Vice President Sara Duterte expressed her endorsement of the SOGIESC (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender Expression, or Sex Characteristics) Equality bill on Friday.
“While we wait patiently for the passage of the SOGIESC bill, what I would say on this is that good things take time. But we have advocates in the government, kasama na ako, sa inyong pangarap na batas for protection,” Duterte said during the first Office of the Vice President (OVP) Pride Reception event.
The SOGIESC bill declares that discriminatory practices based on a person’s SOGIESC, in combination with factors like age, race or ethnicity, religion, political beliefs, social class, economic status, marital or relationship status, disability, HIV status, health condition or medical history, language, physical attributes, or other statuses, will be recognized as acts of discrimination.
“Let us continue to press on in our shared cause for gender equality and social empowerment through avenues that will promote entrepreneurial collaboration and advancement across diverse socio economic industries,” Duterte said.
The SOGIESC bill has obtained approval in the House of Representatives but is still pending progress in the Senate. Earlier, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva stated there is no immediate need to pass the SOGIESC bill.
VP Sara Duterte supports SOGIE bill passage
At the same event, Vice President Duterte awarded a range of P150,000 to P300,000 in livelihood assistance to LGBTQ groups nationwide as part of the OVP’s Mag-Negosyo Ta ‘Day program.
“LGBTQI+ people already face enough obstacles on their own, but to sustain their enterprises and expand their businesses, they are far more likely to encounter issues that are specific to underserved and marginalized groups,” Duterte said.
She highlighted that the LGBTQI+ community has faced pervasive “systemic discrimination,” resulting in numerous challenges when it comes to accessing funds, obtaining licenses, generating sales, hiring employees, securing insurance, and even feeling safe while engaging in business activities that align with their identity.
“May our civil society partners such as LGBT Pilipinas work hand-in-hand with the government in translating these civic causes to complete reforms to usher in thousands of LGBT members to viable entrepreneurial opportunities for growth,” Duterte said.
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