Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 15) – The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Thursday called on Congress to uphold the life and dignity of marginalized Filipinos by passing the sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or sex characteristics (SOGIESC) equality bill.
“In observance of the Pride Month, we hope to see concrete and serious strides in advancing the plight of the LGBTQI sector through the swift progress of the equality bill,” the CHR said in a statement.
The consolidated SOGIESC bill was approved in the House Committee on Women and Gender Equality on May 24.
But the Senate version of the bill was reverted back to Sen. Joel Villanueva’s Committee on Rules after hurdling the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality in December 2022.
Villanueva previously stated that the SOGIESC bill is not considered a priority measure in the Senate.
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The CHR, meanwhile, said the vulnerability of LGBTQI community to different kinds of discrimination is more pronounced without a specific legislation that protect against it.
“For as long a segment of the population continues to face discrimination, creating a safe and enabling environment for all cannot be genuinely attained,” it added.
The commission also expressed its willingness to work with lawmakers on how to better address issues on the “needed and long overdue” equality bill.
