One of
the most talk issue here in the Philippines is the legalization of LGBT+
community in our society. LGTBT+ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and
others. To further more explain, lesbian and gay is a person who is sexually
attracted to people on their own gender, bisexual is a person who is sexually
attracted to both genders, trans is transgender or transsexual is when a person
went to a medical procedure for transition of one sex to another, and + or
others is when a person is not LGBT and also not fitted into traditional
categories of gender or sexuality. LGBT+ community faces a lot of challenges
because many people are still not accepting them due to different opinions and
beliefs. They are still struggling to fit in the world where they live in
because they are still subject for discrimination because of the family code, bible verses, and the so called mental illness associated with them.
In Executive
Order No. 209, The Family Code of the Philippines (July 06, 1987), Article 1
stated that, “Marriage is a special contract of permanent union between a man
and a woman entered into accordance with law for the establishment of conjugal
and family life.” And in Article 2, it also stated that, “No marriage shall be valid, unless
these essential requisites are present: (1) Legal capacity of the
contracting parties who must be a male and a female;” The law stated that
marriage is acceptable if it’s between a man and a woman because they can have
a family on their own that will make the society. If same – sex will be
together, it is impossible to make a family that could lead the nation someday
because they cannot produce one on their own. However, In Philippine Constitution Article II, Section 11 stated that,
“The State values the dignity of every person and guarantees full respect for
human rights.” And in Article III, Section 4 said that, “No law shall be passed
abridging the freedom of expression.” This just proves that people should
respect the chosen identity orientation of one person and the identity
orientation of their partner because they are just enjoying their right of
expression through choosing who they want to be with. LGBT+ should not be
denied with the rights that the 1987 Constitution is already stating because if
there rights is not being respected then their capability to decide or choose
for themselves is being stolen. It doesn’t mean that a family will only revolve
to man and woman and their children because a same – sex couple can make a
family too through adaption and also not only same – sex couple will not be
able to produce their own children but also to homosexual couple that couldn’t
conceive due to fertility problems.
In the
bible, Mark 10:6-8, quoting Genesis 2:24, it is
written that, “From the beginning of creation, God made them male and female.
For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his
wife, and the two shall become one flesh…” What the verse implying is that
the man is for woman and woman is for man only. Being in a relationship with
other people with their same gender is a sin because they denies God’s teaching
by being a greedy a person. However, there is also a verse written in Ephesians
4:15, “Speak the truth in love.” This verse wants to tell us that there is no
place for hatred and rejection towards all people and LGBT+ community are part
of it. LGBT+ are human too and they are being created by Him and Jesus teaches
us that humans have a permanent value, worth, and dignity and we must not
degrade it.
There are some people saying that being LGBT+ is actually a
mental illness because they are different from others and they make their own
gender orientation. But according to American Psychological Association and
American Psychiatric Association, LGTB+ are not disorders because there are no
association between these sexual orientations to psychopathology. These
orientations is a normal form of human experience and the relationship that
could arise from them is a normal form of human bonding too. Actually, being an
LGBT+ is not really a mental disorder but they some of them are suffering from
a mental disorder because they are not acceptable by the society. They always
receives negative judgements and discrimination on the way they portrait
themselves and this is actually the sad truth.
LBGT+
are humans but there are some people who compare them as worse than the animals
just because they cannot accept them freely. Some are too conservative and
there not yet open with this kind of changes because they chooses not to leave
their comfort zone. However, we should acknowledge their existence as LGBT+
because they are also people who are hurting if they are being disowned by
their society. Let us be fair and give them what they deserve, and that is
respect. We should not discriminate them because they are vulnerable enough to
receive your bashes and hatred. The rights that we are enjoying must be enjoyed
by them too because rights are being created for everyone and we don’t have the
power to steal it from them. We should not deny them because we are living in a
world full of flaws where perfection doesn’t exist. Let us open our eyes and
acknowledge the four corners so that we will be able to practice equality and fairness
for all.
REFERENCES:
- LGBT+ mental health. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.rethink.org/advice-and-information/living-with-mental-illness/wellbeing-physical-health/lgbtplus-mental-health/
- The 1987 Constitution of The Republic of the Philippines – Article III. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/constitutions/the-1987-constitution-of-the-republic-of-the-philippines/the-1987-constitution-of-the-republic-of-the-philippines-article-iii/
- Biblical Perspective on Homosexuality and Same – Sex
Marriage. (n.d.).Retrieved from https://www.focusonthefamily.com/family-qa/biblical-perspective-on-homosexuality-and-same-sex-marriage/
- Sexual Orientation & Homosexuality. (n.d.).
Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/topics/lgbt/orientation
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