Perception of Filipino LGBTQ members toward the sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression Equality Bill (SOGIE Bill)

Introduction

SOGIE stands for sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. The state acknowledges that everyone has a fundamental right to be free from all forms of discrimination, regardless of gender, age, class, status, race, color, disability, religion, political views, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression. Therefore, it must work harder to fulfill its obligations under the Philippine Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause, the Bill of Rights, and other domestic and international laws to respect, uphold, and complete each person’s rights and dignity.

The general definition of harassment is “unwanted conduct and behavior that offends the party’s gender, sexual orientation, or other characteristics.” Physical assault, stalking, and making offensive remarks, insults, or improper solicitations are a few examples of these forbidden behaviors. Any medium, including but not limited to visual representation, broadcast communication, letters, mail, telecommunications equipment, or cyberspace, may be used to conduct it.

To accomplish this, the state shall work to eliminate all forms of discrimination. These discriminations and acts of violence are based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression, and are intended to uphold the principles of human dignity outlined in the United Nations Universal Declaration on Human Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, and in particular General Recommendation No. 28 on Non-Discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity (House Bill No. 4982).

This study aims to determine whether the sexual orientation and gender identity and expression Equality Bill is perceived to be helpful by the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community members. Schools should be a safe place for everyone, but the problem is that students who are part of the LGBTQ community too often find their schooling experience marred by bullying and discrimination.

Discrimination against LGBTQ people is one of the most contentious issues in the Philippines. The LGBTQ are being discriminated against based on how they express themselves publicly (1). The SOGIE Equality Bill is essential as it will intensify efforts to fulfill the rights and dignity of every individual. This study can assist readers in understanding why the country needs to achieve gender equality.

Governments have become “gay-friendly” (2), suggesting that some parts of the country ignore the need for anti-discrimination laws and even political representation in counties with older practices, such as Christianity. The values are still maintained, and conservatives have a country that advocates “loving sinners and hating sin.”

The majority of LGBTQ people face discrimination at school (3). Other students hate LGBTQ members and treat them unequally. The Department of Education (DepEd) enacted a child protection policy in 2012 to address bullying and discrimination in schools.

Still, implementing and monitoring the Child Protection Policy are ineffective, and many LGBT youths continue to experience bullying and harassment in school (4). School-denying discrimination is accurate, and it risks the lives of the LGBTQ community, which faces discrimination and hate daily. Students can not remain silent on the issue of discrimination (5).

Research elaborations

The SOGIE Equality Bill is an anti-discrimination bill that prohibits unfair treatment based on a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression. The SOGIE Bill should be defeated because it violates not only our constitution, but also common sense.

SOGIE was included in the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 10627, otherwise known as the “Anti-Bullying Act of 2013.” The IRR was signed on December 13 by Bro, Armin A. Luistro, FCS, Secretary of the DepEd.

Gender responsiveness is not simply about identifying gender issues or operating on the assumption that they “do no harm,” but instead that the process overcomes historical gender biases, so to speak, “for the better.” It is meant to help significantly in “doing” and enable women to participate in these actions.

Join us and reap the benefits. In addition, gender-sensitive planned activities should promote gender equality and women’s empowerment, promote women’s inclusion, and provide equal opportunities for women and men to achieve social and economic benefits. Must include measures to provide.

Acceptance is different from tolerance. Tolerance conceals prejudice and discrimination, heightened by the class, social, and legal status of transgender people and gays (6). The country’s peculiar relationship with the LGBT was expected to conform to this typification; for example, there is the butch lesbian and the flamboyant gay. The moment LGBT people step out to demand rights, they immediately become a threat to society because they no longer fulfill or fit the stereotype associated with them (7).

In September 2017, the Philippine Congress unanimously passed 1980–0 to pass the SOGIE Equality Act, also known as the Anti-Discrimination Bill (ADB). The SOGIE Equality Bill addresses the prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.

The draft contains a list of discrimination, fines, or imprisonment depending on the court’s decision (8). Congressman Etta Rosales introduced the first bill, and the current bill was approved by Congressman Kaka Baguao. Still, it is not the only solution sought by legislators, activists, and academics when solving the problems facing LGBT people in the Philippines.

