PHILIPPINES - Jan 22, 2004
In an unprecedented event in Philippine history, the Philippine Congress early this week approved House Bill 6416, a proposed legislation that seeks to criminalize discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. The bill prohibits discrimination in areas such as employment, education, health services, public service (including military service), commercial and medical establishments, including police and military harassment. The bill, filed by Akbayan Party-list Representative Loretta Ann Rosales, is a product of a legislative partnership between Akbayan and the Lesbian and Gay Legislative Advocacy Network Philippines (LAGABLAB-Pilipinas, Inc.). LAGABLAB-Pilipinas, Inc. a lobby network of different LGBT organizations and activists that fights for the equal rights and welfare of the Filipino LGBT community. The bill, which was first filed in 1998, was drafted by LAGABLAB and underwent a series of consultation with the Filipino lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. In 2001, LAGABLAB, Amnesty International Pilipinas and the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) and other supportive organizations launched the Stop Discrimination Now Campaign to support the passage of the bill. It was first approved by the Committee on Civil, Political and Human Rights of the House of Representatives in December 2003. The bill will be enacted into law if it wins the support of the Philippine Senate and the concurrence of the incumbent President before the proclamation of the winners of the polls on June 30. -- Jonas Bagas, Secretary General
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