Faith factor delays Sogie bill in Senate | Inquirer News

Faith factor delays Sogie bill in Senate

By: - Reporter / @DYGalvezINQ
/ 06:09 PM February 08, 2023

The concern of some religious groups has set back the progress of the bill seeking to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression (Sogie).

Sen. Joel Villanueva and Sen. Risa Hontiveros during a hearing in the Senate in this file photo taken on August 2018. INQUIRER file photo / LYN RILLON

MANILA, Philippines — The outcry from certain religious factions has hindered the advancement of a proposed bill that intends to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression (Sogie).

Senator Risa Hontiveros revealed during a Senate session on Wednesday that she’s eager to sponsor the bill on the plenary in December 2022, but it’s currently in a “kind of suspension or limbo.”

Article continues after this advertisement

Hontiveros said she was looking forward to the bill being referred to the committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality which she chairs after she heard that some religious groups want to join in on the hearings.

FEATURED STORIES

“Today, I am still waiting for it to be remanded. I have no illusions that the bill will sail through this chamber quickly, and I am ready to defend it on the floor as a sponsor defends any bill — with arguments and logic,” she said.

“What I was not ready for was for this bill to be in this kind of suspension or limbo,” Hontiveros added.

Article continues after this advertisement

In response, Majority Leader Joel Villanueva revealed that he has received letters from religious groups saying they were not consulted on the Sogie bill. As a result, Villanueva spoke with various senators about potential options, stressing that it is not limited to returning the measure to the original committee.

Article continues after this advertisement

In particular, Villanueva mentioned Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, who said to “wait for a bit because he wanted to come up with a holistic approach” to the proposed law.

Article continues after this advertisement

The Senate Majority Leader suggested sending the bill to the Senate committee on rules for further study, but Hontiveros objected.

At that point, the Senate voted to send the matter back to the rules committee.

Article continues after this advertisement

RELATED STORIES:

Terrible misconceptions: Why we need the Sogie Equality Bill

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Villanueva halts House hearing on Sogie bills; calls it ‘illegal’ due to forum shopping 

JPV/abc
TAGS: Senate, SOGIE, SOGIE bill

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.