Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday vowed to pursue the passage of the proposed law on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression or the (SOGIE) Equality bill in the upcoming 19th Congress.
Hontiveros made this assurance as the nation celebrates Pride Month, saying it would be another opportunity to defend the rights of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ) community.
“I’m ready to get back to work. We will use this 19th Congress to carve the runway to pass the SOGIE Equality Bill at long last,” said Hontiveros, who won a fresh six year mandate.
“We will use this as a fresh opportunity to renew and prioritize our fight for all sexualities and genders,” she stressed.
Hontiveros reiterated that the SOGIE Equality Bill is a practical measure and abides by the Constitution.
“It ensures safe schools, accessible healthcare, and sufficient livelihood for more Filipinos. Mga buhay ang nakataya dito dahil usapang basic proteksyon ito para sa ating lahat (Lives are at stake because it tackles basic social protection for all). Yes, everyone is included in equality,” Hontiveros said.
“As we face the difficulties of navigating the ruins of a post-pandemic world, this is our chance to build something good and lasting. Ito na ang pagkakataon natin gawin namang tama at patas ang mga institusyon natin (This is an opportunity for us to correct our institutions),” she stressed.
Hontiveros also said it is high time that Filipinos begin the “process of healing the wound created by the gap in our laws that has allowed for bullying, ostracization and violence to way too many Filipinos.”
“It is time we forge a country that includes all, loves all,” she stressed.
“You are more than Pride Day or Pride Month. You have every right to exist as you are in the day to day. You deserve these grand celebrations, these spaces of resistance; but you also deserve the ordinary moments, sa pang araw-araw (everyday living),”
“The everyday chance to be yourselves when you wake up to your family, when you take your coffee, when you meet your friends, when you go to work, in joy and sadness, in sickness and in health. You deserve to feel at ease. You deserve to be safe,” she stressed.
“We will take this to the finish line no matter how long we have to fight with you. This victory will be sweetest because we will win it together,” the lawmaker assured.