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VOTING 198–0

House OKs SOGIE Equality Bill on final reading


The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved on third and final reading a measure that would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression (SOGIE).

With a vote of 198 in the affirmative and zero in the negative, the chamber approved House Bill 4982, otherwise known as the SOGIE Equality Bill.

The bill seeks to eliminate discriminatory practices based on sex and SOGIE by proscribing and penalizing several acts.

This includes denial of access to public services, refusal of admission to educational institutions or groups, harassment, coercion and threats, among others.

Individuals who will commit discriminatory acts will be slapped with penalty of not less than P100,000 but not more than P500,000 or imprisonment of not less than one year but not more than six years, at the court's discretion.

Aside from this, the court may also impose upon those who commit the prohibited acts the rendition of community service in the form of attendance in human rights education's familiarization with and exposure to the plight of the victims.

In explaining her vote, Dinagat Island Representative Kaka Bag-ao said the fight for equality is a fight of every Filipino.

"Ang laban po para sa pagkakapantay-pantay ay laban ng lahat. At sa laban pong ito, ang puhunan po natin ay pagmamahal sa ating kapwa at pag-asa para sa isang lipunang mas makatarungan, mas bukas, at mas pantay," she said.

Bag-ao, one of the principal authors of the bill, also thanked House members from the 15th to the 17th Congress who joined their campaign to pass the measure.

Gabriela Women's Party Representative Arlene Brosas, for her part, said her representation recognizes the misconceptions towards the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community and the public perception that prohibit them from exercising their rights.

"The proposed measure is the assertion of the LGBT community, not for additional or special rights, but putting forward the recognition of same rights enjoyed by heterosexual individuals as stipulated in the law that are denied by individual and institutional practices," she said.

Meanwhile, Bayan Muna party-list Representative Carlos Zarate, stressed the need for the bill to end discrimination against the LGBT community.

"Ang mga prejudicial practices and policies ay kalakhan hindi naisusulat at isinisiwalat pero ito ay pinapairal sa mga paaralan, sa mga opisina, sa mga institusyong publiko at pribado, at iba pa," he said.

"Kaya naman, mahigpit ang pangangailangan na magkaroon ng batas na kikilala sa karapatan ng mga LGBT at magpaparusa sa mga lalabag rito. Ito ay hindi paggawa ng espesyal o karagdagang karapatan: ito ay pagkilala na mayroong pantay na karapatan ang mga LGBT tulad ng iba pang mamamayan," he added.

As he ended his speech, Zarate even chanted: "Makibeki, wag ma-shokot! Labanan ang diskriminasyon at pang-aapi!"

The Senate's version of the bill, on the other hand, is still pending for second reading approval.. — BM/BAP, GMA News

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