Marcos urged to certify SOGIE bill as urgent

Various groups call on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to certify the SOGIE Equality bill as urgent in a press briefing in Quezon City. | PHOTO: Jean Mangaluz / INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has been urged by over 200 groups to certify the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender Expression, or Sex Characteristics (SOGIE) bill as urgent.

The move is an initiative of the Equality Alliance, which comprises groups from the grassroots and human rights sectors, businesses, youth organizations, LGBTQIA+ groups, and select government units.

“Mr. President, this is a love letter to make equality your legacy,” said the groups in their open letter to the President.

“We are national and community-based organizations, private sector representatives, youth groups, and religious formations from all over the country and the world strongly urging your administration to certify the SOGIE Equality Bill as urgent,” read the letter.

“The bill, once enacted into law, will protect everyone, especially persons of diverse SOGIE, from discrimination, bullying, and harassment, in line with the goals of Executive Order No. 51.”

According to the Equality Alliance, the law could also offer economic gains for the country.

“The bill, once enacted into law, will protect our country’s economy from the preventable costs of discrimination through inclusive workplaces. It will also improve LGBTIQ+ persons’ access to healthcare and education and enhance Filipino families’ quality of life,” the Equality Alliance said.

At present, the SOGIE Bill in the House of Representatives has only reached plenary discussions after a year at the committee level.

In the Senate, it was approved by the Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality level but is pending at the committee on rules.