The elimination of discrimination under the SOGIE Equality Act can partially address the inequalities that LGBT people derive from unresolved gender double standards. ADB emphasizes prohibiting discriminatory practices in education, employment, public services, LGBT access to public facilities, and harassment. The Senate has not yet acknowledged the facts.

Distinction, exclusion, restriction, or based on gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other reason that has the purpose or effect of disabling, recognizing, accessing, enjoying, disabling, or impeding the exercise of all rights and freedoms by all on equal terms; indicates priority—the exercise of all rights and freedoms by all on equal terms. The actual sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression of the person discriminated against is irrelevant in determining whether an act of discrimination has occurred (Republic of the Philippines, House of Representatives, Section 3, 2017).

A victim occurs when a school places a student at a disadvantage because the student or the student’s parents or siblings are taking or attempting to take action under the Disability Discrimination Act. This also applies to students who are associated with or perceived to have a disability.

Nevertheless, when considering the bill’s content, some issues are not covered or included, especially in employment. Various studies focusing on careers and the labor market show that LGBT people are denied the right to express their sexual orientation and gender identity and are often forced to conform to heteronormative perspectives.

Read various cases and stories of LGBT employment discrimination in the labor market and workplace, from employment to employment, receiving benefits, and enjoying good wellbeing. There may be many qualitative studies on LGBT discrimination in this country. However, there has been little research into the nuances of this discrimination within the country, as well as the intersections that lead to their rights.

The lack of corroborating statistics demonstrating the levels of employment and labor associated with SOGIE discrimination in the Philippines, given the increasing commonality of experience in the existing literature, suggests its magnitude and impact. This is against Gay Literature was born in the in the early 1990s in the countryside. Academic research and political activism involving the LGBT community have become more mainstream.

LGBT-related writing became more popular in local and community publications toward the end of the decade, leading to the formation of LGBT lobby groups and the first formal political advocacy with the drafting of the SOGIE Equality Act. In the new millennium, the development of political parties was observed (UNDP, USAID 2014). Inadequate recognition of LGBT discrimination directly impacts litigation and social, political, or even economic advocacy to protect and support LGBT people and the inequalities they face as a class (9).

There are examples of legal and political support for LGBT people in the form of local ordinances. Suppose 14 local governments have enacted anti-discrimination legislation, but the implementing rules and regulations are still weak, resulting in a lack of clarity and procedures. Discrimination in the workplace is addressed in some way by the public sector, which prohibits discrimination in selecting employees for promotion based on various criteria, including gender (10).

According to a study on the LGBTQ community and domestic violence, people who identify as “lesbian,” “gay,” or “bisexual” because they have primary intimate relationships with partners of the same or different genders have a “sexual orientation.”

“Trans” cannot be considered a sexual orientation because it is a gender identity. All the ways individuals experience themselves as male, female, or other genders are called “gender identities.” According to the study about LGBTQ communities and domestic violence, “trans” has become a comforting term for people who experience the gender they identify with, which is different from the gender they were born with, or who in some way transgress the gender boundaries and expectations of the culture.

The descriptor “gender-variant” uses the term “relationship,” referring to an intimate relationship between people who are identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or trans. According to the study about the LGBTQ community and domestic violence, homophobia is not a phobia in a clinical sense and is a cultural construct.

Homophobia is a combination of at least three deep prejudices: a must-have mistrust and dislike of difference, and an aversion to the sexual activity of same-gender people who appear to violate traditional gender roles. The expression of homophobia differs depending on the degree and type of prejudice held and ranges from personal discomfort to outright violence to systematic institutional discrimination against those perceived to be non-heterosexual or defying gender norms (11).

Most studies on sexual and gender identities in adults focus on the extent to which sexual orientation and gender identity influence individuals’ aging experiences (12). Students find that they know most about lesbians, gays, women, and bisexuals.

Bisexuals are not always included in the LGBT category, but it is rarely examined on its own, so even less is known about the unique experience of other bisexuals. Many of the challenges and experiences of sexual minorities shared by gender non-conforming adults and transgender individuals are often analyzed under the LGBT umbrella.

Transgender people encounter specific challenges, and they need support with things like transitions related to medical care, which LGBT older adults do not. Regardless of these differences, transgender access is now limited. The report, when available, included transgender-specific issues (13).

