Vice presidential candidate Vicente Sotto III said that a member of the LGBT+ community can join the Cabinet of the Lacson-Sotto tandem.
Sotto made the statement during the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) PILIpinas forum.
“Of course. I have many LGBT friends, as a matter of fact, I have many LGBT supporters. Kahapon pa lang [Just yesterday], I received an endorsement from a big group of an LGBT group and then you can ask the LGBTs not only in Metro Manila, but also in Iloilo and Bacolod. I have groups there from the LGBT class that are supporting my candidacy,” Sotto said.
“Of course, sa Eat Bulaga pa lang e ang dami naming LGBT+ don puro kaibigan ko lahat yon. They are very supportive,” he added.
The comedian-turned-politician said that he will push for the anti-discrimination bill that “addresses” the concerns of the LGBT+ community. However, he will not support the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) Equality bill, which was previously filed in the Senate.
“I have no problem with the LGBT plus community. I am willing to approve the Anti-Discrimination Bill if it addresses them. But the problem with the SOGIE bill that was filed in the Senate. It violates the freedom of religion and academic freedom,” he said.
“‘Yun ang pinagdedebatehan namin and then of course, there are others who were saying it was class legislation. Alisin ninyo ang freedom of religion na nakakasama. Alisin ‘yung provision na tatamaan ang academic freedom. Leave freedom of religion alone, leave academic freedom alone and answer the issue of class legislation, I will vote for the SOGIE bill,” he said. — Ronald Espartinez