Sotto clarifies: Senate won’t pass SOGIE bill if...

Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III on Thursday added a precondition to his statement that the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) Equality bill has no chance of passing the upper chamber of the Congress.

"It has no chance of passing in the Senate 'IF' it transgresses on academic freedom, religious freedom and women’s rights," Sotto said.

Earlier, he said that the Senate could pass an anti-discrimination bill but not one that is focused on members of the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community).

"Anti-discrimination on persons pwede. Pero focused on gays, which the SOGIE bill is, and religious and academic freedom impeded plus smuggling of same sex marriage? No chance!" he said.

Focus on the SOGIE Equality Bill has been renewed after a transgender woman, Gretchen Diez, was handcuffed and brought to the police after being barred from using the women's restroom in a Quezon City  mall last week. — Dona Magsino/BM, GMA News