BPO Party List is for the swift passage of the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression Equality Bill (SOGIE) that remains pending due to amendments proposed by some senators who had earlier opposed it in the Philippine Senate.

Equality and freedom of expression is a right guaranteed by the 1987 Constitution. In spite of this there remains discrimination in the country against the LGBTQIA community, in access to healthcare, employment and social welfare services for example. The bill seeks to redress the equality imbalance. The SOGIE movement owes its roots to the 11 th Congress bill filed by Reps. Miriam Santiago and Eta Rosales. It passed third reading in the 12 th Congress but its passage was blocked in the Senate. Successive versions of the bill was successfully blocked in the 13 th and 14 th Congresses by representatives aligned with faith based groups, while the Bi-cameral committee of the 15 th Congress failed to harmonize the upper and lower house versions.

It has been a long 18-year battle and while it may yet gain passage in the Senate during the 17 th Congress, there resides the final and biggest hurdle in Malacanang Palace. It remains to be seen whether Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte will sign the bill into law. We call on all freedom loving Filipinos to help in the passage of this landmark bill.