Pacquiao against same-sex marriage, not homosexuality

Manny Pacquiao; with mounting public outcry from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community; clarified that he is against same-sex marriage not homosexuality in general. Pacquiao, in a 24Oras report by Sports Saksi Chino Trinidad, said he was misquoted in an article that came out in various US-based websites. He said he did not issue a statement that persons of the same sex living together should be put to death. The alleged anti-gay statements made by the Filipino boxing icon did not sit well with the LGBT community. It even prompted Gay Marriage USA, a gay rights group promoting marriage equality, to start an online petition urging sports apparel maker Nike to drop Pacquiao as an endorser. The online petition has been suspended by the group after Examiner.com writer Granville Ampong, who wrote the article on Pacquiao, made it clear that it was he, and not the Sarangani province representative, who quoted the Bible passage that was perceived as anti-homosexual. "Ampong asked me if I'm in favor of Obama's promoting of gay marriage. I told him I am against same-sex marriage," said Pacquiao. Ampong admitted that he was the one who incorporated the Bible passage taken from Leviticus 20:13, which states that: 'If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.'   His opinion piece, published in the Examiner, was picked up by various news websites in the US. Pacquiao, who is now a preacher and has been quoting Bible verses in his interviews, said that he is not yet familiar with the Old Testament since he's been reading the New Testament. "I never quoted a Bible verse during the interview. If ever I quoted a verse, I am not familiar with Leviticus," said Pacquiao, who is in his final phase of training camp for his June 9 (June 10 in Manila) title defense against American Timothy Bradley Jr.   Netizens were quick to react and Pacquiao became a trending topic on the social networking site Twitter. At the same time, Los Angeles mall The Grove barred him from entering the shopping mall.   Pacquiao is set to be a guest in Mario Lopez’ US magazine show Extra on Thursday (Manila time) at The Grove. The eight-time world division champion said he will still go to The Grove.   "Hindi ko alam kung ano'ng motive nila. But sa akin, I'm not saying against na ako sa bakla. Hindi ako tutol sa mga bakla kasi nga ganyan na sila ipinanganak."   Pacquiao's mother, Dionisia, defended his son since the Bible does not accept same-sex marriage. "Sundin lang ang batas ng Panginoon." — JVP, GMA News