Transgender lawmaker pushes anti-discrimination bill in Senate
In this Saturday, June 21, 2014 file photo, gay activists take part in a parade in Thessaloniki, Greece, during the third Thessaloniki Pride festival. AP
As the world celebrates Women’s month this March, Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman went to the Senate on Monday and called on senators to open their hearts to the anti-discrimination bill.
Speaking during the Senate’s flag raising ceremony, Roman pushed for the passage of women’s right measures and of a bill penalizing all forms of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and expression (SOGIE).
In the House of Representatives, she said, 150 members have already signed as co-authors of the SOGIE bill.
Roman , the first transgender congresswoman in the country, believes that her entry in the political aren was a factor why the measure was gaining ground in the lower chamber.
“Kaya ako po ay nanawagan sa mga kasamahan ko po dito sa upper house, sa Senado, kung kami sa lower house ay nagbukas po ng aming mga isipan, ng aming mga puso upang isaalang-alang ang mga karapatan ng ating kapwa tao na nagkataon lamang na mga LGBT members, kung kami po ay nagbukas ng aming mga puso sa ating mga kapamilya, sa ating mga kapatid, mga kapitbahay mga estudyante, mga kaklase na nagkataon lamang na LGBT community, tinatanong ko po ang aking mga kasamahan dito sa Senado, ano pa po ang hinihitay nyo? Ano pa po ang naghahadlang sa inyo upang ipasa ang isang batas na matagal ng hinihintay ng sambayanang Pilipino?” she asked.
“Marami po ang nagsasabi, iilan lang naman ang LGBT community pero hindi po yan tamang dahilan upang hadlangan ang pagpasa ng panukalang batas na ito. Konti man o marami, ang mahalaga po ay ipinagtatanggol natin ang karapatan ng bawat isa, whether in the minority, whether in the marginalized sector of the society, kahit po nasa laylayan, lahat po ay dapat nating ipagtanggol bilang mambabatas,” the congresswoman added.
Roman also noted that the anti-discrimination bill had already been identified by President Rodrigo Duterte and Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez as one of the priority bills of this administration. CBB
