Leona Gene Ochoa
Oral Communication in Context
Speech Evaluation Paper
The SOGIE Bill Promotes Inclusion And Division For The
LGBTQ Community
Good day ladies, gentlemen, and others; my name is Leona Gene Ochoa. You can call
me Leona for short. Today, I will tell you all about the importance of the SOGIE Equality Bill and
why the president should approve it as a republic act. Through this talk, I will provide enough
information and awareness of the LGBTQ community in society and how they are discriminated
against and treated unfairly. The Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Expression Equality Bill
aims to set law measures that would prevent various economic and public understanding
related to acts of discrimination against individuals based on their sexual orientation, gender
identity, and expression. It then itemizes the actions to be considered discriminatory and
unlawful under the bill, for example, the denial of rights to the LGBTQ community based on their
SOGIE. The discriminatory and illegal acts include access to public services, requests to use
establishments and services such as housing, and rights to apply for a professional license,
among others. The law will punish denial of admission to or expulsion from an educational
institute, being treated differently as an employee, and refusing or revoking accreditation to any
organization due to an individual's SOGIE.
Everyone has their SOGIE, not only the LGBTQ themselves. Equality is what they are
fighting for; equality is what they want–protection of their rights and assurance that they will be
able to exercise their rights. The LGBTQ community needs protection from the law to exercise
the rights mentioned earlier and discrimination. The discrimination the LGTBQ experienced took
many opportunities away–childhood, dreams, and youth. Due to the continuous failure of the
government and congress to pass a national law for anti-discrimination ordinance specific to
SOGIE, LGBTQ advocates have sought other ways to protect the community from
discrimination and humiliation. Be it limited, and the community turned to their local and national
government to provide them the proper protection as they waited for the law to catch up to
modern times. Many would benefit from the advocacy of the SOGIE Equality Bill, which is why it
is pushed further, unlike other discrimination bills. So to speak, the SOGIE Equality Bill covers
the entirety of the sexual orientation and gender identity concept. Rich or poor, married or
single, anyone could use the law to protect themselves from their work and studies.
The Philippines has been a Catholic country since colonial times; its relationship with the
LGBTQ community is unique, unlike other predominantly Catholic countries. Superficially, the
Philippines looks as though one has accepted the queer community; homosexuality is not
considered a crime, gay and bisexual men and women are allowed to serve in the military, some
cities have passed anti-discrimination proposals and resolutions, and some of the country's
most famous celebrities are members of the LGBTQ community. However, there is high
tolerance in the Philippines but not absolute acceptance. In 1987, the Philippine government
formed a new constitution and signed international covenants, such as the International
Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights, with the fidelity to uphold such dignity and equality of all people. These
agreements are not seen among Filipinos, as there are still crimes related to the LGBTQ
reported in the country. For the past decade, several bills for the SOGIE Equality Bill have been
proposed but not affirmed. Many congresses have tried, but none deemed a success.
I intend to reach the hearts of many Filipinos to support the SOGIE Equality Bill,
promoting inclusion and division for the LGBTQ community. Future acts should hopefully halt
the discrimination and unfair treatment of the members of the LGBTQ community in the society
of the Philippines. We should accept and not just tolerate the LGBTQ community.
