Discrimination against women, lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgenders will carry stiffer penalties under a proposed measure that has been passed on third and final reading at the House of Representatives.
Occidental Mindoro Rep. Josephine Ramirez-Sato said House Bill 4982 or an Act Prohibiting Discrimination on the Basis of Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity or Expression (SOGIE) seeks to eliminate discrimination, biases, and breaks existing barriers to a fair, equal and equitable policy environment on SOGIE.
“With the proposed measure, the Philippines puts forward its status as a leader in the global trend promoting gender equality, including LGBT,” Sato said.
Listed among the discriminatory practices is denying access to public services, including military service, including sexual orientation, gender identity or expression in the criteria for hiring, promotion, transfer, designation, work assignment, reassignment, dismissal of workers; refusing admission or expelling any person from any educational or training institution on the basis of SOGIE.