Senator Bong Go has bared a plan by President Rodrigo Duterte to create a commission for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community pending the approval of the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) Equality bill.
Go said the possibility of creating an LGBTQ commission through an executive order was among the topics discussed in the President’s meeting with key LGBTQ advocates led by Bubsie Sabarez recently.
“The President is committed to support the SOGIE bill.”
The legislator noted that the President committed to support the SOGIE bill and push both houses of Congress for its passage.
“Sa ngayon po, full support si Pangulo sa SOGIE bill. Magpapadala rin daw siya ng position paper niya (At the moment, the President fully supports the SOGIE bill. He said he will also submit his position paper on the matter) and maybe he will sign an executive order creating an LGBT commission while waiting for the SOGIE bill to be approved by Congress,” the lawmaker said.
“The government plans to organize a national LGBTQ convention.
The senator said government, together with LGBTQ groups, plan to organize a national LGBTQ convention where advocates from different regions will be represented.
The convention will serve as a venue for the LGBTQ community to raise their concerns and come up with policy proposals to promote and protect their welfare.