The Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity or Expression (SOGIE) Equality Bill, formerly known as the Anti-Discrimination Bill, aims to protect not only people from the LGBTQ+ community but also all Filipinos from discrimination and hate crimes.
Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago and former Akbayan representative Loretta Rosales first proposed the SOGIE bill in 2000. The SOGIE Equality Bill is still unfinished today, making it the longest-running Senate bill in Philippine history.
The bill does not prioritize the LGBTQ+ community over the general public. It aims for equality, recognizing that the community’s rights are protected just as much as everyone else’s under the 1987 Constitution’s equal protection clause.
Certain activities can now be declared discriminatory under the SOGIE Bill, and you can actually file charges if any person, corporation, or organization does so.
Examples of violations:
• Accreditation, formal recognition, or registration of any organization, political party, or institution is refused or revoked
• Access to medical and health services is denied
• Harassment by law enforcement or the military
• Denial of public services
Administrative sanctions are also included in the bill for government officials who refuse to investigate, prosecute, or act on violations complaints.
