Celebrities: Show love to senators who hate SOGIE equality bill

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 24) — Filipino celebrities and personalities are saying love — not hate — "is all we need" to change the minds of senators blocking the Sexual Orientation, and Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) equality bill.

The social media campaign "#LoveIsAllWeNeed" made the rounds on Monday, the day the 17th Congress opened its third session.

The campaign encourages the public to show love to lawmakers who "show hate" for the SOGIE equality bill, which is also known as the Anti-Discrimination Bill.

The campaign infographics specifically asked SOGIE supporters to send messages of love to Senate President Tito Sotto and Senators Manny Pacquiao and Joel Villanueva, who have expressed opposition to the bill.

Celebrities, personalities, and netizens poured their messages of positivity on social media to get the opposition senators to take notice.

Heart Evangelista and Tootsy Angara, the wives of Senators Chiz Escudero and Sonny Angara, respectively, also expressed their support for the SOGIE equality bill by wearing LGBTQIA+ rainbow pins during the State of the Nation Address on Monday.

"The truth is, the bill has a lot of enemies in the Senate, who express loud opposition and hate for the bill," the campaign infographics said. "By sending letters and messages of love straight to the senators who fight against the bill, and sincerely asking for their love and support," it added.

It gave tips on how to reach out to the solons: Supporters can send a sincere personal plea in the form of a tweet, a Facebook post, an Instagram post to the senators, despite their resistance to the bill.

"The message should be about how you know they have love in their heart and their love is your last remaining hope for the SOGIE Bill," it added.

The bill seeks to protect LGBTQ+ Filipinos against sex- and gender-based discrimination, which includes denial of access to public services, health services, employment and education.

The SOGIE equality bill was approved in the House of Representatives on September 20, 2017. Yet, its counterpart bill in the Senate has been languishing on second reading since early 2017.