Philippines - December 2023

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued an executive order (EO No. 51) on 22 December 2023, creating a Special Committee on LGBTQIA+ Affairs under the Inter-Agency Committee. The Committee aims to address discrimination against the LGBTQIA+ community, ensuring its participation in government policy formation. While rights advocates welcomed the move, others such as Bahaghari (an alliance of LGBTQIA+ organizations) have described the order as “insufficient,” urging Congress to instead prioritize the passage of the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) Equality Bill that has been pending in Congress for years, noting that “we do not need a committee or special group . . . but a concrete law that will protect every Filipino from discrimination based on gender.”

Sources: The Philippine Star, CNN Philippines, Official Gazette of the Republic of Philippines, Manila Today