Advancing Equality: A deep dive into the Ethical and Social Implications of

the SOGIE Equality Bill in the Philippines

Presented to:

LEAH JOY CAPILITAN

Silliman University

Dumaguete City

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for Course in

Ethics of the Christian Faith

By:

Acocoro, Jhon Myco

Alatan, Nico Leah

Evaristo, Maxim Fritz

Saldua, Xearyl Nadine

Valeriano, Rexander Alen

Tatoy, Nathalie Marie

November 21, 2024

I. Introduction​ 3

II. Definitions​ 9

III. Facts surrounding the issue​ 10

IV. Formulate Actions and Consider Alternatives​ 17

V. Ethical Stand​ 20

VI. Conclusion and Recommendation​ 22

VII. References​ 24
 I.​ Introduction

Discrimination against the LGBTQIA+ community remains a critical issue that impacts

millions worldwide, yet was among the problems hardly addressed by the modern world. Despite

strides in human rights, gender-based discrimination continues to manifest through brutal

killings, condemnation, misgendering, and systemic oppression. This discrimination has

far-reaching effects, depriving individuals of equal opportunities in healthcare, education,

employment, and public services.

In the Philippines, efforts have been made to oppose this inequity such as the

Anti-Discrimination Bill, and another more controversial one known as the Sexual Orientation

and Gender Identity Expression (SOGIE) Equality Bill. Proposed in 2000, the bill aims to end

gender-based discrimination by penalizing people involved in such activity (Tatler Philippines,

2022; De Guzman, 2023; Hapal, 2023). This issue resonates deeply within communities,

underscoring the urgency of promoting equality and dismantling systemic biases that have

plagued society for decades.

The late Miriam Defensor-Santiago and former Akbayan party-list Representative Etta

Rosales were the first frontrunners for this bill. And now, the bill's current version is backed by

Bataan 1st district Representative Geraldine Roman and Akbayan Partylist Representative Tom

Villarin in the House and Risa Hontiveros in the Senate. It passed its third reading in the 17th

Congress in 2017, but it had its end after languishing in the senate as opposition to the bill

argued that the bill will give the LGBT community “special rights”. Despite the claims that the

SOGIE bill gives special treatment to the LGBTQ+ community; a closer look at the bill shows

that it's the recognition of the fundamental rights of everyone regardless of their sexual

orientation and gender identity. However, the fight for equality still continues once more in

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December 2020 as Sen. Risa Hontiveros sponsored the bill, this time as the Sexual Orientation,

Gender Identity, Gender Expression and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) Equality Bill or Senate

Bill No. 1934. Without marginalization, everyone will have an equal opportunity and access to

healthcare, housing, public services, education, employment, and licensure. (Tatler Philippines,

2022) By ignoring or delaying the enactment of laws to combat these, the Philippines loses

opportunities to reaffirm the core fundamental belief that human rights must be respected for all,

regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. (Rocky Rinabor, Amnesty Philippines

Chairperson 2021-23)

Major sectors of the country, however, such as Manila, Cebu City, Iloilo City, and

Zamboanga City mandating penalization of such acts. (Abad, 2018) Nonetheless, this is a long

way to achieving nationwide protection. Ruivivar (2018) expressed in his research on the policy

analysis of anti-LGBTQ discrimination ordinance on the city of General Trias that, while the city

is recognized as one the most LGBT-friendly cities in the country and there is engagement of the

LGBT community on the decision-making process of the city, the existing programs and policies

are not properly expressed or implemented. This is observed in many of the major sectors of the

country where silent discrimination, stereotyping, and microaggressions are common. Cantero et.

al (2022) said that “despite the micro efforts of various city governments, it is prevalent that

efforts to have national legislation on gender equality remain uncertain in the country.”

