The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) expressed its support for the proposed SOGIE Equality Bill, Senate Bill No. 139, the latest version of the anti-discrimination bill being pushed in Senate to protect the human rights of LGBTQIA people.
During a hearing helmed boy the Senate committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality, DICT Assistant Secretary Maria Teresa Camba said that discriminatory acts could also be present on online platforms since technology changes together with the means of communication of people. And so she hopes for a safety measure to be put in place to protect vulnerable individuals – including members of the LGBTQIA community – against discrimination.
For the assistant secretary, “a further safety measure should be put in place in order to ensure that Filipinos do not experience discriminatory acts online and by doing so, not only will this benefit the LGBTQ persons, but all others made vulnerable by discrimination through online platforms.”
Senator Risa Hontiveros, the committee chairperson, is the main author of SB 139.
Aside from Hontiveros’ SB 139, Sen. Mark Villar also filed SB 442 to penalize discriminatory actions based on SOGIESC, while Senate President Pro-Tempore Loren Legarda filed SB 245 (or the Anti-Discrimination Bill).
