PRRD not against LGBT rights, say

THE pronouncement of President Rodrigo Duterte against same sex marriage does not mean that he is totally against LGBT rights, a city official said.

Integrated Gender and Development Division Action officer Lorna Mandin during the I-Speak media forum held yesterday at the City Hall training room is not "an issue" against LGBT community.

Mandin said that even in the constitution, such kind of marriage is not allowed.

"So it is right to say that it cannot be done at present,” Mandin said.

She added like the reproductive health bill, the passing of same sex marriage will undergo a tedious process.

"The reproductive health bill took 17 years so let us journey as Filipinos," she said, adding that the church's opposition is expected.

Mandin reiterated that Duterte's support in the LGBT community cannot be denied, as when he was the mayor of Davao, he spearheaded that passing of the Anti-Discrimination Act that protects anyone from any gender discrimination.

"Ang akong assumption, nisulti lang siya nga pagkakaron dili jud pwede ang same sex marriage we don't know in the future kay depende mana sa legislation ipasa man pud na (It is my assumption that he said that because the same sex marriage could not be done now, but maybe in the future, it depends because it will also be passed as a legislation)," she said.

She added that there are those who lobby the same sex marriage in the congress, but some LGBT members are also not entirely in favor of same sex marriage.

"I've talked with many LGBT members in the city, and they told me that they don't want marriage either, what they want is respect for same sex union, same sex relationships, and not to extent of the same sex marriage," she said. KVC