The “special treatment" argument used by those who opposed the bill are hollow. In an

article written by Martirez (2020) about the November 9 hearing of the SOGIE bill held by the

House of Representatives committee on women and gender equality, House Deputy Speaker

Eddie Villanueva, who’s also founder of Jesus Is Lord church, inferred that the LGBT

community should face emotional, psychosocial, and spiritual rehabilitation. In the same hearing,

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it was also reported that the LGBT community seeks to become a “super special elite class” with

the help of the SOGIE bill according to the lawyer, Lyndon Caña of the Coalition of Concerned

Families of the Philippines. The lawyer even added that the community promotes “necrophilia”

and “pedophilia” as the lawyer claimed that people who belongs to this community are

“emotionally, psychosocially, and spiritually hindered” that they “want to become more special

than the heterosexuals”. Such claims are not surprising considering that the lawyer and the

House Deputy Speaker are one of the detractors of the bill, (Martirez, 2020). This shows that the

argument itself has no substance for it only serves to peddle misinformation and appears to be a

deliberate misinterpretation of the bill. Claiming that the community itself is “spiritually

hindered” or that they should experience “spiritual rehabilitation” is already enough indication

that they are leaning towards their deeply rooted religious bias as the basis of their arguments. By

looking at these “claims” alone, we can observe these comments are more closely related to an

ad hominem meant to smear the reputation of the LGBT community and sway support from the

SOGIE bill than an actual counterpoint that has real valid reasoning, thus they are hollow and

devoid of actual validity.

The Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) bill is an improved

version of the anti-discrimination bill. Brosas et. al (2023) says that “It does not only cater to

LGBTQ+ people since everyone, including heterosexual people, has SOGIE. Everyone, even

those against the bill, will be protected by it. It does not warrant ‘special rights’ if one sector of

society has had limited access to basic human rights in the first place—rights which are, again,

essential to survival and should be available to everyone.” The LGBTQ+ community, however,

may be given "priority" with the SOGIE bill, but everyone is still covered by it. Members of the

LGBTQ+ community just receive more attention simply because they are more frequently the

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targets of prejudice and unfair treatment due to their SOGIE. (Brosas et. al, 2023) The Philippine

populus have long normalized the silent harassment and microaggressions due to intrinsic

Catholic beliefs. This has spread to workplaces such as studios, offices, even the local

government units causing the members of the community to be marginalized and feel unequal to

their peers. Punongbayan (2024) expressed in his article that “There’s an equity aspect as well (in

fact, I’d say that the bill promotes equity more than equality). The whole point is to address the

specific challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community, and protect them from the long-standing

and systemic discrimination that has often made them feel inferior vis-à-vis the rest of the

population, or the ‘majority.’” Such as that of the already existing local ordinances, this bill

would cover hate crimes and harassment including workplaces, schools, etc. encompassing the

entire country. The bill essentially demarginalizes the LGBTQ+ community.

Even with the supposed acceptance, the LGBTQ+ community still suffers from

discrimination with roots from religious and societal standards. Despite having a strong Catholic

heritage, the Philippines is regarded as one of the most LGBT-friendly nations in Asia. In the

country’s churches, LGBT individuals have made their mark and even assumed significant

leadership positions in the Catholic religion (De Guzman, 2022). De Guzman also reported that

Jayeel Cornelio, a sociologist of religion at Ateneo de Manila University, says “If an LGBT

person is visibly professing the faith, the Catholic laity finds them ‘tolerable,’” Religious

tolerance, however, does not mean acceptance. Catholics, which are majority of Filipinos,

intrinsically presume that homosexuality is a form of sin but members of the LGBTQ+

community in the Philippines have no difficulty in associating with the Roman Catholic religion.

Estrella (2021) said in his exploratory study that “In 2013 [sic] survey entitled “The Global

Divide on Homosexuality by Pew Research Center”, the Philippines has a high public acceptance

