#WeAreSOGIE: Crude Realities, Abolishing Closets

Arbitrating the outspoken realization of gender expressions, identities, and sexual orientations are the continuous saga of internalized homophobia and the heteronormative, oppressive system that deprives them of equal rights to live their truths. The community—often on a pedestal, but still, in all senses—remains unheard of.

Two decades in the waitlist, the SOGIE Bill, proposed at the early 2000s by former Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Akbayan party-list Representative Etta Rosales, was and still is unestablished by the Senate—the inept knowledge of the legislators on the fullness of gender identities, or the overall innate sexuality, being the primary reason: how can a legislation be passed if its authors do not know what it is?

Moreover, the facts surrounding the bill are claimed to be insubstantial. Indeed, gender identity, at its core, is a social construct. It's an idea; made a necessity by society. They're supposed to be owned by anyone who's comfortable with their emotional and subjective beliefs to boot. In this logic, Jus Possidendi (“the right to possess”) is applicable. One has the right to subject to an expression and be respected with their decision to do so. The constitution makes no attempt to force anyone to adhere to these credences, it simply asks for the privilege of living them out.

Akin to other beliefs and ideas, SOGIE also has every right to be protected. However, the lack of recognition of rampant gender-based discrimination in the country further undermines their rights, which most of the population do not fully comprehend that it does not amount to less rights for those outside the spectrum. In full disclosure, the fact that there is a need for a law to be passed on to practice fundamental human rights is baffling. Queer people are not limited to their sexual orientation; just as we need to acknowledge their preferences, we need to perceive them as they are—human beings.

Equally important, the absence of education on this issue is still overlooked. Extinguishing stigmas of genders, same-sex intercourse, and stereotypes steeped in internalized homophobia remain to be a thought due to the shortcoming of the education system to unglorify heteronormativity. This is aggravated by the neglect of the statutes to remove the taboo surrounding homosexuality. Without higher power, the community cannot be expected to merely “let it go kasi matagal na silang accepted sa society.” because they aren't. Infuriatingly so.

Furthermore, what rights does one have to insist less for others? None. Absolutely none. The only harm to different sexual preferences is the force of the prejudiced people to conform to their ideals. SOGIE Bill aims not to overpower, but to rewrite an imbalance: in law, communities, and systems. It aims to be equals. To say otherwise is to downplay the purpose of the plea. Straights, however victimized they may think they are, are never exposed to the fear of conversion therapies, orgies ‘til redirected to heterosexuality, and bludgeoned to parade around the streets being called slurs. Heteros, above their staggering privilege in life, are not robbed of living it.

They do not own the liberty to speak for the minority they set aside.

Adjacent to this, innumerable micro-labels under the umbrella terminologies remain invisible or considered shallow if met. It’s antagonizing to see people, who falsely comply with superiority, limit them. In most instances, the community is made to be the foundation of comedic context. Once its intentions are publicized, derogatory microaggressions go incognito. (which oftentimes, do not happen).

Gender discrimination is not reduced to having a tag. It includes the naysaying of basic privileges such as healthcare, adoption, and job opportunities. Simply, we all identify as a gender; we should hold the rights we deserve beyond it. The SOGIE Bill is exclusively for everyone. It does not overthrow; it protects.

By and large, there is a multitude of fears and differences. Heterosexuals own their realities while the community is deprived of the prerogative to live theirs. The SOGIE Bill shouldn’t be a topic in question. Its consequential existence is enough to weigh in the never-ending detriment in need of addressing. Queer people will continue the fight to be equals to apprehend their incessant compromising.

SOGIE isn’t the sole battle. It’s only to aid the end goal – to see them past their genitals, their gender. And it’s demoralizing to be far remote from that. How oppressive are we for those human beings to turn to the government, who time and time again, fail to safeguard our rights – Salus populi est suprema lex, “the welfare of the people is the supreme law,” will not prevail until the community is not seen as one and the same, because we are.

We always have been.