【Peter Baumgartner】

The Peter Baumgartnercountry’s first transgender lawmaker brought the House to a standing ovation on Tuesday, after she delivered an impassioned address urging fellow lawmakers to pass a dormant anti-discrimination bill.

Geraldine Roman of Bataan province spoke at the Philippines House of Representatives in Quezon City. In her speech, she asked for equal treatment for the LGBTQ community in gaining access to basic services and employment, and to put a stop to the harassment many members face at the workplace and school.

SEE ALSO: Philippines elects its first transgender politician to congress

The bill prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity has been refiled repeatedly in Congress, but has remained in limbo for 17 years, according to Rappler.

---

You May Also Like

---

---

The Philippines does not have laws criminalising homosexuality, but there are no laws protecting the community in the majority Roman Catholic nation.

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Roman said during her speech: “My dear brother and sisters in the LGBT community, I want you to know that I am but one voice among many in this august chamber that says it is time: It is the time to pass the Anti-Discrimination Bill on the Basis of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. And the time is now!”

Her speech starts at about 36 minutes in.

The bill asks those found guilty to face a six-year jail term and fines of up to PHP 500,000 (US$10,450).

Mashable Trend Report Decode what’s viral, what’s next, and what it all means. Sign up for Mashable’s weekly Trend Report newsletter. By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up!

Roman recounted how her father, the late former Bataan congressman Antonino Roman, fully accepted her as transgender, despite being the stereotypical “macho politician”.

She said it was his dream for her to take the House podium to champion the rights of her community.

Roman campaigning in her home province of Bataan in April. Credit: ted aljibe/AFP/Getty Images

"Daddy, you and I need not beg my colleagues for respect. I am glad and proud that the members of the 17th Congress have not only welcomed me with open arms. They have dealt with me as a full-fledged colleague, as an equal.” Roman said, close to tears.

She noted that there have been 164 cases of hate crimes against members of the LGBTQ community since 1995 in the Philippines.

“Hopefully as you have fully accepted me, you would also accept equality among all Filipinos, LGBTQ or not,” she said.

Bloggers and other online personalities quickly reacted with praise.

“Fight for us, Geraldine,” popular style and transgender fashion blogger Mikki Galang, posted on her Facebook account.

Yedda Romualdez, wife of Leyte congressman Martin Romualdez, said she was awed by Roman’s “beautiful” speech.

On Twitter, Filipino celebrity Bianca Gonzalez also said that Roman’s speech was one “happy item” in the news.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

• Digital Culture
• Games
• Life
• Deals
• Social Good
• Science
• Shopping
• Tech

• Stablecoin bill advances in U.S. Senate as Trump critics call to end his crypto dealings
• Mark Zuckerberg gives up on doing personal 'yearly challenges'
• Crush your soul with these children's books rewritten for a Trump presidency
• YouTube’s new 'made for kids' content rules are a good first step
• Today's Hurdle hints and answers for May 5, 2025
• Samsung launches the Galaxy XCover Pro, but only for this one country
• Iguana, who answers to no man, wreaks havoc at the Miami Open tennis tournament
• Russian hackers are still going to be a huge problem for 2020 elections
• Switch 2 Nintendo Direct: Everything announced
• The best signs from Australia's climate protests amid bushfire crisis

• YouTube is more likely to serve problematic videos than useful ones
• President Trump shares his semi
• 16 best tweets of the week, including uncertain vibes, 'Jackass,' and backwards runners
• Here's what Merriam
• A year later, how did Trump's 'Pee Tape' affect golden shower porn?
• Please look at this new baby sloth named Vivien
• This tiny wild cat species is exploding the internet with its cuteness
• Jurors could use VR to visit crime scenes, and help them reach a verdict
• Sorry, Donald Trump, but your tweet about the London embassy is completely inaccurate
• Ashley Graham tells 'The View' she was harassed on a photoshoot set

• Patched Desktop PC: Meltdown & Spectre Benchmarked
• Iguana, who answers to no man, wreaks havoc at the Miami Open tennis tournament
• UberEATS is delivering alcohol now, but probably not in the way you were hoping
• My quest for a non
• Best iPhone deal: Save $147 on the iPhone 15 Pro Max
• Lime lays off dozens and pulls e
• Did you know you shouldn't feed ducks bread? These people didn't.
• All these new smartwatches crush the Apple Watch in one regard
• The State of 5G: When It's Coming, How Fast It Will Be & The Sci
• Boiled eggs

• Best travel deal: Take 30% off Southwest flights
• How to help mental health efforts following Puerto Rico earthquake
• The World Cup of Biscuits 2017 is here and it's so British it hurts
• Mark Zuckerberg gives up on doing personal 'yearly challenges'
• Best Bluetooth tracker deal: Save 29% on the Tile by Life360 Essentials bundle
• Uh, you should really update Firefox. Like, right now.
• What's Apple's tax bill in New Zealand? Why it's zero, niet, nada.
• Lizzo lends a hand packing hampers for people affected by Australia's bushfire crisis
• Best Bluetooth tracker deal: Save 29% on the Tile by Life360 Essentials bundle
• Facebook's latest Trump ad takedown further exposes its laughable policies