Thanks to the recent gay slurs of Manny Pacquiao, the issue of same-sex marriage in the Philippines is being discussed again in the media.
We should look at it on a larger picture. This is no longer about his belief on the Bible – this is all about the status of LGBT rights in the Philippines and worldwide. If you could just look at the article on Wikipedia regarding LGBT Rights at the UN, you would notice that there are 3 groups of nations on this matter. There’s the Pro-LGBT Rights, the Anti-LGBT Rights and those that stayed neutral.
Do we want to be among the Developed Countries or be included in those War-Torn countries?
It’s sad to know that the Philippines belong to the 3rd group – those countries that remained Neutral/Undecided on the matter. While the Developed Countries approved same-sex marriages and the mostly-Muslim countries banned it, the Philippines neither approved it nor banned it.
It reminded me of a quote by Edmund Burke: "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing". If we are to be considered as a fully democratic country, and if we are to uphold our own Constitution’s mandate of separation of Church and State, same-sex marriage should be legal in the Philippines.
We are not asking to be married in Catholic or any Christian churches. We are not demanding these institutions to change their ways to accommodate our gay rights. We are demanding the government, the State, to give us Equal Rights – including the right to be married and enjoy the benefits that come with it, in State institutions like Municipal and City Halls.
We are not demanding special rights. We are demanding Equal Rights.
As a founding member of the United Nations, the Philippines should adopt the decision of the majority of nations, in their resolutions. The Philippines should adapt same-sex marriage.
