MORALES, Genecio Jr., C.

On 26 June 2015, the US Supreme Court issued a decision recognizing same-sex marriage,
holding that the marriage law should be enforced equally.
Since one purpose of marriage is procreation, The US Supreme Court held that if the US Federal
State allows sterile opposite sex couples to marry, to the exclusion of same sex couples, the
necessary consequence demeans or stigmatizes those whose own liberty is then denied.
That pose a question, Should the Philippine who`s constitution is closely patterned with the US
constitution, should recognize same sex marriage?, I answer YES.
The Philippines recognize the value of equal protection, and the importance of procreation in the
maintenance of its populace, while allows sterile couple to marry to the exclusion of same-sex
couples, is it just and fair?.
Equal protection mandates equality among equal, sterile couples should be treated alike without
distinction; and considering that same-sex couples are sterile by legal contemplation, they should
by law be granted the same rights.
Imagine this: about 200 years ago America recognized slavery, because the thinking of that time
was that it was reasonable to own another human being as property, but that was subsequently
abolished.
100 years ago American women were not granted the right to vote, because the thinking of that
time is that women was made man's helper, was given a servient place and man the dominant in
the vision of labor; but like slavery it was subsequently abolished.
50 years ago interracial marriage was a crime in many States in America, where it was thought
then that it was normal to incarcerate interracial couple like common criminals; but like the first
2 it was subsequently abolished.
Those statements may seem a bit unreasonable to us now, even absurd; but back then it was the
status quo.
Now imagine this: as far back as our collective memory is concerned the US Federal law does
not recognize same-sex marriage, but from 26 June 2015 it now recognizes it because of many
humane, sentimental, and practical reasons.
And since the Philippine Constitution was closely patterned with the US`s Constitution, we must
ask ourselves: Why Should We Not Follow Suit?
Although same-sex marriage cannot be given recognition in our current legal framework, but the
law is a dynamic entity, malleable and responsive to the changing needs and wants of the society;
it is possible and in fact probable that our law shall recognize same sex marriage in the future.
Since the moving force of civilization is to realize and secure a more humane existence, leading
us to accept rather than reject, include rather than exclude, love rather than hate.