SOGIE Equality Bill

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The Sexual Orientation and Gender

Identity and Expression Equality Bill
(SOGIE, Tagalog: ['sɔdʒi]), also known as
the Anti-Discrimination Bill (ADB), is a
proposed legislation of the Congress of
the Philippines. It is intended to prevent
various economic and public
accommodation-related acts of
discrimination against people based on
their sexual orientation, gender identity or
expression.[1] The current versions of the
bill are championed by Kaka Bag-ao,
Geraldine Roman, and Tom Villarin in the
House of Representatives, and Risa
Hontiveros in the Senate. The version in
the House of Representative passed its
third reading most recently on September
20, 2017, but died in the Senate.[2] It has
been refiled for the 18th Congress.

Legislative history
The bill was first filed in Congress in 2000
by then-senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago
and then-Akbayan party-list Representative
Etta Rosales, in which the bill passed 3rd
reading in the House but stalled in the
Senate. Similar measures were filed by
other senators in the 15th and 16th
congresses without success.[3] The bill
was re-filed by Defensor-Santiago in every
congressional period in the Senate until her
last term in 2016. The counterpart bill in
the House was also filed continuously by
the representatives of Akbayan party-list.

17th Congress

In 2017, House Bill No. 4982, sponsored by

Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao (the
principal author of the measure since her
first term), Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman,
Akbayan Party-List Rep. Tomas Villarin,
and several others, was not approved on
third and final reading for the first time
since 2001[4] with 198 members of the
House of Representatives voting for the
bill and none opposing it, a historic pro-
LGBT move from the House of
Representatives.[5]

The counterpart bill in the Senate, filed by

Senator Risa Hontiveros (the first Akbayan
senator), was in the period of
interpolations by May 2018. It is backed by
Senators Loren Legarda, Grace Poe, Nancy
Binay, Franklin Drilon, Bam Aquino, Chiz
Escudero, Ralph Recto, Sonny Angara, JV
Ejercito, Francis Pangilinan, Juan Miguel
Zubiri, and Leila de Lima, although de Lima
is barred from voting on the bill as she is
currently in police custody.[6][7] It was
opposed by Senators Tito Sotto, Manny
Pacquiao, Cynthia Villar, and Joel
Villanueva (who signed up as a co-author
of the bill).[8] Other senators such as Win
Gatchalian, Koko Pimentel, Antonio
Trillanes, Panfilo Lacson, and Richard J.
Gordon have not yet expressed their
support or rejection of the bill. Senator
Trillanes is currently facing cases that may
put him in jail, which may make him
ineligible to vote for the bill like senator De
Lima if ever he is arrested. Additionally,
Alan Peter Cayetano and Gregorio
Honasan no longer have voting rights on
Senate measures as they declined to be
part of the presidential cabinet.[9] All in all,
out of the existing 24 Senate seats: 12
seats support and can vote on the bill; 1
seat supports but cannot vote on the bill
(although the number may rise to 2); 4
seats oppose and can vote on the bill; 5
seats can vote on the bill but have not yet
given their positions on it (although the
number may be reduced to 5); and 2 seats
are de facto vacated.[9] For a bill to pass
the Senate, it needs a vote of 50% (12) of
the body, plus one (1) vote for a total of
thirteen (13) votes. The SOGIE Equality Bill
currently is supported by 12 seats that are
allowed to vote on the measure.[10]

The bill is also supported by the Catholic

student governments of University of the
Philippines-Diliman (UPD), Ateneo de
Manila University (ADMU), De La Salle
University(DLSU)-Manila, De La Salle -
College of St. Benilde (CSB), Far Eastern
University (FEU), Miriam College (MC), St.
Scholastica's College (SSC)-Manila and
San Beda University (SBU). The longest
running LGBT student organization UP
Babaylan has also been supporting the bill
ever since it was first filed.,[11] as well as
known celebrities and icons such as Heart
Evangelista, Nadine Lustre, Bianca
Gonzalez, Iza Calzado, Charo Santos-
Concio, Dingdong Dantes, Joey Mead King,
Divine Lee, Karen Davila, Chot Reyes,
Tootsy Angara, BJ Pascual, Samantha Lee,
Christine Bersola-Babao, Rajo Laurel, Tim
Yap, Anne Curtis, Mari Jasmine, Laureen
Uy, Pia Wurtzbach, Lorenzo Tañada III, Vice
Ganda, Arnold Van Opstal, and Chel
Diokno.[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]

