Rep. Geraldine Roman (1st District, Bataan)
THE House Committee on Women and Gender Equality chaired by Rep. Geraldine Roman (1st District, Bataan) on Wednesday held initial consideration of eight bills seeking to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristic and providing penalties for violation thereof.
In her opening remarks, Roman said the time is ripe to enact the SOGIE Equality Bill. “Matagal nang iniintay itong Sogie Equality Bill ng inyong mga anak, mga kapatid, mga kamag-anak, mga kaibigan, mga katrabaho at kapwa Filipino na nagkataon lang na member ng LGBTQ+ Community. The formal discussions have lasted 25 years here in the halls of Congress. Mahabang panahon. But can someone here tell me how long this form of discrimination, oppression and marginalization has existed sa masyado nang matagal na panahon,” she said.
The history of discrimination against the LGBTQ+ has painfully spanned centuries and even thousands of years, Roman said.
“Throughout the history of mankind, we were once stoned to death for being different. We were once burned at the stake in the name of religion, we were criminalized and even imprisoned because of intolerance and bigotry,” Roman said.
Discrimination came in the form of denied opportunities for work, education, services, she said.
“We have been judged as immoral and sinful, excluded, ostracized, and treated as though we were lepers because of personal beliefs. And because we have been denied equal opportunities, many of us have been condemned to a life of misery and deprivation,” Roman said.
The committee took time to hear those for and against the bill.
Meanwhile, the committee also approved, subject to style and form, the substitute bill to HBs 86, 403, 3894 & 4054, defining electronic violence against women and their children, as well as providing protective measures, and prescribing penalties for violations thereof, amending for the purpose RA 9262, or the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004. The four bills are authored by Reps. Marjorie Ann Teodoro, Arlene Brosas, Maria Rachel Arenas, and Gus Tambunting, respectively. Rowena Bundang, Gilbert Engay — MAPRS
