Pacman unfazed by criticisms over anti-gay comments
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – World boxing icon and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao remains unperturbed despite the barrage of criticisms from the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community over his controversial comments on same-sex marriage, according to his close aide.
Marjun Lacar on Friday said Pacquiao had been training hard for three weeks in preparation for his April 9 fight with Timothy Bradley.
“In fact, Pacquiao is happy that the people know about his position on samesex marriage,” Lacar said.
The LGBT community was furious after Pacquiao commented that people who are in “male-to-male” and “female-to-female” relationships are “worse than animals.”
His comments drew the ire of television personalities like comedian Vice Ganda, singer Aiza Seguerra and Danton Remoto, chairman of the LGBT group Ladlad.
As a result, Nike, an American multinational corporation engaged in the design, development, manufacture and marketing and sales of footwear, apparel, equipment, accessories and services, terminated its endorsement contract with Pacquiao after nearly eight years.
“I’m sorry for hurting people by comparing homosexuals to animals. Please forgive me for those I’ve hurt,” Pacquiao said in a video posted on his Twitter account.
But Lacar said Pacquiao stood firm on his stance against same- sex marriage. He also belied talks that the Pacquiao- Bradley fight will not go on as scheduled.
Basic right
Meanwhile, Liberal Party vice presidential candidate Leni Robredo yesterday reminded Pacquiao that freedom to choose who to love and live with is a basic right.
Robredo, however, said she fully respects Pacquiao’s opinion opposing same-sex unions.
“The choice of who are we going to love and who are we going to live with is a basic human right. That must be respected by others who have differing beliefs,” Robredo, a lawyer, told reporters.
“It’s unfortunate that there appears to be discrimination, judgment because the essence of democracy is to give voice to all sectors no matter how small they are; to listen to all; to respect each others’ preference even if we believe in different religions,” she said.
She said while she does not subscribe to same-sex unions being a devout Catholic, she believes the government must open the debate on the controversial matter.
“I’m pushing for government to listen to these voices, to open the debate (on same-sex union) because your preferences don’t make you less Filipino,” she said.
Robredo said she has been fighting discrimination for years, even filing the Anti-Discrimination Bill “that in essence simply states that whatever our beliefs are, religion, culture, sex, preferences, age, there should be no discrimination – everyone should be able to freely express themselves.”