In March 2018, a small group of Christians

protested at the Senate against the SOGIE
bill by calling the proposed legislation an
'abomination', adding that homosexuality is
allegedly a 'sin' citing that their 'hate' is
allegedly credible because it is supposedly
written in the Bible and that viewing that
identifying as part of the LGBT community
is a supposedly a 'lifestyle'.[21] The group
also claimed that the bill relates to same-
sex marriage, which is not found anywhere
within the bill.[22] Senators Villanueva,
Gatchalian, and Villar spoke against same-
sex marriage after the protest.[23] In May
2018, senator Tito Sotto, who opposes the
SOGIE bill, became the new Senate
President. In an interview, Sotto was asked
on the bill's passage, to which he
responded, "Not in this congress."[9]
In July 2018, various high-profile celebrities
rallied for the passage of the SOGIE bill.
They also called out senators Sotto,
Pacquiao, and Villanueva to end the
debates and pass the proposed
legislation.[13] In August 2018, on the
height of the bill's postponed debates,
various discrimination events against the
Filipino LGBT community surfaced,
causing public calling for the passage of
the SOGIE Equality Bill in the Senate.[24][25]
Numerous influential personalities,
including political allies of the three
senators who oppose the bill, sided with
the calls to pass the landmark
proposal.[17][24][7]
In January 2019, fake news and chain
mails[26] claiming that there are 'satanic'[27]
and 'same-sex marriage' provisions in the
SOGIE bill began circulating, a move to
dislodge the bill's progress.[28] The actual
bill does not have any satanic nor same-
sex marriage provisions.[29]

In May 2019, the SOGIE Equality Bill

officially became the longest-running bill
under the Senate interpellation period in
Philippine history. Supporters of the bill
have remarked that the prolonged
interpellation was intended by the
dissenters to block the passage of the
historic anti-discrimination bill.[30] The bill's
principal author and sponsor in the Senate,
senator Risa Hontiveros, has again called
on her Senate colleagues to formally close
the interpellation period, so that the bill
can finally be subject for amendments and
voting.[30] In June 2019, with the end of the
session of the 17th Congress, the SOGIE
Equality Bill prohibiting discrimination on
the basis of sexual orientation, gender
identity or expression -- after the
lawmakers failed to tackle the bill in this
session of the Senate of the Philippines.
The Senate version of the bill was first
filed in August 11, 2016. It was sponsored
by Risa Hontiveros in December 14 of the
same year. The bill has become one of the
slowest-moving bills in the country’s
history. The passed house version of the
bill would have penalised discrimination
with a fine of not less than ₱100,000 but
not more than ₱500,000, or imprisonment
of not less than one year but not more
than six years or both, depending on the
court's decision. [31][31] however, she said
the bill had gained new allies and wider
acceptance among policy makers and the
public and that she is confident the bill will
pass in the next Congress.[32] The bill was
archived, and the bill must again be refiled
in the 18th Congress, starting over the one
to three-year process of enactment
again.[30]
18th Congress

Versions of the SOGIE Equality Bill was

again refiled in the 18th Congress by
senator Risa Hontiveros[33], senator Imee
Marcos[34], senator Leila de Lima, and
senator Kiko Pangilinan,[35] while another
similar bill was filed by senator Sonny
Angara.[36] Senators Bong Go[37], Juan
Miguel Zubiri[38], Ralph Recto,[39] and
Franklin Drilon[40] have manifested their
support for the SOGIE Bill. In the House of
Representatives, various representatives
have also filed their versions of the bill,
notably, Sol Aragones of Laguna[41]
Geraldine Roman of Bataan,[42] Loren
Legarda of Antique[43], Maria Lourdes Alba
of Bukidnon, Jose Belmonte of Quezon
city, Bayan Muna representatives Eufemia
Cullamat, Carlos Zarate, and Ferdinand
Gaite, Kristine Singson of Ilocos Sur,
Bagong Henerasyon representative
Bernadette Dy, Eric Olivarez of Parañaque
city, and Francis Abaya of Cavite.[44]
Representatives Sy-Alvarado, De Venecia,
Reyes, Taduran, Bordado, Olivarez, and
Violago have also signed as co-author of
the bill filed by representative Roman,[45]
while Gabriela Women's Party
representative Brosas has signed as co-
author of the bill filed by Bayan Muna.[46]
Religious leaders also manifested their
support for the SOGIE Bill, such as Koko
Alviar of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente
(Aglipayan Church)[47] Sister Mary John
Mananzan, OSB, executive director of the
Institute of Women’s Studies of the
Catholic St. Scholastica’s College,[48]
Bishop Solito Toquiero of the National
Council of Churches in the Philippines,[49]
and Pastor Kakay Pamaran of the Union
Theological Seminary.[50] The
representative for Muslim Filipinos also
supported the bill.[51] In contrast,
representative Eddie Villanueva claimed
that the SOGIE Bill is 'imported' and not
part of Filipino culture.[52] This statement
has been rebuked by internationally-
respected historians and researchers who
have verified through decades of intense
scientific research that the Philippines has
always had a diverse sexuality even before
Spanish colonization.[53][54]