The Institute of Medicine’s (2011) report on LGBT wealth recommended that researchers consider four conceptual perspectives, including minority stress (14). LGBT individuals experience stress and prejudice in social environments toward their sexual and gender minority identities (15).

Outside the home, the primary vehicles for education are the schools. It also helps young people socialize with others. It can be a challenging environment for students, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Still, they are often especially unwelcoming for LGBTQ youth, and a failure to implement protection means bullying, exclusion, and discrimination in school, limiting their education.

Bullying and harassment are serious problems for LGBT youth, even as their peers generally become more supportive. The human rights campaign has found that although 75% of LGBT youth say most of their relatives do not have a problem with their identity, LGBT youth are still more than twice as likely as non-LGBT youth to be physically attacked at school, twice as likely to be verbally harassed at school, and twice as likely to be excluded by their peers. Without expressing some protections for sexual orientation and gender identity that are conveyed to students and staff, bullying and harassment against LGBT students goes unchecked.

Many students reported that school personnel did not raise the issue of bullying based on sexual orientation or gender identity at assemblies and educational programs on bullying held in schools.

LGBT students described a double-edged relationship with technology and social media, which allowed every student to find online communities to explore their sexual orientation and gender identity while exposing them to bullying and harassment. Cyber bullying is generally a problem in middle and high schools, but LGBT students are the most vulnerable to harassment.

Equality is what the LGBTQ community seeks. Equality as human beings and citizens of this country, regardless of what gender they identify as or how they choose to express themselves. Because of discrimination, a bill like this has to be made because, instead of kindness, compassion, respect, and understanding, it has come to a point where they need this bill to protect their human rights (16).

This study focuses on LGBTQ members’ attitudes toward the SOGIE Equality Bill. This study will answer the following questions:

(1) What do LGBTQ members know about the SOGIE Equality Bill?

(2) What types of discrimination do LGBTQ experience in terms of:

a. Using public utilities

b. Gender fairness language

(3) How will the implementation of SOGIE Equality Bill benefit the LGBTQ members in terms of:

a. Decision-making

b. Using public utilities

c. Gender-fair language

The researchers used qualitative research design, which is a method used in studying human behavior, opinions, themes, and motivation. The researchers used this method because they are interested in making an inference based on the LGBTQ community’s perspective on the SOGIE Equality Bill, so gathering as much data as possible for later analysis is critical.

The researchers gathered the information for this study through interviews. They interviewed 10 selected LGBTQ members of Colegio de Los Baños, and those students are the participants or respondents of this study. The researchers chose the participants or respondents because LGBTQ members of CDLB cover/or are related to their chosen topic. Thus, they will play a crucial role as respondents to their study.

Results and discussion

I. Awareness about SOGIE Equality Bill

Eight out of ten respondents said that they are aware of the SOGIE Equality Bill, while two out of ten respondents said that they do not have any idea about the SOGIE Equality Bill.

Respondent 1: Yeah, ang sinasabi dito o yung nakapaloob dito is yung sa mga CR, hindi lang siya albl about sa mga CR magkakaroon ng seperated for LGBTQ, magkakaroon din dito yung sa mga discrimination which is okay naman siya.

Respondent 2: Yes, about to dun sa rights ng LGBTQ member.

Respondent 3: Oo naman. Masyado niyang ino-overtake yung karapatan ng LGBTQ, para sakin kasi dapat iisa lang yung karapatan.

Respondent 6: Yes po, eto po yung paghihiwalay ng CR para sa mga LGBTQ.

Respondent 8: Yes po, ito po yung batas na inilalaban sa senado gawa nabuo yon dahil dun sa diskriminasyon dun sa LGBTQ member na about dun sa CR.

Respondent 10: Yes po, ito yung bill na nagtataguyod ng bill na puprotekta sa mga LGBTQ members.

Most of the respondents answered that they are aware and have knowledge about the SOGIE Equality Bill. Some of their concerns about the SOGIE Equality Bill revolve primarily around bathroom issues. Some of them stated that the SOGIE Equality Bill is for the rights and protection of LGBTQ members against discrimination, and some of them were not aware of the said bill.

The SOGIE seeks to protect members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) community from any discriminatory acts.

