In light of the recent incident where Gretchen Diez, a trans woman, was prevented from using the women’s restroom in a mall in Cubao, Senator Risa Hontiveros emphasized the need for the SOGIE Equality Law.
On a Facebook post, Senator Hontiveros said:
Sa mga nagsasabing hindi na natin kailangan ng SOGIE Equality Law kasi tanggap na naman ang LGBT sa Pinas: A trans woman has just been humiliated in a mall restroom in Cubao. Pinosasan at dinala sa Karingal!
One of my lawyers is with Gretchen Diez now. Gretchen has my full support. I am extending whatever help she would need to seek justice.
She is being harassed for living her truth. Discrimination against transgender people has to STOP! LGBT persons face harassment & discrimination every day. This must STOP!
She stressed:
Senator Hontiveros said in another Facebook post where she shared the Facebook Live Video of Diez that she had a lawyer from her office assist Diez when she was held by the authorities.
Senator Hontiveros said:
THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE! A lawyer from my office is w/ Gretchen now. She has my full support. I am extending whatever help she would need to seek justice.
She is being harassed for living her truth. Discrimination against transgender people has to STOP!
The SOGIE (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression) Equality Bill, also known as the Anti-Discrimination Bill (ADB), is a proposed legislation of the Congress of the Philippines. It is intended to prevent various economic and public accommodation-related acts of discrimination against people based on their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.
The current versions of the bill are championed by Kaka Bag-ao, Geraldine Roman, and Tom Villarin in the House of Representatives, and Risa Hontiveros in the Senate. The version in the House of Representative passed its third reading most recently on September 20, 2017, but died in the Senate.
It has been refiled for the 118th Congress.
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