A position paper on: “Same-sex marriage”

By: Jayson Kline J. Dillo

Introduction

Same-sex (also known as gay marriage) is marriage between people of the same sex,
either as a secular civil ceremony or in religious setting. The issue of same sex marriage is an
argument that all of us have strong opinions on. All individuals around the world have their own
personal views on gay community. There are numerous amounts of activists and protesters in the
world trying to persuade others to support the gay community. Individuals of the gay community
feels as if they just us equal to those who are homosexual. In many countries same sex marriage
is allowed. It is only fair to give the Filipinos the entitlement to same sex marriage. Married is
sacred, it is not to be taken lightly. The most important thing in marriage is love and if the people
of the same sex love each other, they should be given the right to marry one another.
Homosexuals should be granted the same rights as heterosexual couples.

Same sex marriage, the unity of a homosexual couple is one of the controversy issue in
Philippines that some people want to argue that it should be implemented or not. Hence, this
paper will present the pro and con of same sex marriage in the Philippines, if it should be
legalized like in the other countries, even though there are some people who disagree with this.

Counter Argument

Religious views point out that marriage should be between women and men. As the bible
says marriage is traditional and intimate and should not be of the same sex but of the opposite
sex.

Not all religious people go exactly by the bible. “Some religious associations refuse to
employ or even offer services to same couples. Christian groups who argue for same-sex
marriage tend to believe that lesbian and gay peoples were created as such by god and should
have the same rights as others”(History and Debate”). They should not dictate marriage laws for
society at large. Marriage is also a religious institution, defined differently by different faiths and
congregations.
 People who are religious also believe that a child should grow up with a father and a
mother and not two parents of the same sex.

Gay parents make good parents as well. A study published in pediatrics on June 7, 2010
found that children of lesbian mothers were related higher than children of heterosexual parents
in social and academic competence and had fewer social problems. A study found that children
with gay fathers were “as well-adjusted as those adopted by heterosexual parents”.

Marriage is for procreation and should not be extended to same sex marriage couples
because they cannot produce children together.

Marriage is not only for procreation, otherwise infertile couples or couples not wishing to
have children would be preventing from marrying. The ability or desire to create offspring has
never been a qualification for marriage. In our country, there were also married couples without
children. In other country including America, both married and unmarried people rated love,
commitment, and companionship higher than having children as very important reasons to get
married, and only 44% of unmarried people and 59% of married people rated having children as
very important reason (Pew Research Center 2010 survey)

My Argument

Allowing same-sex marriage would enable gays and lesbians in the Philippines to marry
the person they love and would strengthen everyone’s rights. From a human rights perspective,
broadening civil marriage to couples of the same sex demonstrates respect for the fundamental
rights of equally and non-discrimination. It should be enshrined in Philippine law.

Same-sex marriage does not violate religion. Religion violates the rights of same sex
couples. After all, this bill pushes for gay marriage to be legal under the constitution, not under
the church. We shall be reminded that the community is separate from the church; therefore the
government can allow things not necessary accepted by church. However, it is already legal in
several countries and states, including several states in the United States of America, France,
Argentina, and even in Portugal and Spain.

As a nation, Philippines should stand together and support one another. Philippines
should not be divided by sexuality or even race. People feel that marriage is a privilege not a
right, but it is someone’s right to marry whomever they choose to marry. Having the right to
marry should not be up to anyone to dictate or have an opinion on. Marriage of any gender
encourage and promote stability, accountability, and monogamy. By remaining with a single
partner, the likelihood of disease transmission is minimal, and such behavior may prevent STDs
of epidemic proportions.

Conclusion

Therefore same-sex marriage in Philippines should be legal just like other countries. We
shall be open-minded about things to able to adapt to the modernization of our society. We
should be bounded by the walls of tradition and norms when they are actually useless to
development and equality. Being gay is not a sin but a reality, and I believe it should be
respected much like being straight is accepted in the society. LGBT people are of large help to
our community; it is but pair that we let them enjoy the same rights as we have because they are
people like us. They should not be denied of things that we enjoy, especially because these things
will not harm us anyway. Let us give the rights of our LGBT brothers and sisters. Let us be equal
in fair to mankind. Let us support the legalization of same sex marriage in the Philippines.