Commitment ceremonies are great, but is this all we can do for the LGBTQ+ community?

Local governments hosting commitment ceremonies for LGBTQ+ couples is a big step towards inclusivity.

But is that all we can do for our same-sex loving siblings?

For Valentine’s Day, Quezon City hosted a commitment ceremony for the third time for couples to exchange vows. In February 2022, 222 LGBTQ+ couples took part in the celebration. And this year’s affair was just as grand with about 250 couples in attendance. The event, held at the Quezon City Memorial Circle, looked like a huge wedding with the guests dressed in their best, eager to say their “I do’s.”

Sa QC, love is equal; equality wins; may respeto sa bawat isa; sa QC, we respect diversity.

Isang araw na makulay at punong-puno ng pagmamahal at ligaya dahil sa ikatlong pagkakataon, naghandog ang lokal na pamahalaan… pic.twitter.com/vwtuHTPOsY

— Mayor Joy Belmonte (@QCMayorJoy) February 14, 2023

But a commitment ceremony is far from a marriage or a civil union.

As beautiful, heartwarming, and valid for couples, a commitment ceremony is not legally binding. Yes, it’s a public profession of love for each other, but it won’t grant the LGBTQ+ couples the same rights and privileges that heterosexual couples enjoy like adopting children, being recognized as a child’s parents, visitation rights in hospitals, etc. These will only be granted through marriages and civil unions.

Even though the Philippines is touted as the most gay-friendly country in Asia, lawmakers are conservative, rejecting the recognition of LGBTQ+ marriages as these are unions recognized by both the church and state. Instead, same-sex civil partnership is being proposed in the Senate.

But even before this game-changing bill, another equally important one for the Filipino queer community sits waiting to be passed: the SOGIE Equality bill.

Where is the SOGIE Equality Bill now?

The Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Expression Equality bill seeks to protect people against discrimination based on their SOGIE—even those who are cisgender and straight have SOGIEs.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros called for the bill to be pushed anew in the 19th Congress in late 2022 and it was up for sponsorship at the plenary. However, the bill got reverted back to committee level after Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, along with religious groups, stalled it in Senate.

The SOGIE Equality Bill does not have any provisions about same-sex marriage, but it’s one of the first steps toward inclusivity in the country.

“The oppressions that beset our LGBTQIA+ community are real, documented, and undeniable. Huwag na sana nating ipagkait sa kanila ito,” Hontiveros said.

banner photo: Joy Belmonte/Facebook

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Source: we the pvblic