@FelmarAlmighty 4 August 2020 more from that month

Malacañang: We have to respect LGBTQ+ rights

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang declared support for the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) community after a transgender woman's **ordeal in a mall restroom** sparked calls for the passage of an **anti-discrimination bill**. https://www.rappler.com/nation/237698-transgender-woman-arrested-after-blocked-using-women-restroom-cubao https://www.rappler.com/move-ph/237726-netizens-call-passage-sogie-bill-after-discrimination-gretchen-diez But the Palace was vague on whether it would certify as urgent the sexual orientation and gender identity and expression (SOGIE) bill filed by **Senator Risa Hontiveros** and **Bataan 1st District Representative Geraldine Roman** in Congress. https://www.rappler.com/nation/237752-hontiveros-renews-push-sogie-equality-bill-energized-gretchen-diez https://www.rappler.com/nation/237755-roman-lgbtq-filipinos-demand-from-government-what-due-human-beings "Our position is, we have to respect LGBT and another thing, there is an ordinance to respect them so what was done to the transgender [woman] was a violation," said Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Thursday, August 15, during a Palace news briefing. Asked if Duterte would push for the SOGIE bill's passage, Panelo could only say for certain that he remembers the President expressing support for LGBTQ+ persons in the past. Pressed for a clearer Palace stance, Panelo said he would ask the President to be sure. The spokesman emphasized Malacañang's general support for the LGBTQ+ community. *"Dapat talaga maprotect 'yung 3rd gender*(The 3rd gender must really be protected). As far as we're concerned, we have to protect the rights of all people," said Panelo.