CHAPTER 1THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUNDINTRODUCTION

In our generation today, homosexuals have been widely accepted by themajority may it be a gay
or a lesbian. People have come to recognize the existence
of the "third sex" and through time they have also accepted same
-sexrelationships" in our society. But controversies and arguments arise whenhomosexuals
started proposing the idea of legalizing "same-sex marriage".The issue on legalizing same-sex
marriage has been going on for decades.It has received a lot of objection and opposition since it
contradicts theaccustomed meaning of marriage as a "union between a man and a
woman".Though there have been few countries which have approved or have begun tolegally
formalizing marriage between same sex marriage like Canada, Italy andetc. Still the majority of
countries do not recognize this kind of marriage.The researchers pond this issue because it has
always been an informalsituation in the society. It is a fact that homosexuals are common subject
of discussion among genders and up until now, they are not well accepted in theirown living
environment and are discriminated. It is very interesting andcontroversial that led the researchers
to study the said issue.

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Marriage has usually been a commitment between the male and female.But nowadays, various
countries around the world recognize the union betweensame sexes. In many cultures the issue of
same sex marriage has ignited afirestorm of controversy in the press and living rooms.Same-sex
love, as Plato's symposium shows, is as ancient as human love,and the question of how it is
recognized and understood has overwhelmed everyhuman civilization. And today in a number of
foreign countries, laws extendingcivil marriage to gay and lesbian couples have been enacted. In
2001 theNetherlands opened civil marriage to gay couples and allowed them to adoptchildren as
well. Belgium followed suit in 2003, although it did not go as far asthe Netherlands: gay couples
have no adoption rights in Belgium. Most otherEuropean countries only allow for some kind of
registered partnership with somedegree of protection. By now most legal systems in Europe
provide some kind of status, even in Catholic countries like Spain. Some states of the United
Stateshave followed and provided registries for same-sex partnerships and grant themcertain
rights.The Philippines is one of the most Catholic or church influenced countryin the world. It
has always been advocated in keeping the laws of God. The criticsof same sex unions have also
gone beyond debates and discourse for the past.Many Filipino homosex
uals has been protesting for their freedom rights to
consider the union between same sex relationships. Until now, the government

has no grant given for this plea. According to the family code of the Philippines or
executive order 209, Marriage is a spec
ial contract of permanent union betweena man and a woman entered into in accordance with law
for the establishment of conjugal and family life." Not meeting this requirement will make the
marriageinvalid.(http://www.chanrobles.com/executiveorderno209.htm)The expectations for the
study are to lead to more open-minded studentsand for them to be ore knowledgeable to the
situation. Moreover, be able totabulate answers without unbiased conclusions, and to know the
status of thelegalization of same sex marriage in our country.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
This study aims to determine the assessment of CITHM students of Lyceumof the Philippines
University on the legalization of Same-Sex Marriage in thePhilippines.1. What is the
demographic profile of the students?1.1 Age1.2 Gender1.3 Religion