Following Diez’s harassment, Sen. Tito Sotto stated that the opponent of the SOGIE Equality Bill stated that toilets are biologically based and that lesbian women and trans men are unable to use male restrooms (Casal, 2019).

II. Favor for SOGIE Equality Bill

From the information according to the answers of the respondents, 6 out of 10 respondents are in favor of the implementation of the SOGIE Equality Bill, and 4 out of 10 respondents are not in favor of the implementation of the SOGIE Equality Bill.

Respondent 1: Hindi ako pabor doon. As a part of LGBTQ, parang pinapakita na bakit pa kailangan ng batas na yon which is ang kailangan lang naman natin is respect sa individual.

Respondent 2: Hindi ako pabor doon kasi parang magkakaroon lang ng barrier yung LGBTQ, dun palang sa CR lalo na yung sa birth certificate, kapag pinanganak ka ikaw na mag dedecide kaya di ako pabor doon.

Respondent 3: As a part of LGBTQ, hindi ko na itotolerate yung mga ganon-kasi sumusobra sa pag aano ng kagustuhan kasi samin sapat na yung pagtanggap samin.

Respondent 4: Siyempre pabor, para maiwasan na din yung discrimination.

Respondent 5: Siyempre pabor ako, siyempre katulad ko’ng gay makikinabang ako sa batas na yon.

Respondent 6: Para sakin, hindi. kasi kung ihihiwalay lang ang mga LGBTQ parang lalo lang silang babastusin.

Respondent 7: Pabor kasi diba mabibigyan ng pantay pantay na pakikitungo sa mga part ng LGBTQ.

Respondent 8: Para sakin pabor ako kasi hindi lang naman naka focus yon sa LGBTQ member kung hindi sa lahat din.

Respondent 9: Pabor po kasi lahat naman po tayo merong equality na dapat pinapansin ng iba.

Respondent 10: Pabor ako kasi hindi lang naman karapatan namin’ng mga LGBTQ ang magbebenefit dito.

Majority of the respondents are in favor of the implementation of the SOGIE Equality Bill because, according to the respondents, the said bill is to prevent discrimination and they will benefit a lot from this bill. It also promotes equality for all genders. Some respondents are not in favor of the implementation of the SOGIE Equality Bill because for them, respect is enough.

One of the biggest problems facing our country today is discrimination and inequality against the LGBTQ community. They are still disrespected and bullied by other people. Now is the time to pass the SOGIE Equality Bill in order to fulfill the rights of the LGBTQ community as human beings and to protect them from discrimination (Catadman, 2019).

According to Capitulo, the SOGIE Bill is not necessary since the Philippine Society is “innately tolerant of LGBTs.”

III. Exclusive Bill for LGBTQ members

Six out of ten respondents said that LGBTQ members still need this exclusive bill called the SOGIE Equality Bill, while four out of ten respondents said that LGBTQ members do not need this exclusive bill.

Respondent 2: Sa tingin ko, hindi na kailangan kasi may mga problema tayo na mas kailangan pag tuunan katulad ng kahirapan, dapat dun tayo mas mag focus kasi sapat na yung may respeto sa LGBTQ.

Respondent 3: Para sakin, hindi na kasi human rights lang sapat na yon.

Respondent 4: Oo siyempre kasi sa panahon natin ngayon magkakaiba tayo ng personal thinks kasi kahit wala naman tayong bill hindi parin talaga male lessen yung pangdi discriminate.

Respondent 5: Oo sa panahon kasi ngayon, sa pag laki na ng grupo ng LGBTQ, yung mga tao di paren tanggap. Pero pag nag karon na ng ganan di na sila maaapi.

Respondent 7: Oo kasi nga, as I said may mga tao nga na di kami tanggap o dini-discriminate kami so parang pabor ako don kase nga para mabigyan ng pantay pantay na tingin yung mga part ng LGBTQ.

Respondent 8: Oo dahil para mabawasan talaga yung diskriminasyon.

Respondent 9: Oo. Kasi tulad nga ng sinabi ko diba, kailangan naten ng equality kasi kailangan natin sila bigyan ng pansin sa lipunan na meron tayo ngayon, marami kasing mapang husga ngayon.

Respondent 10: Sa palagay ko, oo. Kasi para din naman samin to e, para at least mabawan na din yung mga diskriminasyon na nararanasan at mararanasan pa namin.