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of homosexuals as supported by 73% of adult Filipinos agreed [sic] that homosexuality must be

acknowledged by society. However, many people especially LGBTQ+ community proved that

the Philippines is more tolerant than acknowledging”. Without acceptance and

acknowledgements, society has normalized scrutinizing the LGBTQ+ community, especially in

the media. While Philippine media has slowly improved its representation of the LGBTQ+

community such as the normalization of the existence of queerness and rise of LGBTQ+ couples

in social media, harmful stereotypes are still prevalent type casting queer experiences as trivial

such as portrayal of the sassy gay best friend or butch lesbains. (Baron, 2022) This leads to a

problem: the majority of the uninformed and uneducated do not even recognize that they are

stereotyping. Many members of the community have come out in recent times of their

experiences with discrimination (Magsambol, 2019) such as queer men being “malamya” or

effeminate or lesbian couples being discriminated against because they could never have children

implying that being neglected by family members and society are typical narratives for the

LGBTQ+ community. Pushing for the SOGIE Equality Bill could potentially root out and

eliminate these microaggressions in the both studios and inner circles of the community.

The fight for injustices and the continuous microaggressions suffered by the gender

minority is grounding the need for nationwide legislation of the House Bill 4982 or the SOGIE

Equality Bill. Despite the existence of local ordinances (which are caustically described as

“symbolic” or “toothless” by critics) and relative tolerance (within religion and society)

contribute to the discrimination and abuse of the LGBTQ+ community. Primary opposition

against the bill contains prejudice and misconceptions of different religions which led them to

believe that the bill is a call for the members of the LGBTQ+ community to be “given special

treatment.” The bill strives to give justice for the marginalized and contribute to obtaining

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equality among the gender minority in our society and being gradually accustomed to the bill

could lead to better representation in the media. Its aim encompasses eradication of systemic

discrimination, which had been a huge issue for decades in our society. Passing the bill would

potentially eliminate these issues opting for a more inclusive Philippines. The bill’s passage

aligns with the core principles in the 1987 Philippine Constitution and reaffirms the nation's

commitment to the nation’s human rights and equality. In conclusion, although some argue that

the SOGIE bill provides special treatment to the LGBTQ+ community, a closer look reveals that

it upholds the fundamental rights of all individuals, regardless of their SOGIE, and therefore

deserves to be passed. It covers all and protects all, making the SOGIE Equality Bill a true

testament to the country's dedication to upholding the dignity and rights of all its citizens.

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 II.​ Definitions

SOGIE: Refers to Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression, encompassing all

forms of identity and attraction.

Discrimination: The unjust treatment of individuals based on characteristics such as

sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression.

Hate Crime: A criminal act motivated by bias against someone’s race, religion, sexual

orientation, or other identity factors.

LGBTQ+: An acronym representing lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender,

queer/questioning individuals, along with others who do not identify with traditional sexual

orientations or gender norms.

Microaggressions: Subtle, often unintentional comments or actions that convey bias or

discrimination against marginalized groups, such as LGBTQIA+ individuals. These can include

stereotyping or dismissive remarks.

Sexual Orientation: Refers to a person’s physical, romantic, or emotional attraction

toward individuals of the same gender (homosexual), opposite gender (heterosexual), or both

genders (bisexual). Sexual orientation is distinct from gender identity and biological sex.

Gender Identity: A deeply held sense of being male, female, or somewhere along the

gender spectrum. It may not necessarily align with an individual's biological sex assigned at

birth.

Gender Expression: The external display of one's gender through clothing, demeanor,

hairstyle, and behavior. This expression may or may not conform to societal expectations

traditionally associated with one's sex assigned at birth.

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 Sex Characteristics: Physical attributes, such as reproductive organs, chromosomes, and

hormones, that define an individual’s biological sex. These are important in discussions on

intersex individuals, whose sex characteristics may not fit typical male or female classifications.

Human Rights: Fundamental rights and freedoms inherent to all individuals, regardless

of their nationality, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity. These include the

rights to equality, freedom, and dignity.

Misgendering: Referring to someone using a pronoun or form of address that does not

correctly reflect their gender identity. This is a common issue faced by transgender and

non-binary individuals.

Equality: Treating everyone the same, regardless of starting point or circumstances.

Equity: Recognizing unique challenges and allocating resources or protections to ensure

fair outcomes for all.

Oppression: A systemic and institutionalized form of injustice that disadvantages certain

groups while privileging others. For the LGBTQ+ community, oppression includes

marginalization, denial of rights, and social stigmatization.

