Geraldine Roman answers social media comments against SOGIE Bill, says it is not 'anti-family'

In a House committee hearing on Wednesday, Bataan 1st District Representative Geraldine Roman answered social media comments about the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Expression (SOGIE) Equality Bill.

"Number one, the SOGIE Equality Bill is an anti-discrimination bill. It is not a same-sex marriage bill. Uulitin ko, it is not a same-sex marriage bill," the committee vice chair clarified.

Roman remarked that SOGIE "is not a gender recognition bill that will allow us to change our legal markers. It is a totally different issue." Neither is it about civil union, same-sex marriage, or civil partnership, she clarified.

Roman said "it hurts me as a catholic to see comments on FB  live [saying] SOGIE Equality Bill is anti-family."

She continued and cited Pope Francis voicing out his support for same-sex civil unions.

"Malinaw na po na sinabi ng ating mahal Santo Papa. Papa Francisco that LGBT people deserve to have families and be in families and that they should not be shunned away, or ostracized, or marginalized," she added.

According to the lawmaker, it was precisely because of the discrimination that the LGBT+ community experiences that Pope Francis suggested legal measures like civil unions and partnerships. "But may nag-point po diyan that the equality bill is anti-family. It hurts me." 

Roman said those who are attacking the bill should "take into consideration na napakaraming LGBT na po ang nag-susuporta sak anilang pamilya."

"Nag-aasawa po ang mga kapatid nila eh... Napakarami pong kontribusyon ng LGBT sa ating lipunan. They are in favor of our families. This bill will not redefine what a family is," she added.

Roman said those who accuse and go against the "very positive and welcome legislative measures is anti-family."

She suggest they read the bill "instead of just repeating like a mantra na para kayong mga trolls na ito ay anti-family."

"Yes to SOGIE Equality bill. Yes to family. Dahil bahagi rin po kami ng mga pamilya. Bahagi po kami ng lipunan," she said.

At the vote of 20-32, the House moved to adopt the third reading copy of the 17th congress of the working draft SOGIE Bill. — LA, GMA News