What is it for?

The SOGIE Equality Bill aims to uphold the equal protection clause in the 1987 Constitution and recognize the LGBTQ community as equals. It seeks to eradicate gender-based discrimination and penalize those involved in such acts. Originally introduced in 2000 by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago and former Akbayan Representative Loretta Rosales, the bill has evolved over the years.In 2020, Senate Bill No. 1934, known as the SOGIESC-based Anti-Discrimination Act, was passed by the Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality, chaired by Senator Risa Hontiveros. This bill expands protections to include discrimination based on sex characteristics.

Did you know that,

Asexuality and aromanticism are part of the LGBTQIA+ acronym, representing identities on the asexual spectrum, or "a-spec." An asexual person doesn't experience sexual attraction but may or may not experience romantic attraction. Gray-asexuality and gray-romanticism fall between asexuality and sexuality, or aromanticism and romanticism.Demisexuality and demiromanticism describe individuals who don't experience immediate attraction but may develop it over time. These identities highlight the diversity within the asexual spectrum.

Most importantly...

SOGIE is not about forcing people to become LGBTIQ. In fact, it's often LGBTIQ people who are pressured to conform to what's considered 'normal.' The conversation around SOGIE is about raising awareness that everyone deserves respect and the right to live and thrive, regardless of their SOGIE (Isla, 2023).To give you an overview on SOGIESC, you can view this genderbread figure by Sam Killermann.

Ang mga katangiang sekswal, o sex, ay tumutukoy sa mga biyolohikal na katangian tulad ng ari at mga pattern ng kromosoma. Kapag ipinanganak, tinutukoy ng mga doktor ang sex base sa nakikitang ari: ari ng lalaki (penis) para sa mga lalaki at ari ng babae (vagina) para sa mga babae, na karaniwang itinatala bilang 'sex assigned at birth' sa Certificate of Live Birth. Ang mga kromosoma (XY para sa mga lalaki at XX para sa mga babae) at mga hormones (testosterone para sa mga lalaki at estrogen para sa mga babae) ay tumutukoy din sa sex.However, some babies are born intersex, with characteristics that do not fit typical male or female categories. They may have ambiguous genitalia, hormone levels that do not match their genitalia, or a mix of chromosomes. Sa Pilipinas, hindi pa kinikilala ang intersex bilang isang valid na katangiang sekswal sa mga legal na dokumento.

Unlike sexual characteristics, which are biological, gender identity is a personal and psychological concept. Ito ay sumasalamin kung paano kinikilala ng isang tao ang sarili: bilang lalaki, babae, o wala sa dalawa. Kung ang gender identity ng isang tao ay tugma sa kanilang sex assigned at birth, sila ay cisgender.Kung hindi, sila ay transgender. Ang mga queer na indibidwal ay maaaring kumilala sa kanilang sarili bilang wala sa dalawa, parehong lalaki at babae, o nasa labas ng mga binary na konsepto ng lalaki at babae. "Queer" can also be an umbrella term for gender identities, expressions, or sexual orientations that differ from cisgender heterosexual norms.

Habang ang sex ay biyolohikal at ang gender identity ay personal at sikolohikal, ang gender expression ay umiiral sa loob ng konteksto ng kultura. Sinasaklaw nito ang kilos, asal, interes, at itsura ng isang tao ayon sa mga kategoryang pang-kasarian ng lipunan: pagkababae at pagkalalaki.Ang gender expression ay isang spectrum, na may pagkalalaki sa isang dulo, androgynous sa gitna, at pagkababae sa kabila. Halimbawa, dahil inaakma ng lipunan ang mga damit sa pagkababae, ang isang taong madalas magsuot ng damit ay malamang na may feminine na gender expression.

Ang sexual orientation ay tumutukoy sa kung sino ang isang tao ay emosyonal, romantiko, at sekswal na naaakit. It can be directed towards the same sex (homosexual), either sex but not simultaneously (bisexual), or the opposite sex (heterosexual).Homosexual individuals may identify as lesbian (woman attracted to women) or gay (man attracted to men). Pansexual individuals are attracted to people regardless of gender, often viewing gender identity as non-binary. Sa akronim na LGBTQ+, ang unang tatlong letra ay tumutukoy sa sexual orientation (lesbian, gay, bisexual), habang ang T ay nangangahulugang transgender, na may kaugnayan sa gender identity.

You have to know,

The discourse on SOGIESC is rife with misconceptions. Many people mistakenly believe that SOGIESC only pertains to the LGBTQIA community, but in reality, everyone has their own SOGIESC. This was emphasized by Romero, who highlighted that SOGIESC encompasses how individuals express themselves in terms of gender and connect with others.Custodio echoed this sentiment, stressing that living authentically is essential for everyone. Despite opposition, such as Senator Tito Sotto's claim that the bill goes against women's rights, and the misconception that it exclusively serves the LGBTQ+ community, a deeper understanding of SOGIESC reveals that the bill aims to protect everyone from discrimination based on their appearance, affection, thoughts, and attire, regardless of differences.Take, for instance, a cisgender woman—meaning she was assigned female at birth and identifies as a woman—who is heterosexual and prefers wearing pants. This example illustrates her unique SOGIE: her gender identity, sexual orientation, and gender expression. If she faces discrimination at work for not wearing a dress, it's a violation of her SOGIE, particularly her gender expression, and the SOGIE Equality Bill can provide legal support.

Dela Cruz (2021) states that in an ideal world, discussions about SOGIESC wouldn't be necessary. We wouldn't feel compelled to label ourselves or proclaim our identities. However, living in a predominantly patriarchal society that often adheres to binary norms, we struggle to recognize the diversity of human sexuality.

Tolerance vs. Acceptance:

The Philippines is often regarded as LGBTQ+-friendly, ranking 10th in a 2013 Pew Research Center study where 73% of surveyed adults agreed that "homosexuality should be accepted by society." While this may hold some truth compared to neighboring countries where being LGBTQ+ is criminalized, instances of discrimination persist. Transgender women are barred from using women's restrooms, lesbians face sexual violence within their families, and gay youth endure bullying in schools.Despite perceptions of tolerance, the daily experiences of discrimination and violence against LGBTQ+ individuals highlight the ongoing inequality and vulnerability they face in exercising their rights, as Custodio emphasized.

"Ang problem kasi natin: Sometimes we say 'we love' or 'we accept but,' there's always a 'but.' We're using the norms, religion, conservatism, para lang i-defend ’yong biases natin or stereotypes. I guess in the Philippines, it's more of tolerance pa rin; it's not acceptance, because there's always a 'but' in there. It [should] really be all about respect. No matter how different your views or opinions are, it boils down to respecting a person and accepting them for who they are and what they are,” Romero (2021) added.

Shatter the stigmas today,

Our understanding of sexuality is evolving. We used to only know the Filipino words "bakla" and "tomboy," but we now recognize they are just a couple of labels among the many permutations of SOGIESC. We used to adhere strictly to gender binaries, and the use of singular "they" used to confuse media outlets. The key is education, not hate.