More respondents stated that our country needs an exclusive bill for LGBTQ members to eliminate discrimination and achieve equality. Some of the respondents stated that an exclusive bill is not needed because there are many aspects that the government should prioritize, and for them, human rights are enough.

The SOGIE Equality Bill becomes even more unacceptable when read alongside the ill-advised Safe Spaces Act. No to SOGIE. There are no SOGIE rights. Just Human Rights (Gatdula, 2019).

For more people, what happened to Diez is not an isolated case. They stressed that this will continue to happen without a law protecting the LGBTQ community. About what happened to Diez. It will intensify the need for the immediate passage of the SOGIE Bill (Rappler, 2019).

IV. Discrimination act in public places against LGBTQ members

Five out of ten respondents said that they experienced discrimination while using public utilities, while five out of ten respondents said that they did not experience any discrimination.

Respondent 1: Yes, syempre as a gay diba, kapag makikita ka nila na naka cross dress sa mall, parang anong iisipin nila, pag uusapan ka nila.

Respondent 2: Sa totoo lang ngayon lang kase ko naging out kaya hindi ko pa nararanasan.

Respondent 4: Ako never kasi lahat ng nasa paligid ko close ko, kasi minsan naman joke lang.

Respondent 5: Sa school kapag inaasar ka ng mga kaklase mo minsan nakaka sakit na.

Respondent 6: Sa ano palikuran, kunwari, sa school may mga lalaking nasilip samin.

Respondent 7: Nasasabihan ako ng iba sa school na bakit daw ako part ng LGBTQ, dapat daw hindi ako part non-kasi pangit daw LGBTQ, ayon mga ganon lang.

Respondent 8: Nung sa paaralan nung elementary, pinag ti-tripan at inaasar ako.

Half of the respondents reported being discriminated against while in or using public facilities such as schools, restrooms, churches, and shopping malls. The remaining number of respondents said that they had not experienced discrimination.

People shouted at some members of the LGBTQ community. They judged them based on what they were wearing, called them hurtful words, and, worst of all, killed them. Unfortunately, the majority of people are still not recognized as members of the order (Catadman, 2019).

V. Gretchen Diez’s comfort room issue

Five out of ten respondents said that they agree that Gretchen Diez uses the comfort room for women, which constitutes 50% of the total population, while four out of ten respondents said that they do not agree, which constitutes 40% of the total population, and one out of ten respondents said that the LGBTQ community really needs a separate comfort room, which represents 10% of the total population.

Respondent 1: So yun nga, parang feel niya kasi is babae siya kasi she’s a transgender kaya gusto niya mag cr sa cr na pambabae. Ang opinyon ko lang sa kaniya dun sa babae, dapat hindi naman ganon yung way ng pagsabi niya o dapat hindi naman niya kinaladkad o kung ano man yung sinasabi niya kasi maraming taong nakakakita sa kaniya.

Respondent 2: Para sakin na tama lang naman. Kasi ang palikuran ng babae ay para lamang sa naturang babae. Kung sa tingin nyo walang respeto ang hindi pag payag kay Diez sa pag gamit ng ano, sa tingin ko mas walang respeto yun gagamitin nya cr ng babae.

Respondent 3: Para sakin meron naman bowl ng lalake pwede naman sya don.

Respondent 4: Sakin naman tama yung ginawa nung maintenance kasi ginawa nya lang naman yung trabaho nya.

Respondent 5: Para sakin dapat hinayaan nya nalang lalo na kung di nya naman nakuha yung reaksyon nung mga nasa loob ng cr ng babae.

Respondent 6: Parang hindi fair kase kung ccr din sya sa lalake pwede din sya mabastos kase transgender sya.

Respondent 7: Siguro opinyon ko, parang nirerespeto ko naman yung guard o yung desisyon nya na wag pag banyuhen yung transgender sa banyo ng mga babae kasi nga may tamang banyo para sa mga kasarian.

Respondent 8: Sakin ano diba, yung iba din mga babae naiilang pag may ibang nag ccr sa cr nila, diba yung ibang pasilidad na meron na din cr na pang lgbtq parang gusto ko naka bukod.

