Maia Gabrielle C.

Roslin HUMSS 12 - Humility

Editorial Essay Ms. Evangeline De Leon

Equal Sign (=)

SOGIE Bill is something that I want to talk about and take a position to defend
because I think it is past time to demand equal human rights for all members of society,
regardless of identity, and it shouldn't be too much to ask to not be attacked,
discriminated against, excluded from, and neglected by our patriarchal society. It has
been 20 years since it was irst proposed and still, nothing has changed, If not
continues to worsen, it shouldn’t be so hard and painful to live as ourselves.

The late Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago introduced the Sexual Orientation

and Gender Identity Expression Bill in the Senate for the irst time in 2000. The act
aims to protect people's sexual orientation and gender identity for all members of
society, not only those in the LGBTQ+ community. It has long been misunderstood as
offering protection and preferential treatment to the community, but its genuine goal is
to provide everyone with an equal chance, regardless of who they are or how they
identify, and to work toward eliminating inequality of power and prejudice.

Societal standards constantly tell us what roles to perform, what colors to like,
what clothes to wear, what jobs to work, what sports to play, and what mindsets to
think; that marriage is for men and women as if love is only reserved for speci ic
genders while love is unrestricted and unconditional. Utterly removing the freedom for
individuals to be distinctive beings with so much potential and diverse abilities. It is
depressing to live and observe in a society that restricts our freedoms and conforms to
the past, preventing our ability to advance and become a more open, progressive
society capable of coexisting peacefully. Instead, a society where everyone is treated
equally is a privilege that those who are left behind cannot access.

Nevertheless, many people have made the effort to go against the grain and
show that their identity is neither a reason for worry nor a hindrance to success in
their particular ields. One of them is Nesthy Petecio, who represented our country and
the LGBTQ+ community by winning the silver medal in the women's boxing
competition at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. By participating in gender-speci ic sports,
Hidilyn Diaz and Carlos Yulo show that gender is a quality that all people possess and
that choosing one over the other would not change who we are as humans.

“Women and LGBTQ+ people have come a long way in breaking gender stereotypes and
sexism by not just participating, but excelling in Olympic events, such as weightlifting,
boxing, and skateboarding” quoted by Claire Padilla Executive Director of
EnGendeRights.

On the other hand, hate crimes against women, children, and sexual minorities
that could have been covered by the law are nonetheless frequently disregarded. “A
lower court dismissed the case of child abuse committed by a school principal against a
young girl who refused to wear skirts and was forced to parade through school grounds
wearing a curtain”, according to an article detailing these acts. This is a very alarming
situation that many have to endure.

To wrap up this discussion, I should note that my argument made clear that
there would be no need for protection if there were no prejudice. Open our hearts and
brains to create harmony in our society by refusing to let hate rule, hate paralyzes our
minds if we don’t try to see the other side. If you genuinely believe in love, you
wouldn't hate people who embrace it in different ways. The single most important goal
we need to encourage is the freedom to be kind.