Nobyembre 19, 2009
“The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is right about rejecting the application of a group composed of lesbians and gays to become a party-list group. Had the poll body approved the application of Ang Ladlad, baka tinamaan ng kidlat (lightning would have struck) its commissioners. Kidding aside, gender should never be an issue in politics. If there are many gays and lesbians in our midst, fine! We should respect their rights. But they should not also go around town proclaiming their preferences as if it was a badge of honor. There is nothing honorable or normal about same-sex marriage or union, which Ang Ladlad is trying to promote. Gays and lesbians should be happy society tolerates them. They should not abuse society’s doting attitude towards them.”
‘Gays’ should be thankful society tolerates them, and they should not push their luck. When did ‘gay’ precede ‘citizen’? Mr Tulfo conveniently forgets, ‘gays’ are human beings first and foremost, and citizens of this republic. As such, they are entitled to all the rights and freedoms accorded to any citizen of the Philippines. As a minority they have the right to run for public office and bring attention to the unfair and unlawful treatment of their community.
The LGBTQ community in the Philippines continues to suffer blatant discrimination in the workplace, in schools, government and on every street corner of this country. Legislation, amongst other approaches, is a tool in rectifying these injustices.
Perhaps in your book Mr Tulfo there is nothing honorable about a same-sex union, but in my book and many others’, there is nothing honorable about a bigot.
PS Dear Philippine Daily Inquirer, there is a difference between opinion and hate-speech. Be responsible.