III.​ Facts surrounding the issue

Difficulties in getting employment, accessing preferred restrooms, attending educational

institutions, and feeling safe in public and recreational spaces are just a few of the challenges

being experienced by the members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer

(LGBTQ+) community because of their sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression

(SOGIE). On a daily basis, these individuals face discrimination and marginalization in various

ways and situations and become victims of stereotyping and double standards. According to the

10
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the members of the LGBTQ+ community

experience sexual violence and harassment at an equal, if not higher, rate than cis heterosexuals.

Statutes were made to curtail their freedom to express and live their true SOGIE which, when

violated, would cost their lives.

Despite being considered one of the most tolerable countries globally for LGBTQ+ based

on a Pew Research Center survey in 2013, Filipino LGBTQ+ individuals endure similar

problems. In the Philippines, 6 out of 10 individuals experience outright injustice due to their

SOGIESC2.

However, this figure might still be conservative because violence directed at LGBTQ+

people is underreported, thereby not addressed per Outrage Magazine. Fear and intimidation

alongside the stigma would discourage them from seeking help from their families and

authorities. Because of their SOGIE, a United Nations (UN) study showed that 30% of

LGBTQ+s reported being harassed, bullied, or discriminated against by others at work, and 21%

believed that they were denied a job due to their SOGIE.

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 According to the Spartacus Gay Travel Index (GTI) in 2019, the Philippines ranked 95th

in the Spartacus World Travel Index which judged 194 countries according to 14 categories,

including the existence of antiLGBTQ+ legislation, immigration restrictions for people living

with HIV travelers, and religious influences. The lack of a law that prohibits discriminatory

policies against people because of their SOGIE only makes the lives of the LGBTQ+ community

even more complicated.

Addressing these human rights issues became an uphill battle in the country's legislative

chambers. In 2000, an anti-discrimination bill was first filed in the House of Representatives by

former Partylist Representative Loretta Ann Rosales, who became Chairperson of the

Commission on Human Rights. Former Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, on the other hand,

sponsored a similar bill in the Senate. The bill essentially seeks to eliminate discriminatory

practices based on sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression by proscribing and

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penalizing these kinds of ways. Twenty years have gone, and multiple filings were done; still, no

legislation was passed that answers this gap in protecting people's rights with diverse SOGIE.

Prior debates about the bill's necessity and confusion resulted in framing it as a fight for

equality, hence titling the next bills as SOGIE Equality Bill. There were a couple of unfortunate

incidences that made the call for the passage of the bill part of the public discourse. In 2014, a

trans woman Jennifer Laude was murdered by a US Marine, adjudged guilty by the Philippine

court but later on pardoned by the President. In 2019, Gretchen Diez, also a trans woman, was

stopped from using the restroom of her choice in a shopping mall and illegally detained by the

mall administration. After all these events, the clamor for a bill that would guarantee anyone's

rights regardless of SOGIE continues. While waiting for a national statute, there are now seven

provinces and 28 cities and municipalities with ordinances that prohibit discrimination based on

SOGIE.

While this law is yet to be legislated, some local government units (LGUs) in the country

have already passed anti-discriminatory local ordinances which are similar to the proposed bill in

the Congress. Manalastas (n.d.) determined that as of 2017, only 11.40% of the Philippine

population reside in areas that have anti-discrimination ordinances indicating around 82 million

Filipinos are residing in areas without these ordinances. This indicates that the majority of the

population are not protected against discrimination based on their SOGIE.

A survey by Social Weather Station in 2019 had shown that the majority of Filipinos

agree that a specific law that protects the LGBTQ+ people from discrimination is necessary

because they believe that they experience too much discrimination.

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Out of the 1,200 respondents, 79% agreed that gays or lesbians are just as "trustworthy as any

other Filipino.” Only 7% of the respondents admitted that they do not trust gays or lesbians,

while 13% remained undecided on the matter.

When asked whether LGBTQIA+ individuals have contributed to the progress of society, 73% of

respondents agreed with the statement. In contrast, only 8% disagreed with this notion, while

19% were undecided.

