As the world celebrates its Pride Month this June, Reelected Senator Risa Hontiveros has vowed to revive the SOGIE Equality Bill in the 19th Congress.
"We will use this 19th Congress to carve the runway to pass the SOGIE Equality Bill at long last. We will use this as a fresh opportunity to renew and prioritize our fight for ALL sexualities and genders," said Hontiveros in a statement.
The senator stressed that the SOGIE Equality Bill is in line with the Constitution, and it ensures safe schools, accessible healthcare, and sufficient livelihood for more Filipinos.
"Mga kababayan (To our countrymen), it is time we begin the process of healing the wound created by the gap in our laws that has allowed for bullying, ostracization, and violence to way too many Filipinos. It is time we forge a country that includes all, loves all."
In her message to the LGBTQIA+ community, Hontiveros underscored that they are "more than Pride Day or Pride Month."
"You have every right to exist as you are in the day to day. You deserve these grand celebrations, these spaces of resistance; but you also deserve the ordinary moments, sa pang araw-araw," she said. "You deserve to feel at ease. You deserve to be safe."
(You have every right to exist as you are in the day to day. You deserve these grand celebrations, these spaces of resistance; but you also deserve the ordinary moments every day… You deserve to feel at ease. You deserve to be safe.)
"We will take this to the finish line no matter how long we have to fight with you. This victory will be sweetest because we will win it together."
The SOGIE Bill was previously introduced in the 17th and 18th Congress, but its status remained in limbo amid dissent from other lawmakers.
