PALACE ON SAME-SEX MARRIAGE: UP TO
CONGRESS / PROGAY PH GETS COLD SHOULDERS
MANILA, MAY 11, 2012 (GMA NEWS NETWORK)
AMITA O. LEGASPI - Malacañang on Thursday distanced itself on the issue
of same-sex marriage, saying Congress should decide on it.
"Marriage as defined under the Family Code is a union between a man and a
woman. The issue of same-sex marriage is best left to the sound discretion of
the legislature," presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda told reporters in a
text message.
The issue surfaces anew after US President Barack Obama publicly declared his
support for same-sex marriages at a pre-election debate.
In an event in New York in September last year, President Benigno Aquino III
said he respects the right of gay couples to get married but expressed
reservation on gay couples adopting a child.
"I don't think I'm ready to tackle that... right now. But… it is their
choice," Aquino said when asked during the Asia Society Forum in New York where
he delivered a speech.
"Normally I would say, you're adults, you should be able to do whatever you
want so long as it doesn't hurt anybody else. But if the next step is we want
the right to adopt, then, I would be in a dilemma," he added.
The Philippine president said his priority is the welfare of the child.
"My priority would be looking after the child who has a very tender and
impressionable mind," he said.
Meanwhile, Progressive Organization of Gays in the Philippines (ProGay) had
challenged Aquino to make the first few steps – not for same-sex marriages yet
but for basic human rights.
The group said while they are not yet pushing Aquino to fight for Obama's
advocacy, the administration can at least address the more pressing human rights
violations against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ)
Filipinos.
"We are not asking for wedding bells soon, we are merely requesting the
government to face up to the reports ProGay had submitted to the United Nations
Human Rights Council," said Goya Candelario, spokesperson of ProGay.
"The UNHRC will be reviewing the Philippines on May 28th in Geneva during its
Universal Period Review," Candelario added.
In the so-called "shadow report" titled "A Report on Violations of Human
Rights Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in the Philippines"
ProGay listed complaints including Malacañang's "snub" of the
Anti-Discrimination Bill pending in Congress for twelve years.
Also, the report criticized incidents of hate-motivated agitation by groups
opposed to gay pride events in Baguio City, and fly-by shootings of
transgendered women in Cebu.
The ProGay report also highlighted discrimination that force LGBT students
and teachers in schools conform to rigid gender-based rules on uniforms.
The report made a list of recommendations that the activists are putting
forward to the government, such as:
- Pass local legislative councils in cities and provinces effective versions
of the Anti-Discrimination Act, and put in place implementing structures with
capacity building funded by the mandatory 5% Gender and Development budgets
- Order national agencies under the guidance of the National Council of Women
to add to the Gender and Development desks tasks addressing the needs, issues
and cases of LGBTQ Filipinos
-Assign the Presidential Human Rights Commission to incorporate in the
National Human Rights Action Plan the human rights based on sexual orientation
and gender identity as stated in the Yogyakarta Principles
-Order the Department of Interior and Local Government to issue guidelines,
capacity building documents, and memorandums for the Vice Mayors League, the
Councilors League and other leagues concerning ordinances that can affect human
rights based on sexual orientation and gender identity
-Implement protective measures such as police presence during Pride parades
and other cultural events of LGBTQs when organizers report such risks arising
from hate groups
-Build capacity in the Department of Labor and Employment and develop
educational programs among employers and managers on labor rights based on
sexual orientation and gender identity
-Direct the Department of Labor and Employment to collect and analyze data on
incidents of workplace discrimination targeting sexual orientation and gender
identity.
ProGay added that it expects the UNHRC to provide the Philippines
representative in Geneva a list of instructions called Concluding Observations
that the government needs to comply with.
LGBTQ activists said they will keep on monitoring the government after it
receives the document to ensure that state agencies build programs to uplift the
social and political wellbeing of the gay community.
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Community Church, which is pushing for marriage
equality in the Philippines, praised Obama's bold move to campaign for same-sex
marriage. Rev. Ceejay Agbayani expressed hope the Aquino would ay soon consider
promoting similar family rights for LGBTQ Filipinos. — LBG,
GMA News
FROM THE TRIBUNE
Clamor for Filipino same-sex marriage earns a cold shoulder
from Palace 05/11/2012
[PHOTO FROM PRO-GAY PHILIPPINES]
In what appears to be an effort to preserve its relationship with the
conservative Catholic Church, Malacaang doesnt appear keen on the idea of
supporting same-sex marriage amid clamor for President Aquino to emulate United
States President Barack Obama who had just announced unequivocal support for it.
In a text message to Palace reporters, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda
said that the clamor coming from a group that calls itself as ProGay, asking the
President to address discrimination issues inflicted on Filipino gays, lesbians
and homosexuals, should best be addressed to Congress.
Lacierda hinted at very slim chances of the President doing an Obama.
Aside from protecting the religious conviction that the late Aquino matriarch
is known for, Lacierda said that the President respects and upholds the Family
Code, which defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman.
Marriage is defined under the Family Code as a union between a man and a
woman. The issue of same sex marriage is best left to the sound discretion of
the Philippine Congress, Lacierdas text message read.
Efforts of the local gay sector, which has repeatedly tried to secure party
list accreditation so they could seek for congressional representation at the
House of Representatives, proved to be futile amid what they described as
derailing efforts of the Commission on Elections.
President Barack Obama, who once opposed gay marriage but said his position
had evolved, announced his unequivocal support in a historic announcement that
thrust the divisive social issue into a more prominent role in this years
presidential campaign.
Fernan J. Angeles
Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE
NEWS ONLINE
All rights reserved
PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS
ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/phnotweet
This is the PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE (PHNO) Mailing List.
To stop receiving our news items, please send a blank e-mail addressed to: phno-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
Please visit our homepage at: http://www.newsflash.org/
(c) Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
-------------------------------------------------------------Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/phno/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/phno/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
phno-digest@yahoogroups.com
phno-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
phno-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
PH Headline News Online. Copyright 2011 All Rights Reserved