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In the survey, about 43% of respondents believed that "AIDS can be considered as a sickness of

gays and lesbians." Approximately 26% of respondents in the latest survey agreed with the

statement that being gay or lesbian is contagious. The poll also showed that 40% of respondents

expressed a desire for gay or lesbian family members to change and conform to heterosexual

norms.

While LGUs of major sectors of the country still advocate for proper implementation of

Anti-Discrimination Ordinances in their respective localities, abuse still happens or even ignored

despite these ordinances. Punongbayan (2024) reported in his article the forcible arrest of

LGBTQ+ protesters and the five-day detention of a trans activist in a male cell in 2020 during

15
the height of lockdowns because of public disapproval when a barangay captain in Mexico,

Pampanga, ordered LGBTQ+ quarantine violators to "kiss each other and do a sexy dance in

front of a minor,". He also reported the “punishment” of lesbians having their heads publicly

shaved in Ampatuan, Maguindanao in 2021, the reason being; they were lesbians. In 2022, a

trans woman was forced to use a male fitting room at a Zara store in Bonifacio Global City.

While LGUs have the necessary power to punish such acts, they are timid in doing so. Irish

Inoceto, a Filipino LGBT activist and former employee of the Philippine Supreme Court, tells

TIME that, while many cities around the nation have already implemented local ordinances to

penalize SOGIE-based discrimination, these local ordinances were ultimately “toothless” (De

Guzman, 2023). De Guzman’s article described the experiences of Inoceto and two transgender

students in Iloilo City, whose anti-discrimination ordinance was passed in 2018, and their

school’s attempts to restrict their gender expression. This prompted Inoceto to write to the school

on behalf of both students but was eventually ignored, bringing her into the national spotlight

and, in due course, forced her to flee the country. LGU responses are somewhat lackluster and

inconsistent and in order for better implementation, national government intervention should be

mandatory.

There were a lot of unapproved bills in the Philippines because they violated the moral

standards of the country. As we all know, the Philippines is a conservative country that strictly

follows the dominant religion which is the Roman Catholic and this is the reason why some bills

were not being approved and controversial because it is influenced by the religious and

conservative aspect of the country. S.O.G.I.E. Bill is one of the most controversial and debated

bills in the Philippines. Some say this bill should be passed because the LGBTQ community

deserves this bill to protect them from discrimination and to have equality of opportunity in

16
getting a job. However, the ethical issue revolves around striking a balance between advocating

for universal rights and respecting the cultural and religious beliefs of the majority. The dilemma

centers on whether to prioritize LGBTQ+ communities or to uphold the existing conditions,

which some believe reflect the deeply rooted cultural and religious norms. Some also argue that

this bill should not be approved because it will “undercut” parent’s authority over their child,

religious freedom, and freedom of expression. Some LGBTQ members do not approve this bill

because they find it unnecessary to have this bill since we already have laws that ensure them

avoid any kind of discrimination such as the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995, Code of

Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials, and Employees, The 1987 Philippine

Constitution, etc. It started to be heated after a trans woman Gretchen Custodio Diez was barred

from using her preferred restroom in Cubao when some women in that restroom felt

uncomfortable with a transwoman in a ladies’ bathroom. This caused a lot of different reactions

from the people, some were mad because of the unfair treatment of staff toward the transwoman

when she was dragged out of the mall. There’s also the other side, that says, the transwoman

deserves to be out of the mall since she doesn’t use the appropriate restroom for her and she

makes the other women feel uncomfortable. This issue creates a lot of arguments, and some

celebrities participate in this topic. The face of Gretchen Diez was being bombarded by the

netizens on Social Media, and a lot of memes of her face were becoming the laughingstock of the

people. She became the political tool for some of the politicians.

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IV.​ Formulate Actions and Consider Alternatives

Actions:

1.​ Public Awareness Campaigns

There is a great need for education on the intent, scope, and importance of the SOGIE Bill to

break into the misinterpretation and resistance. They must educate that this bill promotes equality

and human rights for all.

