Senator Risa Hontiveros mentioned it was “sheer numbness” to say that the proposed Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) invoice just isn’t pressing.
The sponsor of the SOGIESC invoice made the assertion a day after Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva mentioned there was no urgency within the passage of the measure, saying an anti-discrimination invoice ought to cowl all sectors of society.
“‘Yung Maharlika Bill nga na isang beses lang inihain sa Senado, na hindi naman kailangan sa ngayon, naipasa agad. Bakit yung SOGIE invoice na napakatagal nang nandiyan, hinaharangan?” Hontiveros mentioned.
“Dalawang dekada na walang proteksyon ang ating mga kababayang miyembro ng LGBTQ+ community. Let us not forget that they are our fellow human beings and citizens, too,” she added.
Hontiveros mentioned the measure was mandatory as there are people who’re nonetheless being discriminated towards as a consequence of their gender id and sexual orientation.
“Bigyan natin ng hustisya ang ating mga kababayang hindi malayang nakakapamuhay dahil lang sa kasarian nila. Paulit-ulit sa balita ang mga mag-aaral na nabubully dahil sa kanilang SOGIE, mga napagkakaitan ng serbisyong medikal, at hindi nakakakuha ng ganap na benepisyo sa trabaho dahil sa diskriminasyon,” Hontiveros mentioned.
She famous that the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF), which she mentioned just isn’t mandatory this time, was handed instantly by the chamber but the anti-discrimination invoice continues to be “languishing in Congress for over two decades.
“I expect that the bill will be allowed to go through the proper legislative process, according to the rules of the Senate. Yung Maharlika Bill nga na isang beses lang inihain sa Senado, na hindi naman kailangan sa ngayon, naipasa agad. Bakit yung SOGIE bill na napakatagal nang nandiyan, hinaharangan?” she went on.
“Dalawang dekada na walang proteksyon ang ating mga kababayang miyembro ng LGBTQ+ community. Let us not forget that they are our fellow human beings and citizens, too,” she added.
Responding to Hontiveros, Villanueva defined anew that a number of senators needed an anti-discrimination invoice that can cowl all sectors and never solely the LGBT.
“I love the LGBT community. [I] am super close to Paul Cabral, Boy Abunda, super proud hairdresser ko si Alex Carbonell for many many years! Who wants to be discriminated? Discrimination is pure evil! So let’s extend this right against discrimination to all sectors,” Villanueva mentioned in a Viber message to reporters.
“Ang lumalakad [nang] matulin, kung matinik ay malalim #JustSaying,” he added.
In December final 12 months, Hontiveros, chairperson of the Senate Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, launched Committee Report No. 15 underneath Senate Bill 1600 in substitution of three payments searching for to ban discrimination on the idea of SOGIESC.
However, it was not sponsored within the Senate plenary as a consequence of opposition from a number of spiritual teams and varied sectors. This prompted the physique to remand the committee report back to the committee of guidelines, which Villanueva chairs being the bulk chief.
SB 1600, or the SOGIESC Equality Bill, prohibits discriminatory practices on the idea of SOGIESC, reminiscent of refusing admission to or expelling an individual from any instructional or coaching establishment; imposing disciplinary sanctions harsher than customary that infringe on the rights of scholars; and refusing or revoking the accreditation of organizations, teams, political events, or establishments.
It recommends a penalty of not lower than P100,000 however no more than P250,000 or imprisonment of not lower than one 12 months however no more than six years for people who would commit such discriminatory practices. —NB, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
