IN EVGENY Afineevsky’s documentary Francesco, Pope Francis asserted his support for same-sex civil union. “[Homosexual individuals] are children of God and have a right to a family,” he said. “What we have to create is a civil union law. That way they are legally covered.”
The Pope’s statements birthed a divided Church in Asia’s largest Catholic nation, prompting mixed reception from religious leaders and government officials. Senate President Tito Sotto has been one of the loudest voices expressing doubt that Pope Francis’ civil union stance would have an effect on Philippine legislation.
However, Sotto neglects to remember how deeply rooted the connections of Church and state are as religious leaders continue to influence politics and policy. If Filipinos are to move forward, it is essential to acknowledge and dismantle the systems and cultures that have historically prevented the protection of Filipino LGBTQI+ individuals in the first place.
A Cabinet still in the closet
Catholic doctrines continue to affect the tone and passage of Philippine laws. One such example is how the Family Code strictly defines marriage as an act between a man and a woman—painting a heteronormative definition of a family.
Efforts to move past these gender binary mindsets have proven to be immensely flawed. Former House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez filed the Civil Partnership Act (House Bill 6595) back in 2017 to push for the recognition of civil partnerships between same-sex couples. While the bill was made with good intentions, it creates more barriers for LGBTQI+ couples. For instance, in order to “qualify” for legal recognition, a couple must be publicly acknowledged and have already lived together for at least two years.
Another popular bill aiming to recognize and protect the identity of the LGBTQI+ community is the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Gender Expressions (SOGIE) Equality Bill, which was refiled by Senator Risa Hontiveros in 2019. Unfortunately, senators continue to block the bill’s passage—citing that it would destroy family values and that it is not fit for Philippine culture. To date, the SOGIE Equality bill remains up for debate in the House of Representatives.
Pride and prejudice
Despite claims that the Philippines is one of the most “gay-friendly” countries in the world, local companies continue to hold biases against LGBTQI+ employees while performative politics continue to serve as an issue to the sector.
For example, Senator Imee Marcos vocally supported the LBGTQI+ community, yet embraced the presidential pardon of US Marine Joseph Scott Pemberton, who raped and murdered a Filipina transgender woman in 2014. Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno also passed an anti-discrimination ordinance, but did not speak up on the unlawful arrest of the Pride 20 protesters in his jurisdiction.
As the COVID-19 pandemic leaves LGTBQI+ individuals even more vulnerable, it is high time to put their needs at the forefront.
Coming out
Involving LGBTQI+ individuals in policy-making is a necessity if we hope to ensure genuinely inclusive legislation. However, we cannot stop advocating for civil union if we hope to ensure that their rights are upheld.
To start paving the way for same-sex civil unions, the country must first lay the foundations for acceptance of LGBTQI+ community through anti-discrimination laws such as the SOGIE Equality Bill. Structural changes within society are necessary to unlearn the culture of violence and bigotry that LGBTQI+ individuals have been subjected to.
Starting at the root of the problem leads to more opportunities for LGBTQI+ individuals, and fosters more accepting environments for the community as a whole. Through normalizing SOGIE in everyday conversations and crafting inclusive spaces where LGBTQI+ individuals can be themselves without fear, we can change attitudes and mindsets that have repressed the LGBTQI+ community’s basic rights.
While the Pope’s statement is revolutionary, changing policy and public opinion can only be done through our united volition. Now, more than ever, we must move towards a more accepting society—one where LGBTQI+ individuals know that they are heard and validated regardless of religion.