Respondent 9: Tama naman yung ginawa ng ano pero dapat pinag bigyan nalang nung maintenance kase nakaka awa din naman yung ano e.

Respondent 10: Para sakin okay lang naman na mag cr yon sa cr ng mga babae kasi diba? As if naman na maaattract pa yon sa mga girls e gusto niya nga maging babae kaya para sakin mali yung ginawa nung maintenance.

Five respondents said that they agree with the action of the maintenance personnel toward Gretchen Diez because, for them, the comfort rooms for women are only for women, and it seems that if Gretchen uses the comfort rooms for women, it will show disrespect. There is also a designated comfort room for men.

Four respondents stated that they disagree with the action of the maintenance personnel because it was the right action toward the incident. One respondent suggested that Gretchen use separate comfort rooms for LGBTQ members.

A transgender woman who was prevented from using a woman’s restroom in a Cubao mall in Quezon City was arrested on August 13, 2018, according to the janitress, Chayra Ganal. Two girls approached the janitress about the LGBTQ member who wants to use the women’s restrooms; the janitress offered the male restroom, and she assured Diez that there would be no problem. She just dropped the charges against Diez upon mall instruction (Staff report, 2019).

VI. Discrimination against Expression of LGBTQ members

Two out of ten students are being discriminated against while expressing their thoughts and opinions, which constitutes 20% of the total population, while eight out of ten respondents said that they are not being discriminated against while expressing their thoughts and opinions, which represents 80% of the total population.

Respondent 1: Yung sa mga, like for example yung sa Facebook diba may mga nagpopost don ng mga kung ano ano, parang nakakapag ano din yon, nadidiscriminate din yung mga part ng LGBTQ.

Respondent 2: Hindi pa.

Respondent 3: Oo,grade 10 ako that time, sa report lagi sinasabi pag bakla madaldal.

Majority of the respondents said that they are not being discriminated against while expressing thoughts and opinions, while some of them are being discriminated against in social media and while reporting in class.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) students in the Philippines are often targets of ridicule and even violence, and in many instances, teachers and administrators are participating in the mistreatment instead of spacing out against discrimination (Regalado, 2019).

VII. Recommendation for LGBTQ members

Eight out of ten respondents recommended focusing on themselves, while two out of ten recommended praying for those who continuously experience discrimination.

Respondent 1: Para sakin ipahayag mo lang o ilabas mo lang, show what who you are, huwag kang mahiya, kung anong meron ka dapat go, dapat hindi ka magpapatalo sa mga nangbu bully o kung ano man yung sinasabi sayo. Kung anong nararamdaman mo dapat i-show mo lang kasi diba alam mo na eto na nga tayo papakita mo pa na negative ka, kailangan dapat confident ka sa sarili mo.

Respondent 2: Para sakin ano mag focus ka sa sarili mo kasi yung mga yon dadagdag lang yan sa problema mo.

Respondent 3: Para sakin mag pray at mag aral ng mabuti kase pag may pinag aralan ka alam mo na yung tama at mali.

Respondent 4: Syempre una, dapat mauna kang disiplinahin yung sarili mo kasi kung mabait ka sa kanila mabait din sila sayo, kung irerespeto mo sila irerespeto ka din nila.

Respondent 5: Siguro ano yung pananamit nila gawin naman nilang karespe respeto pero sana may limit.

Respondent 6: Tumayo lang sila kasi tao lang naman tayo, minsan nga mas magaling pa ang lgbt kesa sa normal na kasarian lang.

Respondent 7: Ano lang, wag intindihin yung sasabihin ng iba kasi kahit ano naman sabihin ng iba ikaw parin makaka intidi sa sarili mo.

Respondent 10: Huwag mong pakinggan yung mga sasabihin sayo ng ibang tao, basta pag alam mong wala kang masamang ginagawa, go lang, laban lang.

Respondents recommended to focus on oneself, just show who you are, discipline yourself, stand on your own, make yourself respectful, and be confident; other respondents suggested to pray.

VIII. LGBTQ members’ feelings about SOGIE Bill

Five out of ten respondents said that they are satisfied enough if ever the SOGIE Equality Bill will be implemented; three out of ten respondents said that they will be happy; and two out of ten respondents said that they will not be happy if the SOGIE Equality Bill will be implemented.

