MANILA, Philippines — Youth group Kabataan party-list challenged the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to prioritize the passage of the SOGIESC equality bill — a legislation being pushed to prohibit the discrimination of people's sexual orientation, gender identity and expression.
The youth group released the statement Saturday, on the day of the LGBTQIA+ community's "Pride" protests nationwide, an annual event forwarding the interests of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, etc. peoples in the Philippines.
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"There is no pride in the Marcos Jr. administration's misprioritization of policies for in favor of the passage of bills that serve to ensure their own hold on power by silencing the youth and plundering and profiteering off public funds," said the group.
"In the first place, we should recognize that the equality of genders is natural to Filipino culture and history before the spanish colonization. The SOGIESC Bill is not demonic, anti-Filipino or a foreign manipulation."
LGBT and gender rights advocates have successfully foiled attempts to kill the SOGIESC equality bill before the committee level in the House of Representatives.
The said legislation last May hurdled the House commitee on women and gender sexuality, even finding support from Vice President Sara Duterte.
"However, this is a sluggish pace compared to how admin-sponsored bills have hurdled Congress proceedings. Measures like the revival of the Mandatory ROTC Program and the Maharlika Investment Scam have already breezed through Batasan at the flick of Marcos Jr.'s orders," Kabataan said.
"[I]t is our nationalist duty to stop discrimination across gender, race, age and class for all Filipinos as espoused in our constitution."
"If the Marcos Jr. administration refuses to heed this duty and cause further inequality, LGBTQ+ youth along with many more Filipino youth will take on the challenge. Together, we will fight to win our rights, in the end, not for our own selfish love but for our nation and the future generations," it added.
The current House legislation consolidates the eight bills seeking to protect individuals “at greater risk of experiencing human rights violations on the basis of SOGIESC,” which includes those with diverse SOGIESC who are from marginalized communities, such as persons with disabilities, persons of low socio-economic status, children poor, persons with indigenous peoples, among others.
Its counterpart, Senate Bill 1600, was filed by Sen. Risa Hontiveros, Sen. Loren Legarda and Mark Villar. It is currently pending on second reading.
It could be remembered that the father-and-son duo of preacher Rep. Eddie Villanueva (CIBAC party-list) and Senate Majority Joel Villanueva deployed parallel parliamentary tactics in delaying proposals that seek to prohibit discrimination on the basis of SOGIE last February.
The Philippines is a predominantly Catholic and Christian country, with many religious leaders and politicians pushing against the passage of the bill due to their view that the practice of homosexuality is a sin.