Hontiveros: Isn’t passing SOGIE bill a Christian thing to do?

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday implored her colleagues to support a bill seeking to prohibit and sanction discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC).

"Hindi dapat mangamba tayong mga relihiyoso. Because this proposed legislation will govern matters of the state. Hindi nito babaguhin ang paniniwala ng simbahan o ang mga turo ng bibliya. Kagaya na rin nang sabi ni Pope Francis, 'LGBTQ people are children of God,'" Hontiveros said as she sponsored the committee report for Senate Bill No. 1934.

"Tayo pa bang mga relihiyoso ang magsasara ng ating mga puso at isipan? Hindi ba’t compassion at kindness ang mga pangunahing tinuturo ng simbahan? Isn’t passing the SOGIE Equality Bill a Christian thing to do?" she added.

A vocal ally of the LGBTQ community, Hontiveros urged her colleagues to stand up against discrimination and fight for equality, stressing that the SOGIE bill has been left to gather dust in the legislative mill since the 11th Congress.

"This Christmas season, as we celebrate the Holy Family and the birth of the little Lord Jesus, let us take time to remember all those who were told, 'There is no place at the inn.' Let us be their shepherds and their angels—as we should always be for the least, the lost and the last," she said.

Among the long list of prohibited acts under the bill are the promotion of stigma on the basis of SOGIESC in the media, educational books, and other medium; and the inclusion of sexual orientation in the criteria for hiring and promotion.

The bill also prohibits preventing a child under parental authority, custody, or guardianship from expressing one's preferred SOGIESC by inflicting or threatening to inflict harm, or causing mental and emotional suffering.

Hontiveros said parents should look at the bigger picture on the intention of the bill.

"Hindi ba’t mas nais natin makita ang ating mga anak sa isang lipunang hindi mapanghusga? Na kung anuman ang nais nilang pasuking propesyon o trabaho ay walang magsasabing 'hindi kami tumatanggap ng bakla'...na kaya nilang makamit ang kanilang mga pangarap at anumang hangarin na walang magsasabing, 'anak, hanggang dito ka lang,'" the senator said.

She also reiterated that the bill is not asking for special rights as everyone has their own sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression.

"Lahat tayo ay kasamang mapoprotektahan nang batas na ito. Ang sinasabi lang natin, straight ka mang lalake o babae, bakla, lesbyana, bisexual, transgender o queer, lahat tayo ay may ambag sa lipunan, lahat tayo pantay-pantay," she said.

Violators of the proposed law would be sanctioned with a fine of not less than P500,000 but not more than P1 million at the discretion of the court.

In addition, the court may also impose community service through attendance in human rights and SOGIESC education, among others.

Last year, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said there is "no chance" that a SOGIE bill would secure the approval of the upper chamber.

The Senate can approve an anti-discrimination bill but not one that is focused on members of the LGBTQ community, he said. — BM, GMA News