A COMMITTEE in the House of Representatives approved on Friday, August 28, 2020, a bill seeking to declare May 17 as a national day against fear of persons with diverse sexual orientation and gender identity expression (Sogie).
The House committee on women and gender equality approved a substitute bill to House Bills 2617 and 4826, which aims to recognize May 17 as the "International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia" in commemoration of that day in 1990 when the World Health Organization (WHO) removed homosexuality from its international classification of mental disorders.
"Every year on this date, people all over the world would pause and ponder on the high human and social cost of discrimination, violence, and harassment against LGBTQIA+ community all over the world," the bill states.
It noted that many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and/or questioning, intersex and asexual (LGBTQIA+) are refused employment, the use of public facilities or health care services, among others because of their sexual orientation and gender identity.
HB 2617 and 4826 were filed by Bayan Muna Party-list Representatives Carlos Isagani Zarate, Ferdinand Gaite, Eufemia Cullamat, and Manila 3rd District Representative John Marvin "Yul Servo" Nieto, respectively.
They cited data from the Hate Crime Watch saying there have been 54 reported cases of killings of gays and lesbians documented in the media since 1996, including the brutal killing of Jennifer Laude.
"But it is the undocumented cases outside media coverage which are estimated to be much greater," the lawmakers said.
Laude was found dead in October 2014, her head leaning on the rim of the toilet bowl. She was half naked. An autopsy report later revealed that she died by drowning.
American marine Joseph Scott Pemberton was found guilty after a publicized trial.
"While laws protecting marginalized sectors such as women, children, migrants, national minorities, and the elderly have been passed, Congress has yet to pass measures protecting the rights of the LGBTs," the lawmakers said. (VoxPop Philippines)
