Affirm the universality of Human Rights; Protect the equal human rights of Filipino LGBTIs

Petition to Affirm the universality of Human Rights, to Protect the equal human rights of all Filipinos regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity

Sexuality (Sekswalidad) is a central aspect of being human throughout life and encompasses sex, gender identities and roles, sexual orientation, eroticism, pleasure intimacy and reproduction. Sexuality is influenced by the interaction of biological, psychological, social, economic, political, cultural, ethical, legal, historical and religious and spiritual factors. Sexual Orientation (Oryentasyong Sekswal) is understood to refer to each person's capacity for profound emotional, affectional and sexual attraction to, and intimate and sexual relations with, individuals of a different gender or the same gender or more than one gender. Gender Identity (Kasariang Pagkakakilanlan) refers to each person's deeply felt internal and individual experience of gender, which may or may not correspond with the sex assigned at birth, including the personal sense of the body (which may involve, if freely chosen, modification of bodily appearance or function by medical, surgical or other means) and other expressions of gender, including dress, speech and mannerisms.

Everyone is entitled to the enjoyment of human rights without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status, as set out in Article 2 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 2 of the International Covenants on Civil and Political, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, as well as in article 26 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. 

The principle of non-discrimination which requires that human rights apply equally to every human being regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. 

However, in the Philippines, despite the Constitutional provision on equality (Article II, Section 11), there is only "seeming tolerance" for lesbians, gays, bakla, bantut, bayot, bisexuals, tomboy, transgenders, transsexuals, intersex (LGBTI) and other sexual and gender minorities (SGMs). Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity exists, is "silent", and is compounded by poverty, religious fundamentalism and intolerance, heteronormativity-heterosexism, patriarchy-machismo, racism, regionalism and discrimina-tion on the basis of ethnicity.

Poverty is a human rights violation! We condemn the systemic and structural violation of basic human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the State's failure to promote, respect and protect human rights of all Filipinos regardless of any status including actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity. 

The freedom of Filipino LGBTIs and other SGMs is contingent upon genuine and sustainable development, justice, and peace for all equally.

We, the undersigned citizens, together with Philippine Forum on Sports, Culture, Sexuality and Human Rights (TEAM PILIPINAS), strongly urge the Permanent Mission of the Republic of the Philippines to sign statements that affirm the universality of human rights and that protect the equal human rights of Filipino lesbians, gays, bakla, bayot, bantut, bisexuals, tomboy, transgenders, transsexuals, intersex and other 'sexual and gender minorities' in the country. We believe that: 

1. All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.

2. All human rights are universal, interdependent, indivisible and interrelated.

3. Sexual orientation and gender identity are integral to every person%u2019s dignity and humanity and must not be the basis for discrimination or abuse.

4. The Anti-Discrimination Bill is an important step towards equality and non-discrimination for Filipino lesbians, gays, bakla, bantut, bayot, bisexuals, tomboy, transgenders, transsexuals, intersex and other sexual and gender minorities. It should now be passed now into law in the Philippines.