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SOGIE (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression) Equality Bill

Gretchen Custodio Diez, a transgender woman, was arrested after being prevented from using the women's restroom at a mall in Quezon City, Philippines. She filmed the encounter with security staff who dragged her away. This highlighted the discrimination still faced by the LGBTQ community. The SOGIE Equality Bill was first introduced in 2000 to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. It would protect basic rights like access to facilities and prohibit unfair treatment in employment and education. However, the bill still needs to pass the Senate. The essence of the bill is to uphold basic rights for all and promote equal treatment, not add special rights.

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305 views

SOGIE (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression) Equality Bill

Gretchen Custodio Diez, a transgender woman, was arrested after being prevented from using the women's restroom at a mall in Quezon City, Philippines. She filmed the encounter with security staff who dragged her away. This highlighted the discrimination still faced by the LGBTQ community. The SOGIE Equality Bill was first introduced in 2000 to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. It would protect basic rights like access to facilities and prohibit unfair treatment in employment and education. However, the bill still needs to pass the Senate. The essence of the bill is to uphold basic rights for all and promote equal treatment, not add special rights.

Uploaded by

RedNinaAlexandra
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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SOGIE (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression) Equality

Bill

Despite of how colorful the LGBTQ’s flag, there is darkness within them that they experiencing. The One
named Gretchen Custodio Diez, a transwoman resurrected the development of equal rights.

Gretchen Custodio Diez, a transgender woman got arrested Tuesday, August 13, recounted how she
was prevented from using a women's restroom in a Cubao mall in Quezon City. She said she fell in line for
the women's restroom at around 1:30 pm inside Farmer's Market in Cubao when a janitress told her to step
out and go to the men's restroom instead. She fought back at first, and then restrained herself. As she started
walking away, she realized she had to do something. She decided to ask the janitress again why she was
not allowed in the women's restroom. She took a video of the encounter and this enraged the janitress, who
"dragged" her to the security room to have her arrested. She was detained by cops, cuffed and shamed. Diez
was brought from the mall to the Cubao police station. Police officers then brought her to the Quirino Memorial
Medical Center for her medical test, after which she was transferred to the Quezon City Police District's Anti-
Cybercrime Division in Camp Karingal. (source rappler.com)

The Philippines is one step closer to recognize the equal rights between LGBTQ+ and the society but,
how come? Not all people recognize the relevance of each rights and they are not aware about it. For the
rights of the LGBTQ+. There are anti-discrimination laws and basic rights that are filed and approved for
them. Year 2000 the SOGIE (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression) Equality Bill, also
known as the Anti-Discrimination Bill (ADB) came into the picture. It was filed first filed in Congress in 2000
by then-senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago and then-Akbayan party-list Representative Etta Rosales. In early
July 2019, Senator Sonny Angara introduced a new proposal to Congress. "Any form of discrimination
threatens social stability and economic progress in the Philippines, making it imperative that discrimination—
or any act that establishes, promotes and perpetuates standing inequalities and disregards the right to
'equality of treatment' afforded by the 1987 Constitution—be reduced", Angara argued. The measure would
prohibit unfair discrimination based on, among other categories, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity
and expression. But the bill, which is otherwise known as the SOGIE Equality Act, still has a long way to go
since it also needs to be hurdled in the Senate.

If I were given a chance to be asked or to have the will to approve the bill, I will not hesitate to approve
it. The essence of the SOGIE Equality Act is not actually to add special rights for the LGBTQ+. Rather, it’s
meant is to uphold their basic rights. Every person has the right to be treated equally no matter of how you
express yourself. The bill does not include the legalization of same sex marriage but it prohibits some facts
such as the unfairly treatment of the LGBTQ+ (Discrimination, Gender profiling, Denial to public services and
Refusing admission or dismissing individuals from work or school). If laws are not precise, discrimination
would even be worse as we are experiencing it now. Maybe with or without the law equality and respect
should be practiced not should be practiced only but it should be applied always wherever we go or what
state of life we are into. Why do I have to be in favor? It is simply I believe and I am aware of what everyone
should deserve. We should respect everyone with kindness like how we care with our selves. We should put
our selves to their situations to understand them of what they are experiencing. We should look into the other
side that they are the blessings of God that makes us happy and helps us in some ways. Make them feel
that the world is on their side despite of what they are experiencing. That is why I am in favor of the legalization
of the SOGIE Bill. In a simple way of agreeing I can contribute my respect, care and love for the LGBTQ
family.

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