For Immediate Release: September 27, 2001

SAN FRANCISCO - On Tuesday, September 25, Filipino activists picketed in Manila to pressure the legislature to pass bills protecting the rights of gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender people in the Philippines. The Congress is considering three bills that would afford anti-discrimination protections as well as a fourth bill that would deny marriage rights to transgender people.

The picket was organized by the Lesbian and Gay Legislative Action Network (LAGABLAB) and Amnesty International-Pilipinas (AIP). The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) joins the effort with an international letter-writing campaign (see IGLHRC Action Alert, Join Campaign for Anti-Discrimination Laws Protecting Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, and Transgenders, September 27, 2001 at http://www.iglhrc.org/world/se_asia/Philippines2001Sep.html).

"The international community has a real opportunity to make a difference right now," said Daniel Lee, IGLHRC's Program Officer for Asia and the Pacific. "Our letters of support will keep the space for dialogue on sexual orientation and human rights open in the Filipino legislature."

"We want to be protected against abuse and discrimination, that is our right as human beings," said Ging Cristobal, spokesperson for LAGABLAB, and added: "We are thankful that we have enlightened minds in the legislature that recognize this fact."

"Discrimination based on sexual orientation is rampant largely because of misconceptions and the ignorance of the public on the inherent human rights of lesbians and gays," stated Jessica Soto, AIP's Executive Director.

The bills currently under consideration are:

HB 2784, prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation in the work place, educational institutions, use of public services or facilities, and medical and other health services.

HB 0983 and HB1137, prohibiting discrimination in the recruitment, employment, promotion, and dismissal of gays and lesbians.

HB1503 on the other hand would define marriage as the union of a "natural-born" male with a "natural-born" female, thus denying legitimate marriage rights to transgender people. A similar bill had been introduced in 1999 (see IGLHRC Action Alert, Defend Transgender Rights, August 30, 2001 at http://www.iglhrc.org/world/se_asia/Philippines2001Aug_2.html and IGLHRC Action Alert, Proposed Marriage Legislation In Senate Discriminates Against Homosexuals And Transgenders, February 10, 1999 at http://www.iglhrc.org/world/se_asia/Philippines1999feb.html).

LAGABLAB is a coalition of organizations and individuals dedicated to lobbying for laws that promote and protect the rights of gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender people and raising awareness on said issues. The coalition, formed in 1999, includes 12 lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender organizations in the Philippines.

AIP is part of the Amnesty International human rights network.

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