Senate president Tito Sotto has again

expressed dissent against the bill, adding
that the bill "will not pass" in the Senate as
long as he is the Senate president.[55]
Senator Joel Villanueva has also
expressed dissent.[56] Human right group,
Karapatan, expressed support for the
bill[57], as well as the Philippine
Commission on Human Rights.[58] The
student governments of the country's top
educational institutions, namely, Ateneo de
Manila University (ADMU), De La Salle
University(DLSU)-Manila, University of
Santo Tomas (UST), De La Salle - College
of St. Benilde (CSB), Miriam College (MC),
St. Scholastica’s College (SSC)-Manila and
San Beda University (SBU) have also
supported the SOGIE bill through an inter-
university convergence.[59] The 2019 Metro
Manila Pride March also backed the
passage of the SOGIE Bill, with its
attendance peaking at thrice the number
from the previous year.[60]
Various personalities have again called
support for the SOGIE Bill, namely, Anne
Curtis[61] Heart Evangelista, Catriona Gray,
Pia Wurtzbach, Judy Taguiwalo Saab
Magalona, Kelsey Merritt, Angelina Mead
King, Joey Mead King,[62][63] Iza Calzado,
Nadine Lustre, Janine Gutierrez, BJ
Pascual, Mari Jasmine and Samantha
Lee.[64] Vice President Leni Robredo also
supports the SOGIE Bill[65], while President
Rodrigo Duterte supports "an anti-
discrimination law patterned like the one
approved in Davao".[66] The government
has stated that they will certify an anti-
discrimination bill as "urgent".[67]
See also
LGBT rights in the Philippines

