EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session
)
SENATE 
S. No. 2213
Introduced by Senator Grace Poe
AN ACT
DECLARING MAY 17 OF EVERY YEAR AS THE NATIONAL DAY AGAINST 
HOMOPHOBIA, BIPHOBIA, TRANSPHOBIA AND PHOBIAS FOR PERSONS OF 
DIVERSE SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY OR EXPRESSION, OR 
SEX CHARACTERISTICS (SOGIESC)
Explanatory Note
On May 17,1990, the World Health Organization declassified homosexuality as 
a mental disorder.1 This occasion is the cuimination of a decades-long campaign from 
queer activists, doctors and medical practitioners who have dedicated their lives to 
ensuring that homosexuals are not viewed and treated differently from their 
heterosexual counterparts.
To refer to May 17, 1990 merely as a historic day wouid be a gross 
understatement. To our gay brothers and sisters, this day meant everything. It meant 
that they can begin living their lives normaliy, and without fear of prosecution. It 
meant that that they can keep working in their chosen professions without being 
subjected to prejudice and oppression. But most of ali, it meant that they can be free 
to be who they truiy are.
But the fight of our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, 
intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) brothers and sisters is far from over. Up to this 
day, they stiii face numerous setbacks in their lives just by virtue of their sexuality. 
For choosing to be true to themselves, most face economic ruin, sociai exclusion and 
physical threats, while some are even killed.
By celebrating May 17 of every year as the "National Day Against Homophobia, 
Biphobia, Transphobia and Phobias for Persons of Diverse Sexuai Orientation, Gender 
Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics", we are signaiing to everyone belonging 
to the LGBTQIA+ community that they have nothing to be fearful about. No matter
1 Barris, S. (2005, April 5). May 17th is tire Inti Day Against Homophobia. International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, 
Trans And Intersex Association, web.archive.org/web/20140704014026/http://ilga.org/ilga/en/article/546
1


who they are, our country is prepared to provide them with the necessary safe space 
where they can thrive and achieve their full potential.
The bill also enjoins all government offices, private institutions, schools, 
colleges and universities to extend their full support for the activities to be conducted 
in the observance, promotion and protection of the human rights of LGBTQIA+ 
persons. Further, the Commission on Human Rights and the Philippine Commission on 
Women are tasked to issue the necessary guidelines for this annual observance. The 
cooperation of everyone is necessary because it takes a village to create the safe 
space every human being deserves.
In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this b3l is earnestly sought.
^^RACE POE


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session
)
)
)
SENATE 
S. No. 2213
Introduced by Senator Grace Poe
DATE
TtME$
Hfctfi
AN ACT
DECLARING MAY 17 OF EVERY YEAR AS THE NATIONAL DAY AGAINST 
HOMOPHOBIA, BIPHOBIA, TRANSPHOBIA AND PHOBIAS FOR PERSONS OF 
DIVERSE SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER INDETTTY OR EXPRESSION, OR 
SEX CHARACTERISTICS (SOGIESC)
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. In accord with the observance of the Internationai Day against
2 
Transphobia and Homophobia, which was first commemorated on May 17,1990 after
3 
the Worid Heaith Organization removed homosexuality from its International
4 
Classification of Mental Disorders, the "National Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia,
5 
Transphobia and Phobias for Persons of Diverse Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity
6 
or Expression, or Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC)" shall be observed in the Philippines
7 
on May 17 of every year in recognition of the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual,
8 
transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, and asexual or allied (LGBTQIA+)
9 
persons in the country and the need to end the discrimination, oppression and
10 
intolerance they are faced with in society.
11 
Sec. 2. All government offices, private institutions, schools, colleges and
12 
universities are hereby enjoined to extend their full support for the activities to be
13 
conducted in the observance, promotion and protection of the human rights of
14 
LGBTQIA+ persons. The Commission on Human Rights and the Philippine Commission
15 
on Women, as lead agencies, shall issue jointly the necessary guidelines for this annual
16 
observance through a multi-media information campaign.
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1 
Sec. 3. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its online
2 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,