Tolerance instead of acceptance promotes a dangerous precedent for people vulnerable to profiling, prejudice, and discrimination. Throughout the years, prejudice-based hate and harassment have plagued vulnerable demographics.
Many claim that the country fully embraces the LGBTQ community but when their experiences urge the call for equal rights, suddenly everyone becomes either quiet or questioning. The denial of access to preferred restrooms, taunting misgendering, imposition of dress codes, and impunity on gender-based crimes are just a few of the reasons making the need to raise the bar for equality imperative.
Now, after more than 20 years in the making to pass an anti-discrimination act that hurdled over Anti-SOGIE movements and weaponized religious reservations, the Philippines has finally taken the step to embrace the inclusivity and security that will open the doors to genuine acceptance.
Although the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender Expression, or Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) bill is an indicative celebration for everyone, the prevalence of disinformation continues to drive confusion among people and even legislators who mistake it as a facade for propaganda geared to deliver beyond addressing discrimination.
Funny that when the talk for legalizing a bill aimed at equality is brought to the table, people detached from the shoes of others begin quacking about religious references and "moral standards.”
To fully understand the grassroots of the bill, we must first delve into what it means, who it is for, and what it does for the Filipino community.
Filing, Fighting, and Finally Flourishing for Equality
The Anti-Discrimination or SOGIE equality bill was first filed in 2000 during the 11th Congress precisely initiating its goal to penalize discriminatory crimes to protect those attacked because of their sex, age, class, status, ethnicity, disability, religious and political beliefs, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
The more than two decades spent on the decision-making about the law is an unfortunate depiction of how much time was spent on lawmakers weighing the need to protect the victims of gender-based discrimination.
First pioneered by the late senator Miriam Defensor Santiago and former Akbayan representative Loretta Rosales, the bill went through extensive discussions and questioning. While the bill failed to go beyond the committee level until its eventual passing in its final reading in 2017, throughout the years, small initiatives and orders continued to pave the way for hope. It is the small achievements from the recognition of the bill for the general public and the involvement of local government units and agencies that sparked the imperative need for the bill to be taken seriously.
In 2013, former Laguna representative Sol Aragones introduced House Bill No. 2572, which would penalize LGBTQ hate crimes but unfortunately, the bill was not passed and was in the same stagnant state as the SOGIESC Bill.
In the following year, headlines of the murder of trans woman Jennifer Laude shook the nation and raised the question of the lack of urgency to pass not only the SOGIESC Bill but also transgender rights. Unfortunately, Laude's case is not the only story that moves the SOGIESC Bill to urgency. Many LGBTQ people first-hand experience direct discrimination because of their SOGIESC. While a demographic on the internet thinks it is funny to humorize the experiences of queer folks denied of services, access to their preferred restrooms, and even harassment in broad daylight—these remain unsettling realizations that equality is a dish only served to the cis folks.
In 2016, roughly almost 20 years after the bill's first filing, its first Senate version was filed and spearheaded by Senator Risa Hontiveros. From then, some senators and the Commission on Human Rights supported and backed the bill while some continued to come baffled. Three years later, in 2019, some lawmakers remained confused to the point of speaking unsolicited banters and statements, eventually generalizing that the bill has "no chance" and even suggesting that instead of addressing people by their preferred names or pronouns, we should just settle for "homo sapiens.”
The internalized prejudice among lawmakers is an alarming indication that beyond considering the welfare of the Filipino people, their own personal religious beliefs and masochism come first. As the House Panel cues the green light of the SOGIESC Equality Bill after consolidating House Bills No. 222, 460, 3418, 3702, 4277, 5551, 6003, and 7036—regardless of anyone's SOGIESC, no Filipino people can be denied justice against gender-based harassment and hate.
But what should we watch out for as follow-through?
Is the SOGIESC Bill for LGBTQIA+ Privilege?
Disinformation and online trolling have played significant contributions to subjecting the bill to false light. While the legalization of same-sex marriage has been closely attributed by some legislators pinning that the SOGIESC Bill authors and advocates are masking for underlying agendas, many have misunderstood what the bill truly seeks–ironically–most are driven by their internalized prejudice.
To claim that the SOGIESC Equality Bill is a step to provide “special rights” and “selective privilege” to members of the LGBTQIA+ community is a reaching conclusion, especially without further understanding that whether you are part of the community or not, everyone identifies to their preferred sexual orientation and gender identity. To get pressed because of an equality bill designed for everyone is also under terrible lighting. The bill does not cover the possibility of same-sex unions or marriages but for a movement aimed toward reaching a level of equality, there is truly still so much left to accomplish.
Realizing that there are vulnerable and marginalized communities and demographics in need of protection is the first step to actually understanding what the SOGIESC Bill stands for.
Surely, we all remember what then-senator Manny Pacquiao echoed in 2016 about same-sex couples being “mas masahol pa sa hayop.” This type of verbal bullying is a sad example of how often some cishets treat or talk to queer people who get shamed using a "biblical" basis.
Marginalized sectors are not asking for VIP treatments. In essence, what most are asking for is the dignity to be treated equally which constitutes a basic human right.
Now, the SOGIESC Equality Bill is not a step toward coddling those who experience prejudice-based discrimination; it exists to allow them to live through life in equal security as everyone else does. This should not come as a shocker but the bill is as inclusive and protective of everyone as it gets.
A Step Forward for Every Filipino
It is easy to be swayed to jump on the hate train against not only the LGBTQIA+ community but also other marginalized sectors, especially in an era where it is fairly easy to cower behind cold screens and act as bullies online. But even with the inspirations of the bill ignited by those who first-hand experience SOGIESC-driven prejudice, this equality bill is positioned exactly how it is termed.
This bill protects everyone from SOGIESC-based attacks motivating stigma and violence, denial of services and products, work and hiring discrimination, unlawful academic sanctions, and disruption of the freedom of one to express their truth. This bill allows people to live their lives without fearing for their security, without having to feel excluded from the protection under the law.
It has been a turmoil of a journey to reach this far. One can only imagine the consequences if the advocates, authors, and activists resigned after the first filing was denied. To celebrate the successful passing of the bill is to create a positive space in one's life where discrimination has no place.
As it goes, those comfortable in the system would logically feel no need to change it but the country is not the same as it was 20 long years ago and while some may find humor in what others understand as "wokeness,” we must still find it in ourselves to wake up and realize that this bill protecting our fellow does not equate to us being overlooked.
Relating a pop culture reference to the long history of the SOGIESC Bill, it was during Lady Gaga's 2012 Manila tour that then CHR chairwoman Loretta Anne Rosales resounded that in the bill of rights, Lady Gaga, a known LGBTQ advocate and popstar can hold a concert regardless of the protest from religious groups.
If people are free to enjoy religious freedom and other forms of liberty that characterize their truest selves, then why should others be barred from exercising the same freedom when it comes to themselves?
While the challenge continues, we must become a part of a collective call that heeds for the education of the general public regarding the SOGIESC Equality Bill. However, this should not be where things end: ignore the bigots who live with their hypocrisy as one must never forget that liberty should not conform to what was acceptable eons ago. The SOGIESC Bill is not a privilege handed to the LGBTQIA community but it is an accomplished achievement because their stories inspired a fight for equality.
In celebration of Pride Month, it is in us to remember every LGBTQIA fighter, survivor, and advocate who took their experiences and braved themselves to share stories that opened opportunities to discuss and do something than just dream. Say their names, share their stories, and show respect to everyone's SOGIESC.
Article: Sharona Nicole Semilla
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