ProGay urges execs: Stop prosecuting us: Baguio officials, church, decry same sex weddings

By Isagani S. Liporada

BAGUIO CITY – Various religious leaders and local officials last week vocally expressed antagonism over rites purporting to be a “joining together” of members of the same sex.

In the heels of a media-covered “gay declaration of monogamy” administered by the local Metropolitan Community Church, religious leaders, June 28, mustered faithful and came up with a manifesto against alleged ‘misrepresentation of truth.’

In feelers sent to members of the City Council, members of the Evangelical Christian Community Baguio-Benguet questioned the legality of ‘same-sex marriage’ saying it has no basis in law.

They claimed the Family Code of the Philippines itself defines marriage as a union “between a man and a woman,” adding the ceremony conducted by MCC is sham.

They added, “Based upon the Bible which we believe in and uphold as the absolute authority for moral conduct, any marriage between people of the same sex is abhorrent in the eyes of God.”

They warned “Any attempt to violate God’s holy will” is a cause for his wrath making same sex ‘marriage’ a danger.

MCC is led by Myke Sotero, Ceegay Agbayani, Regan Luna and Egay Constantino.

They ‘formalized declaration of monogamy’ amongst eight of members of the MCC last week in a ceremony which simulated a church wedding.

While Sotero declared what transpired was a mere declaration of love between one person to another, other denominations expressed shock on how the ceremony was conducted.

“[MCC’s] action weakens our already struggling family and community structures by encouraging a mindset that goes against healthy propagation of the human race.”
“It confuses the natural parent-child relationship with the unnatural, causing socio-cultural, moral and spiritual breakdown,” they added.

ECCBB is composed of the Association of Metro-Baguio Christian Ministers, Benguet Evangelical Association of Ministers, Trinidad Evangelical Association of Ministers, Good News Community Church, United Church of Christ in the Philippines, Bethesda Ministries, Cordillera Prayer Network, and God’s Great Mercy Ministries.

Reacting to the statement of ECCBB alderman Philian Weygan-Allan meantime proposed a resolution denouncing and prohibiting ceremonies purporting to be same sex marriages or unions in the City of Baguio.

She said, “Baguio as a character city promotes values that enhance righteousness and discipline amongst its citizenry.”

“MCC is ‘testing the waters’… We are supporting various groups denouncing the conduct of same-sex marriage in Baguio as it is deceptive and misleading.”

Their backs against the wall, supporters of MCC meantime are calling for United Nations (UN) intervention declaring gays, lesbians, bisexuals and trans-genders are “children of God, too.”

Carol Galvez of the Lesbians for National Democracy complained of discrimination revealing a report would be sent to the UN International Convention on Civil and Political Rights.

Sotero meantime maintains they have done nothing wrong adding they are ready to face the music in the city council and the regular courts, if need be.

The advocacy group Progressive Organization of Gays in Metro Baguio (ProGay), here urged leaders of the Christian churches and thecity government to refrain from attacking human rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender citizens of the city in connection to talks about prosecuting people involved in what they called “ same-sex holy unions.”

Jheza Guiloan, vice chair of ProGay, asked the leaders of religious groups and local government to understand the needs of LGBTs and provide basic services instead of threatening them with lawsuits and harm.

Guiloan, who works as a transgender makeup artist, cited the Yogyakarta Principles, a set of international human rights principles issued by the United Nations High Commissioner of Human Rights, as basis for the Philippine government to honor commitments to protect the rights of LGBTs.

She cited Principle No. 24 which commands the government to respect the rights of gay and lesbian couples to enter relationships such as same-sex weddings.

"Everyone has the right to have a family, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Families exist in many forms. And no family may be subjected to discrimination on the basis of the sexual orientation or gender identity of any of its members," Guiloan said.

Guiloan spoke in behalf of her friend Bhaya dela Cruz and her spouse Tilong who were among lesbian couples wed in religious ceremonies last week.