Congress held a committee hearing for the Anti-Discrimination Bill yesterday, and by all definitions, the whole thing was pretty disastrous. The bill—which wants to provide equal rights and just treatment in school and the workplace and an avenue to make complaints, at least, for the LGBTQ sector in the Philippines—has been languishing in both Houses for so many years now, and the opposition that came to the table showed just exactly why that is… and why pretty much everyone against it is a bigot.
Just look at the worst arguments against it, from a Dr. Capitulo representing a group called Filipinos For Life and an Ansel Beluso representing Couples for Christ, and a self-proclaimed former gay man:
Capitulo: One, it oppresses religious freedom (schools will be forced to accept transgender, etc). #PassADB #EqualityChamps
— Metro Manila Pride (@MMPride_) October 17, 2016
Beluso: Ang bakla ay walang choice na maging bakla. Pero may choice na mag-bagong buhay, wag alisin itong choice. #PassADB #EqualityChamps
— Metro Manila Pride (@MMPride_) October 17, 2016
Beluso: The ADB is harmful to the integrity of the family. #PassADB #EqualityChamps
— Metro Manila Pride (@MMPride_) October 17, 2016
Beluso: Endorsing gender discordance as normal is injurious to children. #PassADB #EqualityChamps
— Metro Manila Pride (@MMPride_) October 17, 2016
Beluso: Raising children in envt where being gay is normal is child abuse. #PassADB #EqualityChamps
— Metro Manila Pride (@MMPride_) October 17, 2016
Beluso: Those of us who reject the gay lifestyle and continue to trek the path for change is the majority. #PassADB #EqualityChamps
— Metro Manila Pride (@MMPride_) October 17, 2016
Beluso: Homosexuality is an objective disorder. #PassADB #EqualityChamps
— Metro Manila Pride (@MMPride_) October 17, 2016
Beluso: Homosexuality leaves those who perform homosexual acts open to disease. #PassADB #EqualityChamps
— Metro Manila Pride (@MMPride_) October 17, 2016
Even worse? After saying those things, they then have the gall to say:
Beluso: SOGIE bills ignores culture of the Filipinos. Unlike in US where there is bigotry, gays here are accepted.#PassADB #EqualityChamps
— Metro Manila Pride (@MMPride_) October 17, 2016
Beluso: Cites beauticians, fashion designers, tycoons as basis for “flourishing of gays” in the Philippines.#PassADB #EqualityChamps
— Metro Manila Pride (@MMPride_) October 17, 2016
Capitulo: Third, the Filipino society is already very accepting of LGBT people. #PassADB #EqualityChamps
— Metro Manila Pride (@MMPride_) October 17, 2016
Look at that. All dangerous stereotypes and backwards, outdated thinking when it comes to LGBTs. I mean, really, raising kids to accept homosexuality is normal is child abuse? What a ridiculous thing to say; whatever forced conversion therapy this guy must have gone through seems to be more abusive than the mindset he accuses.
And people should really drop this pretense of LGBT freedom affecting their beliefs, because nobody is oppressing any religious freedoms by giving them equality. That’s the rhetoric of spoiled and selfish man-children.
Fortunately, Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman, one of the principal authors and supporters of this bill and one of the most inspiring women in the world named by Time, isn’t going to take this one lying down. The fight isn’t over yet; in fact, it’s only just beginning.
This is how I feel when my babies are under attack. #EqualityChamps pic.twitter.com/oDhTcmHWBN
— Geraldine Roman (@geraldinebroman) October 17, 2016
In other news about the bill, proposed suggestions to it include media and private training about Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE), provisions about discrimination and abuse at home, and adding resources to the PNP to help deal with LGBT concerns. The bill has been rotting in Congress too long; let’s hope the new buzz arising from it be the push it really needs this time.