Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday, June 3 urged the new Senate leadership to pass into law the proposed Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) bill which is still pending on second reading in the Upper Chamber.

Hontiveros, an advociate for the LGBTQIA+ community, made the statement following the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Manila's call for the Philippine lawmakers to pass a law against discrimination against the members of the community.

The chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality said she has already asked Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino to look into the committee report on the SOGIESC bill.

“Nineteen (19) of my colleagues signed the committee report on the SOGIESC Equality Bill. That should speak to its acceptability across the aisle,” Hontiveros said in a statement. 

“I have asked the Majority Leader to look into the committee report which has remained pending in the Committee on Rules and he has promised to do so,” she said.

“Sana ang bagong liderato ng Senado ay tumindig para sa ating LGBTQIA+ community ngayong Pride Month at pati na rin sa araw-araw nilang pamumuhay bilang mga tao (I hope the new leadership of the Senate will stand up for our LGBTQIA+ community this Pride Month and also in their daily lives as people),” the senator added. 

Sought to comment, Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero clarified that the anti-discrimination bill is different from the SOGIESC bill. 

“Unless the proponents of the SOGIE bill accede to some amendments, it will continue to face rough sailing in the Senate,” Escudero said.

“The anti-discrimination bill, I believe, has a better chance of passing this year,” the Senate leader added.