Allies of the LGBTQ community pose for a photo in front of the UP Oblation, which is draped with the pride flag.
Photo courtesy of PIA Director-General Jose A. Torres Jr.
QUEZON CITY (PIA) — There appears to be a certain level of discomfort among lawmakers to pass a bill that bans discrimination on the basis of a person’s sexual orientation and gender identity or expression, according to a noted Filipino political analyst.
De La Salle professor Antonio Contreras said in his television program “Rise and Shine” aired over PTV 4 that such an uneasiness could stem from the Filipino society’s homophobia.
Homophobia, according to the Oxford dictionary, are “negative attitudes towards homosexual people and homosexuality in which may be manifested in discrimination, hostile behavior, or hate crime.”
Contreras noted that President Marcos already created a special committee on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual, better known as the LGBTQIA+ Affairs thru Executive Order No. 51.
Its basis is Sec. 11, Article 2 of the Constitution, which provides that “the State values the dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for human rights.”
But despite these, the political analyst observed that there is a resistance among lawmakers to guarantee such rights.
“Nandoon pa rin ang malalim na homophobia sa maraming Pilipino,” he said.
Contreras observed that such homophobia was evident when a certain person in the De La Salle community signed in the AnimoSpace using rainbow colors – a symbol of the LGBTQIA+ group.
“Maraming bumatikos dito. Maraming homophobic remarks.”
Congress is currently debating on the Sexual Orientation Gender Identity and expression and Sexual Characteristic bill (SOGIESC).
But it appears that it is not moving forward.
“Sapagkat may pumipigil,” Contreras said.
While the House already approved two bills related to SOGIESC, the Senate is apparently stalling its passage.
“Katulad nitong sa Senado. Sa halip na i-report ang bill sa floor, ito ay binalik ng Rules Committee sa komite (na bumalangkas ng naturang panukala).” The Rules Committee was chaired at that time by Sen. Joel Villanueva, who has been opposing the SOGIE bill.
Even Senate President Francis Escudero was reported to have said that the anti-discrimation bill faces rough sailing in the upper chamber.
“Ang sabi niya (Escudero), kailangan nito ng amendements. In fact, nagpahayag siya na mas maganda pa na i-embed na lang ito, i-integrate na lang ito sa larger anti-discrimination bill,” Contreras said.
“Itong posisyon ni Escudero na malamang ay shini-share ng ibang senador is not less discriminatory.”
In fact, once again, ipinapakita nito ang discomfort ng napakarami para openly hayagang kilalanin ang karapatan ng LGBTQ – na parang kailangan pa siyang i-append sa isang bill tungkol sa diskriminasyon, na kailangan parang hindi palatable na siya’y ihayag na separate bill.” (EJFM/ODDG-KMSC)
