We urge the members of the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives to stop delaying equality and pass the SOGIE Equality Law.

Many LGBTQIA+ individuals–Filipinos with diverse Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression (SOGIE)–are struggling against discrimination every day. Daily injustices that span from side-eyes, tasteless jokes, and misgendering to being denied access to social services and adequate healthcare, gatekept from jobs and learning opportunities, subjected to harassment and violence from their own communities, and deprived of means and mechanisms to demand accountability.

It has been 23 years since the first legislation recognizing and criminalizing discrimination was first filed. And yet in the decades since, the Philippine Congress have again and again, failed to pass a legislation that provides proper safeguard and protection for people with diverse SOGIE. In 2022, the SOGIE Equality Bill passed through the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality but has since been subjected to meandering and delay tactics. The Department of Justice has also recently rejected the recommendations to accelerate efforts in passing the law from the United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR).

The SOGIE Equality Bill recognizes that inequalities stemming from prejudice and discrimination exist for everyone, and disproportionately affect LGBTQIA+ individuals. It affirms the fundamental rights of every person regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity and expression; and aims to provide fair and equal opportunities for everyone in accessing basic social services, employment, education, healthcare, protection under the law, and justice while acknowledging and breaking down the barriers that exist for the most vulnerable groups.

We urge you to stop delaying equality.

We call on the members of the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives to fulfill your obligation to “protect and enhance the right of all the people to human dignity,” working swiftly towards the passage of the SOGIE