Philippine gay rights groups are asking Congress to consider three bills that would provide anti-discrimination protections as well as to protest a fourth bill that would deny marriage rights to transgender people.

Amnesty International-Pilipinas and the Lesbian and Gay Legislative Advocacy Network (LAGABLAB) have re-launched their joint, multi-year "Stop Discrimination Now!" campaign opposing discrimination against lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender people in the Philippines.

The campaign which is endorsed by The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) is in response to a surge of bills introduced this summer during the new session of Congress.

On September 25, AI-Pilipinas and LAGABLAB organised a picket demonstration marking the re-launch of the campaign. LAGABLAB member organisations include 12 GLBT organisations, including Indigo, Katlo, Lesbian Advocates- Philippines (LeAP!); religious organizations, ManilaOUT Newspaper and several individuals.

The organisers are calling for letters from the international human rights community in support of three anti-discrimination bills recently filed in the House of Representatives, offering protections on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity as well as to protest a fourth bill that would deny marriage rights to transgender people.

Central to this campaign is a comprehensive anti-discrimination bill--recently re-introduced by Rep. Loretta Rosales into the new House of Representatives as House Bill (HB) 2784 and subject to potential refiling in the Senate.

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HB2784, if passed, would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation in the work place and educational institutions. It will also address discriminatory practices with regards to the use of public services or facilities; medical and other health services as well as applications for a license, clearance, certification, or any other document issued by government authorities.

HB 0983 and HB1137, introduced by Rep. Gerardo Espina and Rep. Roseller Barinaga, respectively seek to prohibit discrimination in the recruitment, employment, promotion, and dismissal of gays and lesbians (the former making reference to the lesbian and gay community as the 'third sex') in public and private employment.

On the other hand, activists protest the introduction of HB1503, authored by Rep. Ruffy Biazon. This bill is a reactionary measure in response to a regional court ruling recognising the change of legal status of a male-to-female transgender in Manila. The bill would define marriage as the union of a "natural-born" male with a "natural-born" female, thus denying marriage rights to transgender people, among others.

Under international law, Filipinos have the right to freedom from discrimination as the Philippines ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) in 1986 and is also member state of the United Nations.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) also affirms the right to freedom from discrimination. The United Nations Human Rights Committee, in the 1994 case of Toonen v Australia, held that ICCPR protections against discrimination should be interpreted to bar discrimination based on sexual orientation. The UDHR is considered part of customary international law and is binding on all member states of the United Nations.

To join campaign for anti-discrimination laws protecting lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgenders, go to IGLHRC website.

Source: IGLHRC Action Alert dated September 27, 2001