BY ELLSON A. QUISMORIO
You’re acting like trolls!
Bataan 1st district Rep. Geraldine Roman had to say this Wednesday to certain commenters on the House of Representatives’ Facebook livestream of a panel hearing concerning the 16 proposed sexual orientation or gender identity or expression (SOGIE) equality bills.
“It hurts me as a Catholic to see comments on FB live that the SOGIE equality bill is anti-family,” said Roman, who is one of the authors of the controversial measure.
“This bill will not redefine what a family is. So to those who accuse this very positive and welcome legislative measure as anti-family – mag hunos-dili kayo. Basahin niyo ang bill instead of just repeating like a mantra – para kayong mga trolls – na ito ay anti-family,” stressed the solon, who is a transgender woman.
The bills were still being discussed by the Committee of Women and Gender Equality as of posting time. Bukidnon 1st district Rep. Ma. Lourdes Acosta-Alba chairs the panel.
Roman also clarified in her manifestation that the SOGIE equality bill is, at its core, an anti-discrimination bill.
“It is not a same-sex marriage bill. Uulitin ko: It is not a same-sex marriage bill. It is not a gender recognition bill that will allow us to change our legal character. That’s a totally different issue. This is not about civil union or civil partnership,” she said.
“Malinaw po na sinabi ng ating mahal na Santo Papa Francisco that LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) people deserve to have families and to be in families, and that they shouldn’t be shunned away or ostracized or marginalized,” the Bataan solon said, referring to statements from His Holiness last month wherein the latter called homosexual people “children of God.”
“Bahagi rin po kami ng pamilya, bahagi rin po kami ng lipunan,” added Roman, who is a vice chairperson of the panel.
Philippine lawmakers have been pursuing a SOGIE equality Act since the 11th Congress, or more than 20 years ago.
It was passed for the first time on third and final reading in the House during the previous 17th Congress, and via unanimous 197-0 vote at that. However, its passage was stalled in the Senate. (Ellson A. Quismorio)