Implementation: Collaborate with government agencies, LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations, civil

society groups, and academic institutions to initiate comprehensive media campaigns. These

campaigns will utilize television, radio, print, and social media to disseminate accurate and

engaging information about the SOGIE Bill. Additionally, develop educational programs tailored

for schools and community groups, create informative documentaries and visually appealing

infographics, and enhance outreach efforts by involving trusted public figures, social influencers,

and respected faith leaders to humanize the bill’s purpose and impact.

Expected Outcome: A significant reduction in public misconceptions about the SOGIE Bill,

fostering increased understanding, empathy, and acceptance of its objectives.

2.​ Legislative Advocacy

Strategic efforts are employed to engage lawmakers and government officials in advocating for

the passage of the SOGIE Bill. These efforts involve cultivating meaningful relationships with

legislators, organizing focused meetings, and presenting evidence and persuasive testimonies to

emphasize the bill's importance. Additionally, advocacy efforts address prevalent misconceptions

and proactively counter opposition arguments, fostering a comprehensive and informed dialogue

on the bill's necessity.

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Implementation: Advocate and coordinate campaigns to engage key legislators through focused

advocacy efforts. Directly interact with influential policy makers by organizing meetings, and

public testimonies that present evidence supporting the bill's importance. Work with allies from

government, civil society, and the business sector to align efforts and deliver a consistent

message highlighting the bill's benefits for all citizens.

Expected Outcome: Increased understanding among lawmakers of the impact of SOGIE-based

discrimination and the bill's importance.

Alternatives:

1.​ Strengthening existing laws

Anti-discrimination laws and policies can be reformed and amended to include protections for

SOGIE innately. Some examples include updating the Magna Carta of Women (RA 9710), labor

codes, educational policies, and laws to protect marginalized communities. This way, the rights

of LGBTQ+ will not lose focus by becoming part of the broader framework but will maintain the

focus on equality for all sectors.

2.​ Regional Implementation Phases

Implementing the SOGIE Bill as a pilot scheme in progressive regions or areas with a strong

presence of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Metro Manila or Cebu, would allow the

government to test its efficacy and address the potential problems that could emerge before

implementing it nationwide. It offers a controlled environment to gather data, refine strategies,

and provide proof of the bill's impact.

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 V.​ Ethical Stand

Despite the claims that the SOGIE bill gives special treatment to the LGBTQ+

community; a closer look at the bill shows that it's the recognition of the fundamental rights of

everyone regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity; hence it should be passed.

While the interpretation of the Bible is relative, human rights are absolute. Bible verses

should be interpreted using faith and reason and reading or interpreting the scriptures should not

be seen as a privileged reading. It should be interpreted alongside other pieces of literature,

lenses, and context. To read it as unitary and univocal is unfair and unjust. There are a lot of

things the Bible condemns that we no longer consider sinful. For instance, the Bible considers

lending money with interest a violation of God's commandment and an abomination. We should

also reflect on the following passages in the Bible that talk about love and acceptance:

"There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But

you—who are you to judge your neighbor?" James 4:128

"For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: "Love your neighbor as

yourself." Galatians 5:149

"Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for

whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, "You shall not commit

adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not covet," and

whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: "Love your

neighbor as yourself." Love does not harm a neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of

the law." Romans 13:8-10.

Moreover, religious leaders also declared support for the bill. In a statement by Archbishop

Socrates Villegas on behalf of the Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), he

20
believes that the passage of an anti-discrimination law is a “gesture of charity.” As the President

of the religious group, the Archbishop reminded his peers that the duty to care for all includes the

members of the LGBTQ+ community; hence Catholic schools must prevent bullying against

students who are gender non-conforming and ensure a zero-tolerance policy. The religious leader

also reminded the parents to be sources of compassion and understanding for LGBTQ+

individuals. The Archbishop’s statement is incongruent with Pope Francis' vision of the Church

as the sacrament of divine mercy and compassion. Thus, verbal and physical violence against

LGBTQs are contrary to the Gospel and is an offense against God Himself.

