MANILA, Philippines — Rights are not rice cakes that should be divided.
This was the case posed by former Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo on Friday, as she took up the cudgels for proponents of the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) Equality bill.
“It is very parochial to look at a law [that is] recognizing the rights of the marginalized sector, a law that is inclusive, as detrimental to the rights of others.”
According to her, it would be narrow-minded for some people to look at the proposed law that seeks to end discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and expression as a measure that would harm those who do not belong to the sector.
“Hindi naman because you grant rights to a marginalized sector of society, you’re taking away rights from the majority. Hindi bibingka ang rights na paghahatian,” Taguiwalo told INQUIRER.net in an interview on the sidelines of a Civil Service Commission (CSC) forum on gender equality, disability, and social inclusion.
The former Cabinet member of the Duterte administration was reacting to Citizen’s Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC) party-list Rep. Eddie Villanueva’s earlier remark that the SOGIE bill “will not promote equality” but will “unduly give special rights to some members of our society at the expense of the rights of other members and to the detriment of the social order in our community.” Read more via Inquirer