La Petite Story
Valiente Mark Angelo
H-332
The governments inattention to these proposed acts proves that not only does the government not recognize gender to form part of an individuals identity, they also do not recognize the rights of our fellow citizens equally. Discrimination is a violation of basic human rights and equality as embodied by our preamble and article II section 2 of the 1987 Philippine constitution, which states the countrys adherence to international laws. Consequently, the non-passage of any of the anti-discrimination act on basis of gender and sexual orientation in our country has gotten international attention. Human Rights Watch (HRW), a non-profit international organization dedicated on protecting human rights, has already addressed President Macapagal-Arroyo regarding the discrimination act in 2004 (Human Rights Watch, 2006). Amnesty International has also launched global campaign for the passage of the said act (Amnesty International, 2006). The Anti-Gender discrimination Act is an act that prohibits discrimination based on gender and sexual orientation. It is an act that aims to protect our basic rights as human being and to promote equality in our nation. The act mainly covers discrimination in health care, employment, education, and government institutions.
Fortunately, Quezon City has ordinance that protect homosexuals from discrimination and so he was able to file a complaint and be heard (news, 2005). Other cities may not be so lucky. Lacsamanas case is just one of the many victims of discrimination in our country, many of which were probably left unheard because no legitimate law prohibiting discrimination against ones gender or sexual orientation, although several attempts to pass a act have been made. To date, there are four senate acts that mainly targets discrimination based on sexual orientation, all of which receive pending status from the senate. Out of the four pending acts, only one included gender in its discrimination grounds
H-332
The governments inattention to these proposed acts proves that not only does the government not recognize gender to form part of an individuals identity, they also do not recognize the rights of our fellow citizens equally. Discrimination is a violation of basic human rights and equality as embodied by our preamble and article II section 2 of the 1987 Philippine constitution, which states the countrys adherence to international laws. Consequently, the non-passage of any of the anti-discrimination act on basis of gender and sexual orientation in our country has gotten international attention. Human Rights Watch (HRW), a non-profit international organization dedicated on protecting human rights, has already addressed President Macapagal-Arroyo regarding the discrimination act in 2004 (Human Rights Watch, 2006). Amnesty International has also launched global campaign for the passage of the said act (Amnesty International, 2006). The Anti-Gender discrimination Act is an act that prohibits discrimination based on gender and sexual orientation. It is an act that aims to protect our basic rights as human being and to promote equality in our nation. The act mainly covers discrimination in health care, employment, education, and government institutions.
Fortunately, Quezon City has ordinance that protect homosexuals from discrimination and so he was able to file a complaint and be heard (news, 2005). Other cities may not be so lucky. Lacsamanas case is just one of the many victims of discrimination in our country, many of which were probably left unheard because no legitimate law prohibiting discrimination against ones gender or sexual orientation, although several attempts to pass a act have been made. To date, there are four senate acts that mainly targets discrimination based on sexual orientation, all of which receive pending status from the senate. Out of the four pending acts, only one included gender in its discrimination grounds