Philippines push on anti-discrimination

A Philippines lawmaker has called on President Benigno Aquino III to make ending discrimination against GLBT Filipinos a priority for his Government.

Representative Kaka Bag-ao from the Akbayan Party introduced House Bill 515, outlawing discrimination “on the basis of sexual orientation or any other status in the enjoyment of rights”, in July this year but the bill is yet to make any progress in the Parliament.

On December 11, Bag-ao said a lack of any policies covering human rights abuses against GLBTs in the Philippines emboldened homophobia.

“Here in the Philippines, you can fire a gay or lesbian employee simply because of their sexual orientation or gender identity and get away with it. You can expel lesbian and gay students arbitrarily or impose arbitrary rules against them and you won’t face any charges. It’s wrong,” Bag-ao said.

“We are not saying that they should be given special rights, just basic fairness.

“By standing up for equal rights, [the President] would send a strong signal against hatred and homophobia. It would mean that the government embraces universal human rights for all Filipinos, and not a single Filipino is left behind.”

Homosexuality is not illegal in the Philippines and this is the fourth time since 1999 that a party has sought to have a bill enacted to protect the rights of GLBT Filipinos.