NGO scores lawmaker on same sex union

MANILA, Philippines - A non-government organization urged yesterday Congress to junk a bill sponsored by Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. which seeks to criminalize same sex marriage.

Clara Rita Padilla, executive director of women’s group EnGenderRights, branded House Bill 6919 as “clearly discriminatory against lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders.” Padilla said instead of promoting human rights, Abante is proposing a bill “that is backward by promoting intolerance and even hatred of LGBTs.”

“Contrary to the discriminatory view of Rep. Abante, the rights of LGBTs are recognized in international treaties that the Philippines has ratified such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Having ratified these treaties, it is the obligation of the Philippines to respect, protect and fulfill the rights of LGBTs,” Padilla said.

She said “the CEDAW committee, tasked to monitor CEDAW, issued General Recommendation 21 recognizing same-sex unions and families by stating that the form and concept of the family can vary from state to state, and even between regions within a state.”

A Christian pastor, Abante said same-sex union is “highly immoral, scandalous, and detestable.” He said Filipinos should oppose such a union which, once it becomes “a reality in the part of the globe, would snap the remaining strand of our moral values.”

Padilla said same-sex marriages are recognized in the Netherlands, Canada, South Africa and even in the predominantly Catholic countries such as Belgium and Spain. Spain is the third country to have recognized same-sex marriage.”