References
1. "Debunking Some Misconceptions
About the SOGIE Equality Bill" .
Preen.ph. March 19, 2018.
2. Cupin, Bea. "House passes SOGIE
equality bill on final reading" .
Rappler.com.
3. Elemia, Camille (21 December 2016).
"After 17 years, LGBT anti-
discrimination bill up for Senate
debate" . Rappler.com. Retrieved
25 September 2017.
4. "SOGIE Equality Bill passes House of
Representatives" . Outragemag.com.
20 September 2017. Retrieved
25 September 2017.
5. Colcol, Erwin (20 September 2017).
"House OKs SOGIE Equality Bill on
final reading" . Gmanetwork.com.
Retrieved 25 September 2017.
6. "4 senators express support for
immediate passage of SOGIE bill" .
Gmanetwork.com.
7. Gonzales, Cathrine. "Urgent passage
of SOGIE bill at Senate pressed" .
Newsinfo.inquirer.net.
 8. "A list of all the 2019 senate
candidates" . Youngstar.ph. May 8,
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9. "SOGIE equality bill? Not in this
Congress, says Sotto" .
Politics.com.ph. Retrieved
2 September 2019.
10. [1]
11. "Catholic student councils to senators:
End debate, pass SOGIE" .
Gmanetwork.com.
12. "Diokno to support efforts to legalize
divorce, same sex marriage in
Senate" . News.mb.com.ph.
13. "Heart Evangelista, Iza Calzado, Divine
Lee rally support for SOGIE bill" .
Rappler.com.
14. "Anne Curtis, other celebs appeal to
Senate to pass LGBT anti-
discrimination bill" . ABS-CBN News.
15. "Tootsy Angara, Heart Evangelista:
What their pins at SONA 2018 stand
for" . Pep.ph.
16. Cepeda, Cody. "Heart Evangelista,
Tootsy Angara show support for
SOGIE bill by wearing rainbow pins at
SONA" . Entertainment.inquirer.net.
17. "Pia Wurtzbach calls on Philippine
Senate to pass SOGIE equality bill" .
Rappler.com.
18. "Erin Tañada urges Senate to pass
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19. "Dingdong Dantes reiterates
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bill" . Pep.ph.
20. Cepeda, Cody. "Vice Ganda on SOGIE
Bill to senators Sotto, Villanueva:
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21. "GLAAD Media Reference Guide -
Terms To Avoid" . Glaad.org.
September 9, 2011.
22. Elemia, Camille. "Christian groups
troop to Senate vs landmark SOGIE
bill" . Rappler.com.
23. "Senators oppose passage of same
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Retrieved 2 September 2019.
24. "KaladKaren's experience shows
urgency to pass SOGIE bill —
Hontiveros" . Philstar.com.
25. "Discrimination vs 'KaladKaren' a
wake-up call to pass LGBT rights bill -
Hontiveros" . ABS-CBN News.
26. [2]
27. Y   🎆, A. N. D. W. E. (January 17,
2019). "Nag share uncle ko sa group
chat namin ng isang chain message
na dapat daw kami mag prayer rally
kase may mga satanic provisions daw
sa SOGIE Bill haysssss about daw sa
same sex marriage and etc" .
Twitter.com.
28. m, s h e (January 18, 2019). "My
relatives are sending me these chain
mails that attack the purpose of the
SOGIE bill and how satanic bs it is
well fuck christians and their
unjustified hatred against lgbt
peeps" . Twitter.com.
29. "One of the Salesian priest opposed
#SOGIEBill, clearly a reminder that the
religion is a great homophobe" .
Twitter.com. January 17, 2019.
30. Michael Joe Delizo. "SOGIE Equality
Bill might start from scratch 19 years
since proposal" . ABS-CBN News.
31. "Long-awaited anti-discrimination bill
flounders in Senate of the
Philippines" . Gay Star News. June 5,
2019.
32. "Hontiveros confident SOGIE bill will
pass next Congress" .
News.mb.com.ph.
33. https://entertainment.inquirer.net/344
597/anne-curtis-on-sogie-bill-equality-
is-all-lgbt-community-seeks
34. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1146473
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sogie-bill-rejects-same-sex-marriage-
divorce-bill
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9/8/16/SOGIE-Equality-Bill-Geraldine-
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appeals-senate-pass-sogie-bill-amid-
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of-sogie-bill/
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senate-pressed
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senate-pressed
41. https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2
019/08/18/1944294/another-
lawmaker-pushes-sogie-bill
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019/08/18/1944294/another-
lawmaker-pushes-sogie-bill
43. http://www.manilastandard.net/news/
national/272722/hontiveros-legarda-
press-for-approval-of-sogie-bill.html
44. http://www.congress.gov.ph/
45. http://www.congress.gov.ph/
46. http://www.congress.gov.ph/
47. https://news.abs-
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rights-given-catholic-nun-supports-
sogie-equality-bill
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sister-mary-john-mananzan/
49. https://cnnphilippines.com/news/201
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discrimination-religious-groups.html?
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df1u37kCo_DjMlvfF5Tpp5w8cyk0tP1
Wiypgc
50. https://cnnphilippines.com/news/201
9/9/4/SOGIE-bill-LGBTQ-
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fbclid=IwAR1r4KDU5aA5RyfHTV7Ryo
df1u37kCo_DjMlvfF5Tpp5w8cyk0tP1
Wiypgc
51. https://cnnphilippines.com/news/201
9/9/4/SOGIE-bill-LGBTQ-
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df1u37kCo_DjMlvfF5Tpp5w8cyk0tP1
Wiypgc
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9/9/3/eddie-villanueva-sogie-equality-
bill.html
53. http://iias.asia/sites/default/files/IIA
S_NL35_13.pdf
54. https://www.amazon.com/Philippine-
Gay-Culture-Binabae-
Silahis/dp/9622099858
55. https://www.rappler.com/nation/2382
40-sotto-says-sogie-bill-has-no-
chance-passing-senate
56. https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news
/2019/8/15/Joel-Villanueva-Gretchen-
Diez-SOGIE-bill.html
57. https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/09/09
/karapatan-pushes-for-sogie-equality-
bill/
58. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1161249
/chr-insists-sogie-bill-does-not-create-
ascribe-new-rights
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student-councils-to-senators-end-
debate-pass-sogie/story/
60. https://www.rappler.com/move-
ph/234256-in-photos-resist-together-
metro-manila-pride-march-2019
61. https://news.abs-
cbn.com/entertainment/09/08/19/an
ne-curtis-declares-support-for-sogie-
bill
62. https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/
showbiz/chikaminute/707897/celebri
ties-show-support-for-sogie-
bill/story/
63. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1159328
/sogie-bill-wont-spoil-rights-of-non-
lgbtq-says-former-dswd-chief
64. https://www.rappler.com/entertainme
nt/news/234238-photos-celebrities-
beauty-queens-manila-pride-2019
65. https://news.abs-
cbn.com/news/06/29/19/robredo-
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 66. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/108
0442
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36-duterte-not-certifying-sogie-bill-
urgent

External links
Committee Report and Full Text of
House Bill No. 4982 (2017)

Retrieved from
"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?
title=SOGIE_Equality_Bill&oldid=916875275"

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