LGBT: Let Grace Be Total?

Ever since the gigantic move made by the US last August that shook the world when they
legalized gay marriage, pleads from the Filipino voices proposing the parallelism of action and
modification of laws were heard all throughout the nation. Is it a time to stand up for the nations
overall status as a Christian country? Or should we follow in suit?
As of now, liberalization is what the world deems acceptable. Movements that protect the sanctity
of humans in general are considered more important than what the Big Guy up there wants. The
thing is, here in the Philippines, those views arent tolerated. More often than not, theyre
shunned, humiliated, and demonized. Here are a few reasons why.
Firstly, we have our reputation as a solid Catholic country, the only Christian nation in the giant
that is Asia, if I might add. In the event that many Filipinos are fed with the narrow-minded
perception that being gay is unnatural and youd go to hell for it, acceptance remains at an all
time low.
Though many may argue that they accept those people as who they are, the fact still remains that
when they are presented with the possibility of an eternity in a lake of fire, they would try to get
them to see reason and convert themselves to faith. Hence, a low level of acceptance, if you can
even call it that.
Many Christians will also be unable to get over the fact that what is biblical may not always be
legal and what is legal may not always be biblical. This is what the separation of church and state
is for. The state cannot endorse a religion that everyone must follow. In the same way, the church
cannot promote or make its own government wherein the laws of the state do not apply to them.
However, things go into a frenzy when both parties meddle with each others affairs, therefore
putting the issued unheard minority into a blinding spotlight and leading them to oppression
coming from the disagreeing cluster.
Second, we follow a strict set of rules imposed to us by society and of which was also generated
by decades and decades of cultivation. From childhood, we are indoctrinated the things that we
are expected to do, the Filipino way, to be exact. While theres nothing exactly wrong with the
Filipino way, it endorses unrealistic contemplations of traditional habits which are sometimes
inapplicable to modern times.
A man, for example, is considered as the one who will raise the family and guide it towards
success. Expectations are automatically pressed upon him that he is supposed to be intelligent,
physically fit, and business-oriented. He is anticipated to marry a beautiful wife, have three kids,
and live happily. In simpler terms, from birth a man is to be a padre de familia. Breaking one of
these breeds disappointment and dispute within the family. Why waste your time on another
padre de familia? He has his own family to feed!
Lets proceed to that of the womans. Ever since then, the roles of women as the caretakers and
domestic ones within the society has long been abolished. However, the qualities of a domestic
woman is still pressed to that of the modern one. She should know how to cook, clean the house,
do the laundry, wash the dishes, run errands, and avoid sex up until marriage for it will sully her,
therefore rendering her worth less than what it was before. If this woman was to love another
woman, she is a waste in the sense that her talents were molded that way so that she can serve
her future husband well.
Lastly, our political system was made in such a way that religion is intertwined deeply with it.
Recite the Panatang Makabayan and Akoy Pilipino. Sing Lupang Hinirang. If these arent
strong enough evidences to you that prove that God and this countrys constitution can be
technically called husband and wife, then I dont know what will. Also, it is directly specified in the
1987 constitution concerning the family code that in a household, there must be a wife and a
husband. There is a law here that directly tackles the possibility of gay marriage, wherein in the
USA, the definition of who can be married was vague and filled with loopholes the movement took
advantage of.
Before making judgments that concerns the law, we have to remember to take things into context.
America is an entirely different nation as the Philippines, possessing different laws and enshrining

different values. Piece of advice for the LGBT community out there? Marry in the countries that
allow gay marriage and be happy. Dont let the Philippines become your closed walls.
In the near future, propaganda concerning gay marriage may end up in failure or end up in
success here in our nation. If however that grace becomes equal in all of the nation regarding
rights to marry, it should hinder no faith and obstruct no joy.
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