy Tulfo, Jinggoy Estrada, Lito Lapid, Chiz Escudero, Loren Legarda, Bong Go, and Bong Revilla.

The rest of the 24 senators — Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, Pia Cayetano, Allan Peter Cayetano and Sherwin Gatchalian — did not sign, signed with reservations or have stated that they will interpellate.

"The swiftness with which the committee report was signed and filed is surely a sign of good things to come. Umaasa ako na tuloy-tuloy na ang pag-usad ng bill na ito para ipakita at iparamdam na tunay na kasangga ng LGBTQIA+ community ang ating Senado (I am hoping that the bill will continuously prosper so that we can show the LGBTQIA+ community and make them feel that the Senate is their ally)," Hontiveros said.

Prohibiting discrimination
The bill prohibits discriminatory practices such as refusing admission to or expelling a person from any educational or training institution, imposing disciplinary sanctions harsher than customary that infringe on the rights of students, and refusing or revoking accreditation of organizations, groups, political parties, or institutions, among others. It also penalizes those who deny a person access to emergency and/or necessary health services on the basis of the person's SOGIESC.

The penalties include a fine of not less than P100,000, but not more than P250,000 or imprisonment of not less than one year, but not more than six years.

Those who refuse medical and health services based on SOGIESC can be penalized with a fine of not less than P100,000, but not more than P300,000, or imprisonment of not less than six months, but not more than two years and four months.

"Isa sa pinakamahalagang ginagawa ng SOGIESC bill ay pagsigurado na ang bawat Filipino, kahit anuman ang kasarian, ay makakatanggap ng karampatang serbisyong medikal kapag kinakailangan.
Nakapanlulumo ang mga kuwento ng mga miyembro ng LGBTQIA na pinagkakaitan ng medical services dahil lang sa kanilang kasarian. This is flat out discrimination (One of the most important aim of the SOGIESC bill is to ensure that each Filipino, whatever gender they identify with, will receive apt medical services when needed. It is very disheartening to hear stories of LGBTQIA members being denied medical services because of their gender)," Hontiveros revealed.

The SOGIESC Bill also explicitly states that nothing in the law should be interpreted to disturb the exercise of parental authority or academic freedom.

"The SOGIESC Bill's message is clear: our country should not tolerate any act of discrimination. Buhay at hanapbuhay ang ipinagkakait natin sa mga miyembro ng LGBTQIA+ nang dahil lang sa mga paniniwala at tradisyong kailangang iwasto. 2022 na ( We are denying LGBTQIA+ members their lives and livelihoods just because of beliefs and traditions that needed to be corrected. It's already 2022), our laws should reflect the realities of our culture," Hontiveros said.

LGBTQ+ groups welcome approval
Numerous LGBTQ+ organizations all over the country applauded this positive development.

"We are very thankful for the undying support of our working ally in the senate, Sen. Risa Hontiveros together with her colleagues. A big step in reclaiming inclusive and safe civic spaces in diverse communities," said Tagoloan Gender Advocacy Group or TAGAD of Misamis Oriental.

On the other hand, the Tamaraw Alliance of LGBTQIA+ Advocates of Far Eastern University High School or FEUHS TALA explained: "Each of us has SOGIE and we need to understand why the SOGIE Equality Bill needs to be signed into law to ensure that people are shielded from violence, abuse, and dehumanization. It is not about receiving special care to try to stop abuse. It has to do with the need to have our humanity honored."

"It has been 22 years too long! Now more than ever, we need the passage of the SOGIESC Equality Bill! Together, let's end discrimination and fight for equality!" emphasized UP Babaylan, the pioneering LGBTQ+ group of University of the Philippines.

Lakapati Laguna lauds the approval of the report, saying, "As the SOGIESC Equality Bill moves up to another step, the Filipino people must continue amplifying the loud clamor for its immediate passage. Protect people of diverse SOGIESC! Uphold human rights!"