Respondent 1: Para sakin pag yon ay pumasa, okay naman siya sa ibakasi parang mag kakaron na ng separated cr e pano pag halimbawa may nag cr don na straight odiba parangnag kaka gulogulo lang.

Respondent 2: Siguro pag napasa to, yung mga tao, yung mga hindi member ng LGBTQ mag iiba yung tingin nila samin, dun na magkakaroon ng conflict.

Respondent 3: Hindi ako matutuwa kase sobrng unfair nito sa mga babae at lalake. Ang kailangan lang naten human right.

Respondent 4: Magiging safe ako dahil meron na nga ng bill nayon makakaron sila ng freedom.

Respondent 6: Okay lang naman sya pero syempre iwas discrimination din sa mga bakla.

Respondent 7: Ano masaya syempre mag kakaron na kame ng right sa mga ano ibang antas ng lipunan parang hindi nalang yug mga babae at lalake ang mabibigyan ng karapatan sa ibang aspeto ng buhay.

Respondent 8: Mas magiging safe ako pag nasa public places ako.

Most of the respondents said that they are happy when the SOGIE Equality Bill is implemented because they will have separate comfort rooms, it can give them rights, and it will lessen discrimination.

Some respondents said that they are satisfied enough because it can prevent discrimination. Other respondents said that they will not be happy when the SOGIE Equality Bill is implemented because, for them, it can cause conflict between LGBTQ members and non-LGBTQ members.

IX. Effect of SOGIE Bill to interaction

Four out of ten respondents said that the SOGIE Equality Bill will affect their way of expression and interaction in public places, while three out of ten respondents said that they will not be affected. Three out of ten respondents ignore the possible effects of the SOGIE Equality Bill.

Respondent 2: Siguro pag napasa to yung mga tao sa lgbtq mag iiba yun tingin samin. Dun na mag kakaron ng diskriminasyon samin.

Respondent 3: Siguro makisakay nalang kasi wala din naman akong magagawa.

Respondent 4: Sa tingin ko wala naman epekto, parang mag kakaron lang epekto na mag karon ng freedom na makipag halubilo parang nakikipag socialize ka ng walang takot.

Respondent 5: Siguro dapat natural lang kasi dapat igalang mo din sila, di dapat mapag mataas pag natupad na yon.

Respondent 7: Mas magiging open nako kasi meron nakong karapatan na ganan kaya di nako matatakot ilabas yung saloobin ko.

Respondent 9: Kung ano yung mga gusto kong saloobin na hindi ko mailabas noon, maiilabas kona ngayon.

Respondent 10: Siyempre mas magiging malaya nako na sabihin ang gusto ko nang walang takot o pangamba na baka ma discriminate ako.

Half of those polled said the SOGIE Equality Bill will influence their public expression and interaction. Some of them answered that it could affect them in a way where there they can openly express themselves because they will be protected by the said bill, and some answered that if the proposed bill passed and became law, they should not treat themselves better just because they are protected by the said bill.

The respondents who answered that they will not be affected said that they will still act normally and will not change their way of interacting, and some of them said that it will simply not affect them. The respondents who ignored the possible effects of the SOGIE Equality Bill said that they should just go with the flow because they could not do anything about it.

There can be no true equality if the country continues to tolerate and turn a blind eye to the abuses against the LGBTQ community. One of the biggest problems that faces the Philippines is the discrimination and inequality against the LGBTQ community. People are aware that God created all people equally, but LGBTQ people continue to be disrespected and bullied.

X. SOGIE Bill against discrimination

Five out of ten respondents said that SOGIE equality can lessen discrimination, while five out of ten respondents said that it can not lessen the discrimination.

Respondent 1: Hindi parin sya mababawasan. Kasi kung ano yung environment ng mga tao ganon paren sya.

Respondent 2: Para sakin kasi kahit maipasa yung bill na yon, hindi parin mababawasan yung diskriminasyon hangga’t may mga taong sarado yung utak para tanggapin kami.

Respondent 3: Hindi. Kasi ngayon palangkahit di pa sya napapa tupad nakaka tanggap naman ako ng pag tanggap.

Respondent 4: Sa tingin ko hindi lahat, syempre mag kakaiba tayo ng utak, meron tayong sariling utak.

