Senator Joel Villanueva believes that refusing impersonator “KaladKaren Davila” and friends’ entry in a Makati bar was a clear case of discrimination.
KaladKaren Davila, or Jervi Li in real life, and companions were barred entry in a bar last Saturday reportedly because of their sexual orientation.
“That’s discrimination. Easily, that’s discrimination,” Villanueva said when asked to comment on the incident in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel on Thursday.
READ: KaladKaren Davila slams Makati bar for banning gays
In line with this issue, the senator laments the allegations that he is causing the delay of the passage of the proposed Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) bill in the Senate.
“If you want me to delay it, I can easily do it if that’s my intention,” he said.
The senator stressed that he is definitely in favor of anti-discrimination, but he reiterated the need to respect each other’s religious beliefs.
READ: Villanueva assures SOGIE bill won’t pass Senate at expense of freedom of religion
He disclosed that when he was a student at the University of Sto. Tomas (UST), he also experienced discrimination as he was then called “Mr.f Fundamentalist,” and “Mr. Born Again.”
“They made fun of me. I think that’s discrimination,” said Villanueva, who is the son of evangelist Bro. Eddie Villanueva.
As a Born Again Christian, the senator said he follows and respects the beliefs of other religions, especially when he was in the UST.
“I grew up as a Born Again Christian and I went to a Catholic school. So I went to religious classes and I attended Masses,” he said.
He said he followed the UST’s practice “because I respect their religious beliefs.”
He clarified that what he does not agree with the SOGIE bill is the proposal to penalize someone or an institution for following their own beliefs.
READ: LGBT group asks Senate to end debates on SOGIE bill
“I don’t agree with that because of the fact that you must respect each other’s religious beliefs,” Villanueva said. “You can’t trample on one’s rights in order to give (rights to others).”
“Kasi ang mangyayari nun (What will happen is) it will become a special right, and even the LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender) community does not want that eh. All they want is equality. That’s what I want,” he stressed. /ee