Sharmaine Bill: How an internet meme turned into bill for gender rights

MANILA, Philippines — What started as a viral internet joke about an orange wanting to be named “Sharmaine” has inspired the drafting of a House bill that seeks to make legal gender recognition more accessible for transgender, intersex, and non-binary Filipinos.

In time for Pride Month, Akbayan Representatives Perci Cendaña, Chel Diokno, Dadah Kiram Ismula and Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao filed House Bill No. 9929, or the Lived Identities Recognition Act (LIRA) on June 23.

Dubbed by its authors as the “Sharmaine Bill,” the proposal takes its nickname from the viral TikTok meme by content creator BAET.

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It features an orange fruit that complained its name was “uninspired” because it was named after its color.

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The orange said it wanted to be named “Sharmaine,” much like a yellow mango fruit was not named as yellow.

The meme prompted discussions online about the legal process for changing one’s name in the Philippines.

During the conversation, Diokno also shared legal advice related to the issue on social media.

“If we can readily accept that an orange on TikTok wants to be called Sharmaine, then we can certainly extend the same understanding to our transgender and intersex siblings,” Cendaña said in Filipino while explaining the measure.

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“They deserve to be recognized by the law using the name they have come to be known by, and for who they truly are,” the lawmaker added.

The proposed bill aims to establish an administrative process allowing qualified individuals to update their legal name and gender marker in government records, without having to undergo lengthy and costly court proceedings.

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According to the bill’s explanatory note, it seeks to address what its authors describe as a gap in Philippine law regarding legal recognition of gender identity.

Under the bill, the State will recognize “lived identities” based on a person’s gender identity while protecting their rights to privacy and freedom from discrimination.

The measure has yet to undergo committee deliberations in the House. /apl

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