“OPEN LETTER TO SOGIE BILL”

This letter is made to express my personal opinion regarding the SOGIE Bill.
Since its revival after the death of the late senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, the bill
has become a melting pot of criticism with regards to its constitutionality and how will it
impact our society. As I read the provisions of the SOGIE Bill, the first thing I notice is
the lack of definition of the LGBTQ which in my opinion should be an indispensible part
of this bill.

LGBTQ which stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer
should be clearly defined on the said bill so it could classify the people who are entitled
to the rights provided by the said bill. Without these definitions the bill if it becomes a
law would be prone to abuse such in the recent case of Gretchen Diez, the transgender
woman who insisted that she has the right to use the female’s restroom because she is
a transwoman. Eventhough, Gretchen claimed that she has the right to use their
restroom, the women believe otherwise and demanded that she escorted out of the
facility. The case resulted to the termination of the janitress who had just been
requested by a random woman to ask Gretchen not to use the restroom because some
of them are uncomfortable with her around.

It should be noted that the rights of others should not be affected if the SOGIE
Bill would take effect. And the rights of our heterosexual brothers and sisters should
also be taken into account in modifying this bill or better yet amend the existing laws to
give more protection to the LGBTQ community such as the anti bullying law. The said
law could impose harsher punishment to those that could be found guilty of bullying
someone because of his or her gender.

Lastly, if SOGIE Bill would become a law in the not so distant future it should be
strictly enforce The government should know how to identify each of the member of the
LGBTQ community because this law would be vulnerable to abuse by those people who
intends to use this law as an excuse to execute their immoral or malicious intent.