Alex Diaz and Juan Miguel Severo. Image: Instagram/@alexandermcdizz, Nukie Timtiman
Actors Juan Miguel Severo and Alex Diaz stressed the need for the LGBTQI+ community to have equal rights through same-sex marriage. Their statements come after the fight for same-sex marriage continues to be challenged in the country.
Diaz, who came out as bisexual in October, spoke up after a Supreme Court decision junked a petition to recognize same-sex marriage.
“This is the country we live in. [Stuck] in archaic beliefs that hinder our brothers and sisters the rights they deserve,” he tweeted on Monday, Jan. 6.
“[When] boomers are finally out of office, [let’s] not let this continue. For now, [let’s] choose patience. A time will come when love will be the universal language,” he added.
Severo reacted to news that comedienne Ai-Ai delas Alas is against same-sex marriage because of passages in the Bible.
https://twitter.com/TheRainBro/status/1215193642635124736?s=20
“Our celebrities really need to know the difference between marriage the sacrament and marriage the civil right,” he said. “We are not after the church’s blessing (I’m sure that’d be cool for a lot of our Christian friends though) we just need the state to recognize our equal rights.”
Under Philippine law, particularly the Family Code, marriage is defined as “a special contract of permanent union between a man and a woman.” Religion does not factor in, however, as a marriage can be recognized even without a religious ceremony.
The SC dismissed on Monday a 2015 petition by Atty. Jesus Falcis III to recognize same-sex marriage over technical grounds, citing that “no substantial arguments were presented to warrant the reversal of the questioned decision.” It advised that official recognition of their partnerships “may for now, be a matter that should be addressed to Congress.”
READ: It’s final: SC nixes plea for same-sex marriage
The high court ruling said, “From its plain text, the Constitution does not define, or restrict, marriage on the basis of sex, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression.”
The court also “recognized protracted history of discrimination and marginalization faced by the lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender, queer, intersex and other gender and sexual minorities (LGBTQI+) community, along with their still ongoing struggle for equality.” JB
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