Is Philippines Ready For Same Sex Marriage.docx

SAME SEX MARRIAGE IN THE PHILIPPINES

Is Philippines ready for same sex marriage? As the time goes by, LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) community keeps on growing and they are more free to express themselves politically and socially. Beyond the freedom they are having right now, some of them are still experiencing discrimination in our society and facing huge social issue like same sex marriage.

This year’s Metro Manila Pride March was held at Marikina, June 30, 2018. Thousands of LGBT attended a festival and a march to call for equal rights in the Philippines. After the Supreme Court concluded its oral argument on same sex marriage, the LGBT community called it as realization, promotion and fulfillment of their human rights. They have been pushing to legalize same sex union not for the cakes and parties but to be recognized as their partner’s legal spouse and immediate family. Hours before Pride March began, the Social Weather Station released a survey that showed 61 percent of Filipino are not in favor of legalizing same sex marriage in the Philippines. It is said that personal and religious beliefs influenced the result of the survey. Even President Duterte opposes this and in favor of civil union instead. Bataan Representative Geraldine Roman, also said that the country is not yet ready to legalize same sex marriage. We’re still a conservative country although we accept LGBT is our society. Maybe because of lack of knowledge or understanding of the needs of LGBT we will really oppose in this argument. But some of same sex couples are estranged from their biological families because of their chosen sexual orientation and when they are sick, their partner who has been on their side for all these years, can’t make decisions for them. LGBT community claim same sex marriage included to their rights not just as Filipinos but also as human beings.

Hence, as majority of Filipinos are Christians, Anti- Discrimination Law for LGBT community must be implemented first then same sex marriage will follow. We should remember that the LGBT rights are also Human rights. We are all humans, we are all equal beyond our differences.