Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago`s Senate Bill No. 1276, introduced in 2004, proposed the explicit non-recognition of same-sex partnerships solemnly celebrated abroad in the Philippines. [23] During the 14th Congress, Manila Representative Benny Abante introduced Bill 6919 in the House of Representatives, proposing the criminalization of same-sex partnerships. As a former senior pastor of the Metropolitan Bible Baptist Church, Abante believed such unions were “highly immoral, outrageous, and despicable.” He proposed sanctions for applicants and ceremonial leaders of homosexual trade union rites. If the law had passed, the penalties would have been imposed:[25] Here`s a look at how legalizing same-sex marriage can benefit everyone: In October 2016, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez announced that he would submit a bill to legalize civil partnerships for opposite-sex and same-sex couples. As of October 25, 2016, more than 150 lawmakers have expressed their support for the bill. [7] Alvarez introduced House Bill 6595 on October 10, 2017. [8] The bill was also under the wing of MPs Geraldine Roman of Bataan, Gwendolyn Garcia of Cebu and Raneo Abu of Batangas. [9] [10] In the Senate, conservative Senator Tito Sotto Joel Villanueva promised to block the bill if it passed the House of Representatives. [11] After the adjournment of 17. Congress and subsequent legislative elections in 2019, the Civil Partnership Law was reintroduced by Alvarez in May 2019.
[12] Bohol`s representative, René Relampagos, introduced House Bill No. 4269 in 2011 to amend the Family Code, which governs the recognition of marriage and other forms of partnerships abroad. The provisions include “prohibited marriages” or forms or relationships that are not expressly recognized. On the grounds that Philippine policy is to recognize marriage as a union between a man and a woman, the proposed measure explicitly prohibits the recognition of same-sex partnerships. [24] Duterte`s retreat is easy to fix. He and his administration should demonstrate the political will to enforce laws aimed at protecting the rights of the country`s LGBT population, starting with same-sex marriage. It has long been known that bullying has harmful effects on children. They can become hateful, paranoid or even tyrannical themselves. They can become liabilities to society.
By legalizing same-sex marriage, we are raising spiritually immaculate children who can become successful individuals capable of developing society as a whole. By orchestrating gender equality, we are securing the next generation. Who needs another generation of fanatics? The Philippines is expected to join countries such as the United States, South Africa, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Uruguay, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Sweden and Ireland, all of which have enshrined marriage equality in their laws. In Asia, Taiwanese lawmakers are considering a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage. The Family Code of the Philippines, signed into law in 1987 by President Corazon Aquino, defines marriage as “a special contract for a permanent union between a man and a woman.” [20] Republic Act No. 386 of 1949, or Civil Code of the Philippines, also mentions marriage between a man and a woman. There have been several attempts to more explicitly restrict the Family Code to expose de facto same-sex partnerships. In 2003, Massachusetts became the first state in the United States to legalize same-sex marriage, paving the way for many other states to consider legalizing same-sex marriage.
Over the next decade, several other states legalized same-sex marriage; and in 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, including in the remaining 14 states that previously did not allow same-sex couples to marry. The decision in that case was based on the Court`s interpretation of due process and equal protection of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Same-sex marriage can provide relevant government services to people engaged in same-sex relationships and make financial requirements comparable to those imposed on married people of the opposite sex, as well as legal protections such as inheritance and hospital visitation rights. Empowering the LGBT community may seem like a threat to non-LG members of society, but it`s actually a positive thing. Currently, the institution of marriage is not available for same-sex couples in 38 states. In addition, the federal government denies legally related same-sex couples more than a thousand federal rights and benefits that come with marriage. This exclusion affects members of the LGBT community in several ways. The denial of the right to marry reinforces the stigma associated with a minority`s gender identity. Researchers have found that living in a state where same-sex marriage is prohibited can lead to chronic social stress and mental health problems.
Psychologists are particularly concerned that such stigma could harm the healthy development of adolescents and young adults. Families and friends of lesbian and gay couples who are denied the right to marry can also have similar negative effects on physical and mental health as their loved ones. In 1998, Senator Marcelo Fernan passed Senate Bills Nos. 897 and 898 to attach “biological” before “man” and “woman” in the Family Code, so that only a couple of cisgender husbands and women could legally marry. [21] In 2004, Muntinlupa Representative Ruffy Biazon introduced Bill No. 1245 in the House of Representatives, while his father, Senator Rodolfo Biazon, introduced Senate Bill 1575, the counter-declaration, in the Senate. The bills proposed by the Biazons had a similar proposal that limited marriages to naturally born men and naturally born women. [22] During last year`s presidential campaign, Duterte said he was open to the idea.