Why legalizing same sex marriage in PH is good for all Filipinos

By Denise Laure, Quezon City | There are at least 1 million LGBT people contribute daily to
Filipino life inside and outside the country in a multitude of ways culturally, socially, financially,
politically, vocationally, and spiritually.
These contributions can be realized only by legalization of the same-sex marriage. These people
should be treated equally regardless of sex, religion, and everything according to the law.

Improve psychological, physical, and social well-being amongst LGBT people

Same-sex married couple can have stable psychological and social well-being as they can also
enjoy the rights and benefits of a normal Filipino living inside or outside the Philippines. LGBT
people can achieve their full potential if given all the rights and freedom just like opposite-sex
married couples.

Promote family stability

This generation’s children represent the Philippines’ future and it is the country’s best interest to
support their development, regardless of whom they are parented by. The denial of same-sex
marriage could affect badly to children raised by same-sex couples. They can always be
discriminated and bullied by other children because of their same-sex parents.

Provide economic and business opportunities

The legalization of same-sex marriage in other countries has long been seen to provide an
economic boost. Wedding planning is one of the best businesses out there that is on continues
rise. Small wedding planning and reception companies in the city can double their customers if
same-sex marriage is legalized. Report said that the State of New York made $260 million in
economic boost following the legalization of same-sex marriage.

Strengthen national and international reputation

Unmarried same-sex couples from countries where same-sex marriage is illegal often find
themselves at odds. They tend to have low self-esteem because of lack of recognition. Legalizing
same-sex marriage would erase these doubts.

Promotes true freedom of religion

Freedom of religion allows a person or group to pursue the practice of his/her own religion
without government of dominant church interference. The most fair and ethical approach —
which treats all people equally regardless of religious affiliation — is to factor out religious
points of view when crafting marriage laws within a secular context

There are other hundreds of benefits a married gay can enjoy like employee’s benefits,
paternal/maternal leave, family insurance, real-estate sharing, etc.

On the other hand, there is no benefit in not legalizing the same-sex marriage. The Catholic
Church, the most dominant religion in the country is the number one opponent of same sex-
marriage while always failing to contain its internal problems.

Child abuse among Catholic priests has been a hot topic without any solid preventive measure
from the Vatican – the same with pregnancy on nuns.

Same sex-marriage in the Philippines should be legalized for the good of all. There is no sensible
reason why this law will not be passed.

Economic effect to foreign countries

In a landmark decision Friday, the Supreme Court ruled that same-sex marriage is a
constitutional right in all 50 states. The 5-4 decision was celebrated by many
nationwide, including President Barack Obama, who tweeted that it was a “big step
in our march toward equality.”

The newly expanded marriage rights provide a tremendous economic opportunity for
the $51 billion wedding industry, which currently employs over 800,000 people
nationwide. Excluding increases in federal tax revenue or transfer payments, gay
marriage in all 50 states has the potential to add $2.5 billion annually to the U.S.
economy, according to a NerdWallet analysis.

By calculating consumer spending on weddings, average marriage rates, as well as

the self-identified gay and lesbian population, NerdWallet determined the potential
revenue from gay marriage in each state. For example, our study found that
California’s economy stands to gain as much as $414 million.

Since the 1990s LGBT people have become more organized and visible, both politically and socially.
There are large annual LGBT pride festivals, and several LGBT organizations which focus on the
concerns of University students, women and transgender people. There is a vibrant gay scene in the
Philippines with several bars, clubs and saunas in Manila as well as various gay rights organizations.

 UP Babaylan founded in 1992, remains the oldest and largest LGBT student organization in the
Philippines
 Progay-Philippines, founded in 1993, which led the first Gay March in Asia[62] in 1994
 LAGABLAB, the Lesbian and Gay Legislative Advocacy Network established in 1999
 STRAP (Society of Transsexual WOMEN of the Philippines), a Manila-based support group for
trans women established in 2002.

Right after Ireland legalized same-sex marriage through a popular vote in May 2015, the Philippines
has the possibility to legalize this law by a petition.

With ballots counted in 40 out of 43 constituencies, the 'Yes' vote gets 62.3
percent, official figures showed, making Ireland the first country in the world to
approve gay marriage by popular vote

DUBLIN, Ireland (3rd UPDATE) – Ireland on Sunday, May 24, became the first
country in the world to approve gay marriage by popular vote, as crowds cheered
in Dublin in a spectacular setback for the once all-powerful Catholic Church.
With ballots in 40 out of 43 constituencies counted, the "Yes" vote was ahead
with 62.3 percent, official figures showed, and public broadcaster RTE said the
result from the ongoing count was now certain.

Hundreds of "Yes" supporters gathered in the grounds of Dublin Castle cheered

and waved rainbow flags as the results came through.

