Amid concerns from religious groups, Hontiveros wanted the bill remanded to her committee but was outvoted. It will now undergo “further study” in Villanueva’s rules committee. Sen. Hontiveros says she was ready to sponsor the bill in the plenary as early as December 2022. “What I was not ready for was for this bill to be in this kind of suspension or limbo… Tatalima ako pero di ako tatahimik.”

Sen. Villanueva shows letters from some religious groups, who said they were not consulted about the SOGIE bill. “I have been bullied, crucified by some groups who are misled but the fact is there was only one hearing with this very controversial measure.”

SOGIESC stands for “s*xual orientation, gender identity, and expression and s*x characteristics.” The SOGIESC Equality Act is a proposed legislation in the Philippines that aims to protect the rights of lesbian, gay, bis*xual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) individuals, and other persons with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, expressions, and s*x characteristics.

The act seeks to address discrimination, hate crimes, and other forms of violence based on SOGIESC and to promote equality and respect for all individuals regardless of their s*xual orientation, gender identity, expression, and s*x characteristics.