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13 Dec 2011

Come out of your extravagant churches to see the reality: Filipino gay group to Catholic priests

The Philippine's only political organisation for LGBTs has urged Catholic priests, who oppose the anti-discrimination bill, to "come out of their extravagant churches to see the reality – that some LGBTs are not hired to work, some are being harassed and violated and some 144 killed because of their sexual orientation and gender identity."

Ladlad Partylist, the only political organisation for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender Filipinos, has hit out at the Catholic Church's attempts to exclude them from being covered by a bill that penalises discrimination.

Above: Ladlad’s chairperson Bemz Benedito (left) with Senior Party Adviser Boy Abunda.

Last week, the Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) raised alarm over an anti-discrimination bill saying that the bill could lead to the legalisation of same-sex marriages.

The party dismissed as paranoia CBCP's concern that protecting LGBTs against discrimination will lead to the legalisation of same-sex marriages.

“Nothing in the bill refers to same-sex marriage, it merely asks for equal opportunities and protection before the law like in schools, workplace and establishment regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity.” The group said in a statement provided to Fridae.

Senate Bill (SB) 2814 or the Anti-Ethnic, Racial or Religious Discrimination and Profiling Act of 2011 which was sponsored by Sen. Loren Legarda, chair of Senate Committee on Cultural Communities. According to the Tempo news website, Legarda was quoted as saying that eventual enactment of the bill into law would hopefully lessen, if not eliminate, cases of discrimination, profiling, violence, and all forms of intolerance in employment, education, delivery of goods, facilities and services, accommodation, transportation, media, in search and investigatory activities, and in political, civil, cultural and social life on the basis of ethnicity, race, religion or belief, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, language, disability and other status. 

The Senate in November passed on third reading the bill which will go before the bicameral conference committee tasked to harmonise the Senate bill with similar bills passed by the House of Representatives.

The CBCP objects to the terms “sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity” in the bill. 

“It’s opening the door for same sex marriages, which our country doesn’t allow,” Ronald Reyes, a lawyer of the CBCP, told reporters. He said the Catholic church, which would not officiate same sex marriages, might be punished if the bill became law. “This is alarming and it might change our society,” Reyes said. 

Another CBCP lawyer Jo Imbong said the LGBTs should not be considered the same as the elderly, the handicapped, and the poor. “These people are disadvantaged not by their own choice. But the third sex, they choose this. How can you give protection to a choice like that?” Imbong said. 

In the statement, Ladlad’s chairperson Bemz Benedito said: "Atty. Jo Imbong’s thesis or proposition was lamentable, defective, and thoughtless because there are LGBT Filipinos who are elderly, handicapped, and poor. Their experiences of discrimination become layered, and unbearable." 

“The deed that the CBCP is showing now against Filipino LGBTs is morally wrong because God as we all know doesn’t welcome prejudice and does love unfavourably,” she added. 

The LGBT group is asking the Catholic priests to come out of their extravagant churches to see the reality – that some LGBTs are not hired to work, some are being harassed and violated and some 144 killed because of their sexual orientation and gender identity. “It is not something that we chose to be,” Benedito stressed.

The group said that it is “deeply saddened that the CBCP continues to propagate fear, hate, prejudice and intolerance to the LGBT sector.”

Notably, the bill does not mention the handicapped, elderly, or poor but focuses on racial, ethnic, and political discrimination. 

Ladlad claims a membership of 50,000 nationwide and its chairperson Bemz Benedito who is a transgender woman will be the group’s first nominee to run for a congressional seat in the 2013 elections. In 2009, the group fought its way to the Supreme Court to be recognised as a legitimate political party to contest in the 2010 elections. 

Reader's Comments

1. 2011-12-13 19:15  
I am wondering why the churches claim that marriage is theirs.

Humans have been on the earth millions of years. FACT!
Humans naturally seek out partners. FACT!
The concept of marriage was established LONG before the Christians had their bible written for them. FACT!

The Roman Catholic Church has more closet gays than any other organisation I know. FACT!
...the Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) raised alarm over an anti-discrimination ... Yes it's also a FACT that the RC's are the best organisation in the world at selling discrimination.
2. 2011-12-13 21:42  
And this remains my biggest peeve against the church. Ok if the religion of yours is not ok with LGBT, then fine, stay insular within yourself. Stop propagating your religious beliefs into the secular public sector and transfer your prejudices to the secular - and unfairly affecting the people who may not be Abrahamic practitioners and should not be imposed with Abrahamic prejudices.

Oh and society will be affected and changed irregardless of whether or not laws preventing LGBT discrimination is in existence. So just excep that the society will change.
Comment #3 was deleted by its author on 2011-12-13 23:55
4. 2011-12-13 23:59  
''Come out of your extravagant churches to see the reality''... holy carp that's the BEST line ever. :D May I also add "Come out of your extravagant temples/mosques/synagogues to see the reality"...nearly all religious & leaders organizations are seriously THAT self-centered.
5. 2011-12-14 00:07  
the catholic church must also remember that we have different beliefs. one of the many reasons why people dont like the catholic church coz they are domineering and always interfering the political matters of the state and thats the reason also why i stopped practising my religion because the priest were showing bad examples to the community. they are not preaching what they are supposed to preach. i cant fathom the logic when the CBCP said LGBT should not be considered the same as the elderly, the handicapped, and the poor coz these people are disadvantaged not by their own choice. But the third sex, they choose this. How can you give protection to a choice like that?------------ very discriminatory. i dont know how the cbcp came up this statement when in fact there are many handicapped, elderly and poor lgbts. and another important thing that i wanna clarify that being an lgbt is not a choice--- NEVER.
6. 2011-12-14 13:14  
The sight of extravagant churches alongside the poorest of the poor is obscene.

The collection of money in these churches without public accounting for its use is unacceptable.

The abuse of humans on any grounds at all is intolerable.

The intentional "ignorance" of scientific information is hypocritical.

The preaching of moral codes without them being followed by the preachers is immoral.

The assumption of "divine right" by church leaders is laughable. They are mere humans as all of us. In certain respects humans are inferior to other animals.

Religion was created long before any established church currently existing. It was designed by humans to appease the creator of the forces that damaged the lives of the most ancient of humanoids.

At least the church here no longer practices burning at the stake or teaches that the sun goes round the world!
7. 2011-12-14 15:48  
Come out of you frocks and join the parteh! Seriously, the blame lies in the people. The RC will lose its power if people will use their heads instead of following like blind ducks to every edict, commands, orders etc ad nauseum.
8. 2011-12-14 17:38  
that's why it is very ridiculous to see fellow gay men wasting time on Religion.
9. 2011-12-14 21:35  
catholic church another typical backward religion, all the philippino gays should come to live in canada where u have complete acceptance marriage etc!
10. 2011-12-16 14:15  
Are these bishops saying they have made a choice between being gay and straight. They seem hell bent on labelling being gay as a choice.

Catholic bishops live in a culture that forces their religion onto children brainwashing them as badly as any child soldiers in Africa. They live in palaces and entertain their imaginary friends with gold and silver in lavish cathedrals whilst the poor starve in dreadful housing.

11. 2011-12-25 10:15  
This comment has been removed by the Fridae moderator for being potentially offensive. While we encourage debate on issues relating to religion, offensive and disparaging comments do not add to the discussion.
Comment edited on 2011-12-30 12:48:38

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