SOGIE
BILL
No one should ever rob us of our pride.
- On July 26, 2004, under the 13th Congress of the Philippines, Senator Defensor-Santiago filed the Employment Non-Discrimination bill which aims to prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
What is SOGIE Bill?
This is probably the first question that came in your mind when you heard about the law draft. The word SOGIE is an acronym for Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression. The bill defines these terms as follows. Sexual Orientation refers to who a person who is sexually attracted.
Five Subtopics
ASEXUAL THIS IS A PERSON WHO IS NOT ATTRACTED TO ANYONE | STRAIGHT THIS IS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS A SEXUAL ATTRACTION TO A PERSON OF THE OPPOSITE GENDER | BISEXUAL IT IS A PERSON WHO EXHIBIT SEXUAL ATTRACTIONS TO PERSIONS OF THE SAME GENDER, AND THOSE OF THE OPPOSITE CENCIER | GAY A MAN ATTRACTED TO A FELLOW MAN | LESBIAN A WOMAN ATTRACTED TO A FELLOW WOMAN |
GENDER IDENTITY, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS HOW A PERSON PRESENTS OR FEELS ABOUT HIS GENDER UNDER THIS CATEGORY HUMAN BEINGS ARE SUBDIVIDED INTO TWO, CISGENDER AND TRANSGENDER
A CISGENDER-THIS IS A CASE WHERE AN INDIVIDUAL FEELS THAT THE GENDER ASSIGNED TO HIM DURING BIRTH IS TRUE TO WHAT HE IS. | A TRANSGENDER - PEOPLE IN THIS GROUP HAVE A FEELING THAT THEY DO NOT BELONG TO THE GENDER ASSIGNED TO THEM AT BIRTH. THEY HAVE A CONVICTION THAT THEY BELONG TO THE OPPOSITE GENDER. THE GROUP IS IDENTIFIED AS TRANSMEN AND TRANSWOMEN. |
What is the purpose of the SOGIE Bill?
The aim of this legislation is to protect Filipinos who are members of the LGBTQ against discrimination. It advocates for justice and equality for everyone in the nation, not only LGBTQ people. It aims to regulate how the general public acts and perceives others based on their sexual orientation. Members who identify as LGBTQ will have unrestricted access to medical treatments and other amenities. A disadvantage of the SOGIE bill is that it could be used by LGBTQ individuals to intimidate others into conforming to their conditions. The bill aims to compromise the ideals and rights of religion and higher education. Transgender people will go against morality and accepted social norms.
It is crucial that we advocate for the rights and equal treatment of all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. By fostering an inclusive society, we promote diversity, empathy, and understanding, allowing everyone to express themselves freely and without fear of discrimination. Let us stand together as allies, supporting equal rights, healthcare access, legal protection, and societal acceptance for the LGBTQIA+ community.