Vice President Sara Duterte (Photo from her Facebook page)
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte on Friday showed support for the proposed Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender Expression, or Sex Characteristics (Sogiesc) bill, which has been debated upon in Congress for more than two decades.
During the Office of the Vice President’s first ever Pride Reception, Duterte recognized that the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex (LGBTQI+) community has faced many struggles.
“While we wait patiently for the passage of the [Sogiesc] bill, ang sasabihin ko nalang ay good things take time. But we have advocates in the government kasama na ako na sumusuporta sa batas ng proteksyon,” said Duterte during the Reception.
(While we wait patiently for the passage of the Sogiesc bill, all I have to say is that good things take time. But we have advocates in the government, I am included in those who support laws of protection.)
Duterte had extended livelihood assistance to different queer groups, saying that she hoped to see successful startup businesses from them.
“Let us continue to press on in our shared cause for gender equality and social empowerment through avenues that will promote entrepreneurial collaboration and advancement across diverse socio-economic industries,” said Duterte.
For the 19th Congress, the Sogiesc bill has passed the committee level in the House of Representatives.
However in the Senate, the bill suffered a setback after it was returned to the rules committee panel, headed by Senate Majority Leader Joel Villauneva. This was despite the bill securing approval from the higher chamber’s committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality.