Pastor at LGBT church welcomes Duterte’s remarks in favor of same-sex marriage
The leader of a religious group ministering to lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders on Monday welcomed President Rodrigo Duterte's recent remarks that he was in favor of same-sex marriage.
"Masaya po kasi malaking tulong po kasi kung ang Pangulo ng Pilipinas ay sumusuporta sa same-sex marriage. Malaki po ang influence ng ating Pangulo, bilang pagtulong sa human dignity and human rights ng LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender)," said LGBT Christian Church Inc. founding pastor Reverend Crescencio Agbayani Jr. in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.
"Natutuwa kami kasi clear na sinasabi ng Pangulong Digong tapos may proposal pa si Speaker Alvarez sa Congress ng civil union. Nabasa na po namin 'yung civil union bill, magandang-maganda po 'yung bill. We hope and pray na mapasa po 'yun," Agbayani said.
On Sunday, Duterte expressed support for same-sex marriage during the gathering of LGBT community in Davao City, however, he said the law on this matter needs to be changed.
"Ako gusto ko same-sex marriage, ang problema, we'll have to change the law. Ang batas kasi marriage is a union between a man and a woman. I don't have a problem making it... marrying a man, marrying a woman or whatever is the predilection of the human being," Duterte said.
"I am for same-sex marriage. If that is the trend of the modern times, if that will add to your happiness, who am I? You know, kung ano yung kaligayan ng tao bakit mo pigilan? Why impose a morality that is no longer working? So I am with you," Duterte added.
House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, on the other hand, had proposed a measure on the legalization of civil union for same-sex couples and heterosexual couples who want to live together but opt to not marry yet.
Agbayani, meanwhile, said their sector had the "the right of holy union" as their ceremony.
"Hindi pa siya legal kasi wala pa tayong batas. Wedding ceremony pa rin naman po 'yun. Hindi lang siya nareregister sa NSO (National Statistics Office) kasi nga po wala pang batas na sasaklaw doon sa pagkilala ng kasal ng dalawang LGBT," Agbayani said.
Agbayani also thanked the President for his support on the rights of the LGBT sector.
"Malaki po ang pasasalamat namin sa Pangulong Digong sa kanya pong suporta sa same-sex marriage... salamat po," Agbayani said. —Anna Felica Bajo/NB, GMA News