AKBAYAN Partylist Representatives today called on Pride PH attendees in UP Diliman to rally behind ‘Equality Champs’ who vowed to push the passage of various ‘equality bills’ in the incoming 20th Congress.
This includes the SOGIESC Equality Bill, the Cagandahan Bill, and the Right to Care Bill, among others.
Akbayan Rep. Perci Cendaña encouraged Pride PH attendees to show renewed support for Equality Champs inside Congress: “Habang lumalaki at nagiging mas makulay ang Pride celebrations sa bansa, mas lumalakas din ang pwersa natin sa loob ng Kongreso. Kaya’t kailangang mas iwawagayway pa ng LGBTQIA+ advocates at allies ang bandera ng ating laban.”
“Sa pag-aakbayan natin, we enter the 20th Congress with the fullest pride that our fight for equality will finally prevail. Nananalig ako na dadami pa ang mga kampeon ng equality sa Kamara. Ipapasa natin ito,” he emphasized.
Rep. Cendaña, one of the original drafters of the SOGIESC Equality Bill 25 years ago, also vowed a stronger push for the proposed measure and challenged anti-equality lawmakers to stop blocking the bill:
“Huwag nang subukan harangan ng ‘agents of hate’ ang SOGIESC Equality Bill. Let’s put it to a vote para magkaalaman kung sino ang pro-discrimination at pro-equality. For the pro-discrimination legislators, it’s time to come out of your closets,” Rep. Cendaña said.
“Something as ‘basic’ as the SOGIESC Equality Bill should not have languished for 25 years in Congress. Sobrang bare minimum. Let the 20th Congress be the one that stood with, and not against, the most basic of human rights,” he added.
More Equality Bills to be pushed
Akbayan Representative Chel Diokno also guaranteed the Party’s commitment to pushing other diversity and inclusion bills inside Congress.
“We at Akbayan are committed to advancing equal rights for all, regardless of status, gender identity, or sexual orientation. We will continue to push for inclusive bills that seek to provide the Filipino queer community with a strong legal blanket that safeguards their rights and promotes their welfare,” he said.
“Every Filipino deserves equal protection under the law, and we will work to make it happen,” Rep. Diokno concluded.
In the 20th Congress, Akbayan made a commitment to end decades of legal invisibility faced by the queer community, by championing ambitious legislations on healthcare, legal recognition processes, and anti-discrimination protections, among others. Akbayan’s reform bloc inside the House of Representatives composed of Rep. Cendaña, Rep. Diokno, Rep. Dadah Kiram Ismula, and Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao are expected to actively push these bills in Congress.