Respondent 7: Oo kasi diba may bill na so parang irerespeto nadin kame parang i coconsider na din kame na irespeto na din kami ng iba na di kami tanggap.

Half of the respondents answered that the SOGIE Equality Bill can lessen the discrimination; they think that people who will try to discriminate against them will face punishment, and others think that because of the said bill, people will respect them and accept them for who they are.

And the other half of the respondents answered that the SOGIE Equality Bill can not lessen because, according to them, people have different minds and passing the bill cannot change their mind about whether they will discriminate against or not discriminate against LGBTQ members. Some of the respondents answered no because even though the bill is not yet a law, they have already experienced the warm welcome of other people who accept them, even though there are some people who do not accept them for who they are.

XI. Acknowledgment for LGBTQ member

Seven out of ten respondents said that the SOGIE Equality Bill can change the views of other people toward LGBTQ members, while three out of ten respondents said that it can not change the views of other people.

Respondent 1: Para sakin lalo lang kaming madi- discriminate kasi iisipin nila pa special kami.

Respondent 2: Siguro ang iisipin lang ng ibang tao sa mga LGBTQ ay mapang lamang.

Respondent 4: Sa tingin ko may epekto parin yan sa kanila, di parin maiiwasan na nasaktan sila sa mga ginagawa ni ganito.

Respondent 7: Oo kasi ngayon na hindi pa naman napapasa yung bill nayan parang wala pa kaming karapatan ipag laban kung sino kami pero pag napasa nayan mag kakaron na kami ng lakas ng loob na ipag laban kung ano yung karapatan namin bilang lgbtq.

The majority of respondents responded that the SOGIE Equality Bill can change other people’s attitudes toward it because they believe that with the bill, they can fight for their rights and that the SOGIE Equality Bill can be very effective in changing other people’s attitudes.

Few respondents responded that the SOGIE Equality Bill will not change other people’s minds because, if the bill is passed and becomes law, people will discriminate against LGBTQ people more because they will believe LGBTQ people are getting special treatment.

XII. Views of other people toward LGBTQ members

Respondent 1: Para sakin nga magkakaroon parin ng diskriminasyon para samin.

Respondent 2: Hindi parin siguro mababago pagtingin nila samin.

Respondent 3: Para sakin yun nga, magiging tingin lang nila satin abuso.

Respondent 4: Parang madadagdagan lang ng magandang pag tingin o respeto sa lgbtq.

Respondent 5: Di naman yung agad agad kase kung tingin naman nila sayo bakla ka yun lang yon, dapat kung di ka naman nila kilala di ka dapat jinujudge.

Respondent 6: Parang ma leless lang yung pang didiscriminate pero di matatanggal.

Respondent 7: Siyempre di naman mawawala yung mga magagalit kasi about yun sa bill pero siguro naman meron nang ibang tatanggapin yung bill nayon kase syempre respeto nalang.

Respondent 8: Halo halo yung opinyon kasi yung iba sumasang ayon yung iba hindi.

Respondent 9: Hindi napo madidiscriminate yung mga lgbtq members.

Respondent 10: Siguro mas matututo lang silang respetuhin ang lgbtq community.

Respondents have various perspectives and opinions on how the SOGIE Equality Bill may affect the views of others. Most of them answered that they will still experience discrimination even though the said bill is passed because the bill cannot really prevent discrimination but can only lessen it.

Some claim that they can no longer be discriminated against. Other respondents said that maybe other people will give them respect after the SOGIE Equality Bill passes and becomes a law.

Conclusion and recommendation

Conclusion

This study attempted to determine the perceptions of LGBTQ members toward the SOGIE Equality Bill. After conducting an interview with LGBTQ members, the result of the study shows that LGBTQ members are in favor of the implementation of the SOGIE Equality Bill.

Every respondent stated their own experience of discrimination. According to the information that researchers gathered from the respondents, the hypothesis was accepted. Based on the information and the answers of the respondents, they are in favor of the implementation of the SOGIE Equality Bill. They stated that our country needs an exclusive bill for LGBTQ members to lessen and eliminate discrimination.

Recommendation

The researchers recommend the future researchers who will use this kind of study that they find more sources about this study. Study more about the article or about the SOGIE Equality Bill. The researchers also recommend that you ask or use more respondents to gather more information.

References