Ifugao solon pushes ‘legal union’ of same-sex couples

By Aiza Liza Namingit

Ifugao Rep. Teddy Brawner Baguilat pushed for “legal union of whatever gender or sexual orientation” like gays in the country.

This, after the US Supreme Court recently affirmed in a landmark decision the Constitutional right of same-sex couples in the United States to be legally married in all 50 states, a decision that shines the light on the urgent need to provide equal treatment to lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders, including those in the Philippines.

Baguilat said while there was growing acceptance of the needs and aspirations of the LGBT community in the Philippines, discrimination has remained, thus his desire to push for the passage of an anti-discrimination bill in Congress.

At this point, perhaps it is still too early to talk about a similar same-sex marriage law in the Philippines, but Baguilat said that if looked at from a rights-based perspective, there is basis to push for the right of individuals of whatever gender or sexual orientation to enter into a legal union.
A more immediate action that can be taken to protect the rights of the LGBT community, he said, was the passage of the long-pending anti-discrimination bill, adding that it must be one of the priorities in the final days of the 16th Congress.

“I am one of the principal authors of this bill that seeks to protect not just LGBTs but also indigenous people, persons with disabilities, seniors and other disadvantaged sectors from discrimination in the workplace, school, media, government transactions and services among
others,” he said.

Baguilat said while there was no law criminalizing LGBTs, there was likewise no law prohibiting discriminatory actions against them, resulting in systemic discrimination against them in such areas as the workplace and even in social circles.

Citing the findings of a paper prepared by the Rainbow Rights Project, he said violence against LGBTs ranged from physical to emotional violence, sometimes at the hands of family members, particularly male members including fathers, brothers, uncles and stepfathers who want to “punish” the LGBTs for their gender identity or sexual orientation.

The paper likewise identified instances where lesbians, bisexuals and transgender women faced discrimination when applying for jobs. They are often denied employment despite being better educated and having either equal or better qualifications than other applicants just because of their sexual orientation.

There have also been cases where transgender women experienced harassment and discrimination when applying for passports and other documents for international travel.

They were told, for example, that they should look like men in their passport photo because of a memorandum from the Department of ForeignAffairs.

Police officers and members of the military have also been known for harassing, bullying and ridiculing transgender women, according to the paper.

In some instances, LGBTs were arbitrarily detained, asked or ordered to provide sexual favors just because they are different.

The paper also said that the government has adopted an “uneven approach” to advancing the rights of the LGBT community.

For example, despite pressure from civil society activities in the country, in 2013 the Philippine government did not join discussions on and chose to abstain from voting in support of a UN declaration calling for an end to extrajudicial killings based on sexual orientation.

Baguilat said it was time that a law that will prevent discrimination be put in place, and this should help reduce joblessness and underemployment and end violence against LGBTs.