Filipino BL and GL creators, stars rally online behind SOGIE equality bill
“Boys’ Lockdown” actor Ali King, “Gameboys” and “Pearl Next Door” actress Adrianna So, “Gaya sa Pelikula” stars Ian Pangilinan and Paolo Pangilinan. Image: Instagram/@rafiecake, @adriannaso_, Twitter/@gayasapelikula,
As the SOGIE equality bill faced another day in Congress, stars of Boys’ Love (BL) series made their voices heard in support of the legislation.
Opposition toward the bill was seen in the online hearing held today, Nov. 4, from members of the House of Representatives who hold conservative and at times, misinformed beliefs about the bill and the LGBTQ+ community.
BL and GL writers, actors and fans were one with the LGBTQ+ community and its allies in taking a stand on Twitter using the hashtags #SOGIEEqualityNow and #PassADBNow. The anti-discrimination bill or ADB is the previous name of the said bill.
“Gameboys” writer Ash Malanum shared a video of the show’s cast members — Adrianna So, Kokoy De Santos and Elijah Canlas — stating “Gay rights, period,” along with Malanum himself and director Ivan Andrew Payawal. So, who stars in her own Girls’ Love series “Pearl Next Door,” was among those who retweeted the video.
#SOGIEEqualityNow #PassADBNow pic.twitter.com/d3vvaVzxVY
— Ash Malanum (@ashmalanum) November 4, 2020
Among the statements he questioned was one from televangelist Rep. Eddie Villanueva, who claimed that the bill would be discriminatory against straight people.
“Discrimination against the straights??? You really want to be oppressed so bad?” wrote Malanum.
Discrimination against the straights??? You really want to be oppressed so bad? https://t.co/pWEiTrctjD
— Ash Malanum (@ashmalanum) November 4, 2020
“Gaya sa Pelikula” creator Juan Miguel Severo, meanwhile, clapped back at unfounded statements made by Lyndon Caña of the Coalition of Concerned Families of the Philippines (CCFP).
Caña claimed that the LGBTQ+ community has become a “super special elite class.”
“Members of an elite class don’t get their murderers pardoned by the president, CCPF,” said Severo.
Members of an elite class don't get their murderers pardoned by the president, CCPF.#PassADBNow #SOGIEEqualityNow https://t.co/3DYctQA0bh
— Juan Miguel Severo 🏳️🌈 (@TheRainBro) November 4, 2020
Joseph Scott Pemberton, who was convicted of murdering trans woman Jennifer Laude, was pardoned by President Rodrigo Duterte last September.
When the CCFP wondered if the plus sign in LGBTQ+ meant pedophilia and necrophilia, Severo simply said, “The stupidity seems endless……”
The stupidity seems endless……#PassADBNow #SOGIEEqualityNow https://t.co/JxpSkKC8zF
— Juan Miguel Severo 🏳️🌈 (@TheRainBro) November 4, 2020
“Gaya sa Pelikula’s” lead actors Paolo Pangilinan and Ian Pangilinan (known as PangPang) also expressed support for the bill.
“Too many lives late,” Paolo said of the bill, which was first filed in 2000.
Too many lives late. #SOGIEEqualityNow #PassADBNow
— Paolo Pangilinan (@PaoPangs) November 4, 2020
Ian praised Sister Mary John Manansan who said, “Religion should not be used to discriminate others.”
“Louder for a certain Rep who continues to be a bigot,” he said.
PREACH SISTER MARY JOHN 😩 Louder for a certain Rep who continues to be a bigot ✌🏻 https://t.co/SWaMTGh9dc
— Ian Pangilinan (@ianpangilinan_) November 4, 2020
Ali King of “Boys Lockdown” also voiced his frustration: “Ganon ba kahirap intindihin na (How hard is it to understand that) we WANT EQUAL RIGHTS?? For the people who lead us to protect us?”
Ganon ba kahirap intindihin na we WANT EQUAL RIGHTS?? For the people who lead us to protect us?
Nakakagalit ng ulo. Ang sarap manlaban.#SOGIEEqualityNow
— Ali King #BoysLockdown (@rafiecake) November 4, 2020
After today’s hearing, the Committee on Women and Gender Equality approved to adopt the version of the measure from the 17th Congress as its working draft in the discussions of the current 18th Congress. JB
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