Binay pushes for comprehensive anti-discrimination bill

Should there be a bill against discrimination based on skin color?

This was the question raised by Senator Nancy Binay on Wednesday as she called for the passage of a universal anti-discrimination bill instead of only one that covers sexual orientation and gender identity.

“Discrimination should cover everybody, not just gender. For example ako, I’ve been discriminated because of my color. Does that mean that I have to file a bill to protect people like me?” Binay said during the hearing on the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity or Expression (SOGIE) bill.

She said the discussion on discrimination should be more universal and more encompassing.

She said the SOGIE bill should be included in the anti-discrimination measure filed by Senator Juan Edgardo Angara.

“Siguro magandang tignan kung paano mahaharmonize, baka pwede ipasok sa bill na ‘yun itong SOGIE para hindi lang segmented ang concept of discrimination,” she said.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality chairperson, replied that she supports Angara's bill, saying that  it addresses various kinds of discrimination on different grounds and require different protection.

But she said there is still a need for a SOGIE bill.

“We are trying to see how they can complement each other but we continue to look at SOGIE equality bill to find particular protection against discrimination based particularly on SOGIE,” she said.

Meanwhile, Senate President Vicente Sotto III reiterated that SOGIE bill has no chance of passing the Senate.

"Lalabas ng committee 'yun sigurado. Sa plenary approval, very doubtful. Maraming kontra as it is. It is a class legislation," he said.

He added that a man will never be a woman.

“No matter what you do, because you cannot reproduce. You cannot give birth, you do not have ovaries. You will never be a woman. So this, to me, the SOGIE bill is a bill against women’s rights and it’s giving transgender rights, so it’s class legislation," he said. — BM, GMA News