Gay rights push in Philippines

PHOTO

Gay rights activists are championing a Bill in the Philippines to outlaw descrimination. [ABC]

 The President of the Philippines Benigno Aquino III has voiced some support for gay rights, but says he would stop short of endorsing gay marriage or adoption.

Mr Aquino made the comments during a visit to New York, where same-sex unions were legalised in July.

The Philippines has a vibrant gay scene and a gay political party which has been pushing for an anti-discrimination bill for 11 years.

While Mr Aquino was encouraging of the Bill before being elected, there's been little progress since he took office.

But the influencial Catholic Church remains opposed to the Bill, as the National Council of Bishops' Father Melvin Castro explained to the Asia Scoiety in New York.

He discribed gay adoption as a "dilemma".

But the chairwoman of Ladlad, a political party which lobbies on behalf of the gay, lesbian and transgender community, said many gay people in the Philippines can't come out because of fear of descrimination.

"Discrimination is still very high that's why you really need the passage of the anti-discrimination bill to protect us," she said.

Ms Benedito said the Catholic Church is trying to confuse the Bill with gay marriage.

"The Bill just penalises an individual an office or an an establishment from discriminating based on sexual orientation and gender identity. This is really the very sad state. The Catholic Church has been campaigning vigorously against us and reducing this issue of equal rights to same sex marriage," she said.

But Fr Castro said he did not believe there is any need for the Bill.

"Essentially we don't believe that same sex attracted people are discriminated upon in the Philippines. What we do not agree is for them to have marriage".

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