ANNEX A HUMAN RIGHTS BULLETIN ON CHR’S POSITION ON THE ANTI-DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY AND EXPRESSION BILL (Senate Bill No. 1271) The Commission on Human Rights X (CHR X) has received a letter from the Committee on Social Services of the City Council of Cagayan de Oro City pertaining to a position paper opposing Senate Bill No. 1271 addressed to Honorable Mayor Oscar Moreno. The Commission on Human Rights (CHR), as Gender and Development Ombud (Gender Ombud) under the Magna Carta of Women and mandated under the Constitution to recommend to Congress effective measures to promote and protect human rights, has submitted its position paper 2 on Senate Bill No. 1271, entitled ―Anti-Discrimination on the Basis of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression.‖ The bill seeks to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity or expression (SOGIE).3 The CHR X reiterates the CHR‘s position in support of the anti-discrimination on the basis of SOGIE. The CHR‘s stand reads:4 The Philippines is considered as one of the most ―gay-friendly‖ countries in the Asia Pacific region, according to the 2013 Pew Research Center survey.5 The survey showed that 73% of adult Filipinos agreed that homosexuality should be accepted. Another survey conducted by Social Weather Station in 20136 showed that 85% of Filipinos support the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ+) community against discrimination, and 54% agree that gays and lesbians have contributed a lot to progress in Philippine society. Despite this, the LGBTQ+ community have long suffered and continue to experience discrimination, including hate speech, violence, unequal treatment, and even killings. Discrimination in the workplace and educational institution includes cases of not being hired or promoted, and students being refused admission because of their sexual orientation. The anti-discrimination bill on the basis of sexual orientation has languished in Congress since 1999.7 Local ordinances prohibiting discrimination based on SOGIE have been passed in local governments, such as Quezon City, Cebu, Davao, and Dinagat Islands, among others. 8 These local ordinances significantly contributed to the growing acceptance of LGBTQ+ community in our society. Unfortunately, this is not enough to protect the individual rights of people with diverse SOGIE. People belonging to the LGBTQ+ community have been prejudiced and stigmatized for the reason that they do not conform to society‘s norms where men should be masculine and women should be feminine. Discrimination in any form demeans the dignity and human rights of a person as it limits an individual‘s freedom and selfrealization. The Commission emphasizes that this proposed measure seeks to address the crucial issues of differential treatment of an employee or anyone 2 Position Paper on the Anti-Discrimination on the Basis of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity of Expression Bill (Senate Bill No. 1271) 3 Ibid. 4 Ibid. 5 The Global Divide on Homosexuality, Pew Research Center, June 4, 2013. https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2013/06/04/the-global-divide-on-homosexuality/ 6 SWS Special Report: 85% says gays and lesbians should be protected against discrimination, Social Weather Stations February 06, 2015. https://www.sws.org.ph/swsmain/artcldisppage/?artcsyscode=ART-20151214104358 7 An Act Prohibiting Discrimination on the Basis of Sexual Orientation, 11th Congress of the Philippines. Authored by Rep. Etta Rosales and Sen Miriam Santiago 8 https://www.rappler.com/move-ph/issues/gender-issues/100631-ph-anti-discrimination-law-history GAD January-May 2020 Situation Report CHR-X Page 11 of 20