As President Rodrigo Duterte expressed support for same sex marriage, members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community reminded the chief executive of his promise to end discrimination against the sector by passing the anti-discrimination bill into law. Metro Manila Pride, a volunteer group of LGBT advocates, welcomed Mr. Duterte’s latest pronouncements supporting the community but also urged him to push for the passage of the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity or Expression (Sogie) Equality Bill, or formerly Anti-Discrimination Bill, to protect the basic rights of LGBTs. “We welcome the President’s renewed support for marriage equality as a civil right,” Metro Manila Pride said in a statement. At the same event, President Duterte also expressed his support for same-sex marriage or marriage equality. The Sogie bill has so far hurdled the third reading at the House of Representatives.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer December 19, 2017 02:26 UTC