The 31-page petition highlights the need for a more LGBT-inclusive society and
is the first known and reported legal action of its kind before the Philippine High
Court

MANILA, Philippines – A young Filipino lawyer has asked the Philippine Supreme
Court (SC) to lift same-sex marriage prohibitions in the country's almost 3-
decade-old Family Code.

The lawyer, who identified himself as openly gay in his May 18 petition, argued
that limiting civil marriages and the rights that go with such unions to
heterosexuals violate the constitutionally guaranteed protection for equal
treatment, undue interference to liberty rights, and marital autonomy.

Petitioner Jesus Nicardo Falcis III said the limitations imposed by the 1987
Family Code favoring only opposite-sex marriages repealed the 1949 Civil Code,
which never made such a distinction.

Obtained by Rappler, the 31-page plea highlighted the need for a more
LGBT-inclusive society and is the first known and reported legal action of
its kind before the Philippine SC.

Bills seeking to allow same-sex marriage have surfaced in the past but no
law has been enacted to date.
The SC may or may not act upon the petition, a legal dilemma sure to draw
varied social commentaries in the predominantly Catholic country of 100
million.

Falcis explained to Rappler that "no actual case unfolds such as a gay
couple going to the local civil registrar and applying for a marriage license"
because of prevailing social attitudes against same-sex relationships.

The first gay lesbian bisexual and transgender pride parade in Asia and also the Philippines
was led by ProGay Philippines on 26 June 1994 at the Quezon Memorial Circle. It was
organized just a few years after students organized the UP Babaylan group. The pride
event was attended by hundreds, and the march coincided with march against the
government's VAT or the value added tax.

Since the 1990s LGBT people have become more organized and visible, both politically and
socially. There are large annual LGBT pride festivals, and several LGBT organizations
which focus on the concerns of University students, women and transgender people. There
is a vibrant gay scene in the Philippines with several bars, clubs and saunas in Manila as
well as various gay rights organizations.

 UP Babaylan founded in 1992, remains the oldest and largest LGBT student
organization in the Philippines
 Progay-Philippines, founded in 1993, which led the first Gay March in Asia[62] in 1994
 LAGABLAB, the Lesbian and Gay Legislative Advocacy Network established in 1999
 STRAP (Society of Transsexual WOMEN of the Philippines), a Manila-based support
group for trans women established in 2002.

On June 17, 2011, the Philippines abstained from signing the United Nations declaration on
sexual orientation and gender identity, which condemns violence, harassment,
discrimination, exclusion, stigmatization, and prejudice based on sexual orientation and
gender identity. However, on September 26, 2014, the country gave a landmark yes vote on
a follow-up resolution by the UN Human Rights Council to fight violence and discrimination
based on sexual orientation and gender identity(SOGI).[50]
The statement includes a condemnation of violence, harassment,
discrimination, exclusion, stigmatization, and prejudice based on sexual orientation and gender
identity that undermine personal integrity and dignity. It also includes condemnation of killings and
executions, torture, arbitrary arrest, and deprivation of economic, social, and cultural rights on those
grounds. The statement asserts: "we recall the statement in 2006 before the Human Rights Council
by fifty four countries requesting the President of the Council to provide an opportunity, at an
appropriate future session of the Council, for discussing these violations". Additionally, it says "we
commend the attention paid to those issues byspecial procedures of the Human Rights Council and
treaty bodies and encourage them to continue to integrate consideration of human rights violations
based on sexual orientation and gender identity within their relevant mandate", indicating
the Yogyakarta Principles, which provide definitions in detail on sexual orientation and on gender
identity as a document on international human rights law.[10] This statement has been praised as a
breakthrough for human rights, breaking the previous taboo against speaking about LGBT rights in
the United Nations.

The Philippines is ranked as one of the most gay-friendly nations in the world, and the most
LGBT friendly in Asia.[3] The country ranked as the 10th most gay-friendly in a global survey
covering 39 countries, in which only 17 had majorities acceptinghomosexuality. Titled "The
Global Divide on Homosexuality," the survey conducted by the Pew Research
Center showed that 73 percent of adult Filipinos agreed with the statement that
"homosexuality should be accepted by society," up by nine percentage points from 64
percent in 2002.[3]

Having said that, the LGBT community remains as one of the country's minority sectors.
Lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgenders often face disadvantages in getting hired for
jobs, acquiring rights for civil marriage, and even in starting up personal businesses. This
has led to the rise of the cause for LGBT rights, defined as the right to equality and non-
discrimination.[4] As a member of the United Nations, the Philippines is signatory to
various international covenants promoting human rights.[

Equal dignity in the eyes of the law'

"Their hope," Kennedy wrote, "is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded
from one of civilization's oldest institutions. They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the
law. The Constitution grants them that right."