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Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Constitution Hills, Batasan Complex, Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Billo, 9666

Introduced by ALFELITO M. BASCUG, Representative,
15 Legislative District of Agusan del Sur.

“AN ACT DECLARING 26" OF JUNE OF EVERY YEAR AS A
SPECIAL WORKING HOLIDAY IN THE COUNTRY IN CELEBRATION
OF LGBTQ+ EQUALITY DAY”

Explanatory Note

The constant struggle of every person for significance, dignity and
self-preservation is a manifestation of an everyday challenge towards
the pursuit of eliminating the facets of inequalities in the form of violence,
exclusion, and discrimination. In the same vein, the struggle for
recognition of the rights of the LGBTQ+ community in our country is in
every corner painted with controversy. In our society where every inch of
legality has a corresponding touch of morality, legislations of this kind
finds captive in the hands of condemnatory public opinion to which these
rights remain unheeded.

The continuing fight of the LGBTQ+ community in our country for
acceptance and equality can be traced as early as in the 1990's,
particularly on June 26, 1994 which marked the first Pride March in the
Philippines and in all of Asia. Such significant date is also in memorial of
a neighboring date, June 28, 1969, when the Stonewall Uprising in the
United States sparked controversy which thereafter confined gay

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liberation movement and modern fight for LGBT rights as recognized
among nations today. The Pride March is a demonstration of freedom
against injustice and oppression as well as the celebration of rights of
every person regardless of gender identity and sexual orientation.

This year is a timely occasion to commemorate such activity being
on its 25" year. On its silver year, this legislation seeks to launch and
institutionalize LGBTQ+ in our country by giving them a special day to
celebrate their significance, human rights, and the very right which
springs from their existence as a person. This aims to promote
acceptance among every individual on their choices of their gender and
preferences.

While there are various related legislations which are of the same
footing of this bill striving recognition at hand, these enactments cannot
hold water if everyone just drown themselves in the ocean of hesitations.
This bill seeks to put such right in place and not somewhere over that
rainbow. That upon realization of this action, this will pave the way for
everybody to find that pot of gold in accepting every human being
without prejudice to their choices.

“The preservation of human rights is the supreme right above all”.

In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly
sought.

Lean M. pasha


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Constitution Hills, Batasan Complex, Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

36
House Bill No. ge

Introduced by ALFELITO M. BASCUG, Representative,
18 Legislative District of Agusan del Sur.

“AN ACT DECLARING 26" OF JUNE OF EVERY YEAR AS A
SPECIAL WORKING HOLIDAY IN THE COUNTRY IN CELEBRATION
OF LGBTQ+ EQUALITY DAY”

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of
the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Title. — This Act shall be known as the “LGBTQ+
EQUALITY DAY ACT OF 2019”.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. The State values the dignity
of every human person and guarantees full respect for human rights as
enshrined in Sec. 11, Article II of the 1987 Philippine Constitution.
Further, Sec. 1, Article XIII of the same provides that the Congress shall
give highest priority to the enactment of measures that protect and
enhance the right of all people to human dignity.

Other than valuing such rights, the State also recognizes the
fundamental right of every person, regardless of sex, age, class, status,
ethnicity, color, disability, religious and political beliefs, sexual orientation
or gender identity, to be free from any form of discrimination. It shall

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therefore intensify its efforts to fulfill its duties under international and
domestic laws to respect, protect and fulfill the rights and dignity of every
individual.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms.

a. LGBTQ+- An acronym which stands for Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer and all
other communities;

b. L- stands for “Lesbian’; a lesbian is a female
homosexual; a female who experiences romantic
love or sexual attraction to other females;

¢. G- stands for “Gay”, is a term that primarily refers
to a homosexual person or the trait of being
homosexual;

d. B- stands for “Bisexual”; is romantic attraction,
sexual attraction or sexual behaviour toward both
males and females, or romantic or sexual
attraction to people of any sex or gender identity;

e. T- stands for “Transgender”; is an umbrella term
for people whose gender identity differs from
what is typically associated with the sex they
were assigned at birth;

f. Q- stands for “Queer” or “Questioning”,

Queer is a term for sexual and
gender minorities that are not heterosexual
or cisgender;

Questioning is a term that describes
someone who is “questioning” his or her
‘sexual orientation;


g. +-, and “+” signifies for others who are yet unable
to identify themselves among others. This also
represents all of the communities.

SECTION 4. Purpose. June 26" of every year is hereby declared
as LGBTQ+ Equality Day in commemoration of the first Pride March in
the Philippines in 1994. It marked the first LGBT mass action in all of
Asia for the continuing fight of the LGBT community for acceptance and

equality.

In view hereof, June 26" of every year shall be declared as a
special working holiday in the entire country.

SECTION 5. Freedom Acitivity. Organized and unorganized
LGBTQ+ groups, women's sector groups and other groups who may
want to participate may freely organize lawful activities such as fun run,
tallies, concerts, and establishment of booths and others, subject to
granting of necessary permits and regulations by concemed agencies or
Local Government Units.

SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act or
the application of such provision to any person or circumstance is
declared unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or the application of
such provision to other person or circumstance shall not be affected by
such declaration.

SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. -All laws, decrees, letters of
instructions, executive orders and rules and regulations and other
issuances or parts thereof in consistent or in conflict with any provision
of this Act.

SECTION 8. Effectivity Clause. -This Act shall take effect fifteen

(15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of
general circulation.

Approved,