A RELIGIOUS EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION DILEMMA

A sectarian education institution is still an educational institution; therefore, it should not

in any way promote and teach matters that would result in harm and exclusion towards other

people. Education is imbued with the public interest, and it is the institution in charge of values

formation. Shouldn't we be teaching children to be moral human beings? Shouldn't we be

teaching kids to be respectful of others? Teaching that homosexuality is a sin that promotes

stigma. It is an act of discrimination. In the same way that we don't teach our kids to be racist or

misogynist, we shouldn't teach them how to be homophobic bigots.

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VI.​ Conclusion and Recommendation

A.​ Summary of the Ethical Issue

Balancing human rights with deeply rooted religious and cultural values is a significant

action that needs to be done to address the systemic discrimination faced by the LGBTQ+

community. According to the July 2018 Labor Force Survey, there was a pay gap of 4.84%

against women, reflecting the status of gender equality in the Philippines. The International

Labour Organization (2015) states that the LGBTQ+ community are often denied jobs or

promotions due to their gender expression. There are possible benefits if the bill were to be

passed, such as possible resolution on unjust gender-based salary differences, among others.

While religious interpretations have been made to protest the bill, various passages in the

Bible such as Luke 10:27 and Galatians 5:14 emphasize love and acceptance towards your

neighbor. Galatians 3:28 specifically expresses that despite differences in gender, we are all one

in Jesus Christ.

The SOGIE Equality Bill fosters equality and promotes a bridge between gaps in

employment through addressing discriminatory practices against the LGBTQ+, such as unequal

pay, denial of promotion opportunities, etc. The bill emphasizes the fundamental rights of

everyone regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity, which reflects the need for it

to be passed. By advocating for the SOGIE Equality Bill, the Philippines can foster a community

where individuals are genuinely accepted regardless of gender expression, and human rights are

safeguarded.

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B.​ Recommendations

1.​ Community Advocacy.

Government agencies, schools, and non-governmental organizations

should be encouraged to launch awareness campaigns nationwide to educate the

public about the significance of SOGIE and equality, raising awareness, and

equipping individuals with necessary knowledge and resources.

2.​ Workplace Policy Reformation.

Revised policies in the workplace promoting inclusivity and eliminating

discrimination based on SOGIE can lead to higher employee satisfaction and

productivity (ILO, 2015). A fair work environment allowing diverse perspectives

will lead to better work quality and work ethic.

3.​ Accessible Support

There should be government-mandated support systems for individuals

facing SOGIE-based discrimination. This could include free legal aid, help lines,

and specialized support units within government agencies. Other programs such

as community-based support programs should also be developed.

4.​ Religious Integration

Engage religious organizations in discussions about SOGIE and human

rights, encouraging inclusive interpretations of their doctrines. Promoting

compassion and understanding aligns with biblical teachings of love and mercy

(Galatians 5:14), and highlighting shared values, such as compassion and the

significance of human dignity, can reduce resistance to the bill.

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VII.​ References

Abad, M. (2022). LIST: Philippine local governments with anti-discrimination

ordinances. Rappler.

https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/list-local-governments-philippines-anti-discri

mination-ordinances/

Amnesty International (2022). Ph rejection of UPR recommendation to uphold

SOGIESC, another failure in Marcos Jr’s leadership. Amnesty International.

https://www.amnesty.org.ph/2022/11/ph-rejection-of-upr-recommendation-to-uphold-

sogiesc-another-failure-in-marcos-jrs-leadership/

Amnesty International (n.d.). SOGIESC. Amnesty International.

https://www.amnesty.org.ph/campaigns/sogiesc/

An Act Prohibiting Discrimination on the Basis of Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity

or Expression (SOGIE) and Providing Penalties Therefor, H. B. 4982, 17th Cong.

(2017). https://legacy.senate.gov.ph/lisdata/2682323034!.pdf

Baron, G. (2022). LGBT representation in PH media 'improving'. Manila Bulletin.

https://mb.com.ph/2022/03/30/lgbt-representation-in-ph-media-improving/

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