Same- sex marriage ‘hidden’ in gender equality bill
Backers of the reproductive health bill found themselves embroiled in another controversy, this time, for allegedly attempting to “smuggle” for enactment a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage.
Buhay Partylist Rep. Lito Atienza disclosed that a bill consolidating six legislative measures that seek to prohibit discrimination on the basis of “sexual or gender identity” (SOGI) concealed a provision that would allow persons of the same sex to secure a marriage license.
Atienza said the consolidated bill also seeks to repeal provisions of the Family Code and all other laws, decrees, rules and regulations that are inconsistent with the provisions of the still unnumbered “Anti- SOGI Discrimination Act.”
The former Manila mayor said the House Committee on Women and Gender Equality was set to submit the bill to a vote during a meeting scheduled today.
The proposed “Anti- SOGI Discrimination Act” consolidated various measures authored by Reps. Kaka Bag- ao ( LP, Dinagat Island); Neri Colmenares ( Bayan Muna); Rodel Batocabe (Ako Bicol); Isagani Zarate ( Bayan Muna); Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman ( AMIN Partylist); Luzviminda Ilagan ( Gabriela Partylist); Barry Gutierrez (Akbayan); Yasmin Q. Lagdameo ( UNA, Makati City); Sharon Garin (AAMBIS- OWA Partylist); Ma. Leonor Gerona Robredo (LP, Camarines Sur) and Angelina Tan (NPC, Quezon).
The bill prohibits discriminatory practices applied on persons with different sexual orientation or gender identity, as well as the disclosure of such sexual orientation as criteria for hiring, promotion, transfer, designation work assignment and other human resources movement.
Atienza raised serious apprehensions over Section 4 (e) of the bill which prohibits the denial of application for or revocation of professional or “other kind of license, clearance or any other document issued by the government due to applicant’s sexual orientation or gender identity is also prohibited.”
Asking for clarifications from the authors, Atienza said he was informed that this provision also refers to mar- riage licenses.
The partylist lawmaker warned that this provision of the bill could pave the way for the legalization of same sex marriage which is being strongly objected by the Catholic church and other religious organizations.
“This was the very same modus operandi used by proponents of the reproductive health law when they first introduced this highly questionable proposal during the term of the late President Cory Aquino,” said Atienza.
Atienza urged his colleagues in the Lower House to study closely the proposed Anti- SOGI bill to block any effort to legalize same sex- marriage and other measures that are repulsive to public morals.
Aside from same sex- marriage and the reproductive health law, the Catholic church has also rejected the legalization of divorce and euthanasia.