#EqualityChamps convene for the Anti-Discrimination Bill

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Today, legislators of the 17th Congress, dubbed as the #EqualityChamps, met with advocates from various civil society organizations to discuss the renewed campaign for the enactment of the Anti-Discrimination Bill, which seeks to prohibit discrimination against citizens on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

Present were authors and co-authors of the measure—Senator Risa Hontiveros, Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao, Batanes Rep. Henedina Abad, Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman, Pangasinan Rep. Toff de Venecia, and An Waray Party-List Rep. Victoria Noel. Joining them were advocacy groups that have assisted legislators in past Congresses in fighting for the bill in committee debates; they include the Lesbian and Gay Legislative Advocacy Network (LAGABLAB), TLF-SHARE, Babaylanes, Inc., UP Babaylan, GALANG, Akbayan LGBT Collective, Dangal Pilipinas, Amnesty International, Assocition of Transgender People in the Philippines (ATP), OutRight Action International, and Rainbow Rights. Commissioner Perci Cendaña of the National Youth Commission (NYC) facilitated the discussion.

Oath-Taking Speech of Congresswoman Kaka Bag-ao

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Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao delivered this speech after her taking her oath of office, which was administered by Senator Risa Hontiveros, on July 3, 2016 in the Municipality of Cagdianao.

Mga minahal kong mga Dinagatnon, mga panauhin at mga kasama sa pamahalaan at sa civil society, magandang umaga po sa inyong lahat.

Unang-una una nais ko pang magpasalamat sa bawat isa sa inyo sa inyong pagbibigay ng panahon para samahan kami sa araw na ito. Sinimulan ko po dito sa Dinagat ang tradisyon ng aking panunumpa sa katungkulan sa aking kaarawan. Ito po ay sadya dahil nais ko pong ipaalala sa aking sarili taun-taon ang aking panunumpa na manilbihan sa kapwa at sa bayan ng buong katapatan. Nais ko pong ipaalala sa sarili ko na ang aking panunungkulan ay hindi lamang simpleng trabaho kung hindi ito ay isang misyong panghabambuhay. Kaya po ako ay lubusang nagpapasalamat sa inyong pagsaksi sa araw na ito sa aking muling pagtataya sa isang habambuhay na paglalakbay.