It may be an idea whose time has come before but is now expanded to include changing cultural and social norms.
Discrimination against people in all its forms is usually condemnable, but change doesn’t happen overnight especially when it runs counter to established religious, social and cultural standards.
Take this Cebu City anti-discrimination ordinance that declares as unlawful the refusal to provide access to services and programs to persons on the basis of gender, disability, sexual orientation, age, ethnicity and religion.
In yesterday’s Cebu City Council hearing, groups representing homosexuals and transgenders were scheduled to speak out on the ordinance. It is likely that these groups may want to expand the ordinance to include a provision prohibiting acts and statements that harm, abuse and degrade them and people similarly oriented.
Philippine society as a whole has displayed more tolerance for gays, lesbians and transgenders than other Asian and even Western countries. They don’t exactly enjoy such freedom in Islamic countries, where homosexuality is perceived as an aberration reportedly punishable by death.
It was only in recent years that groups representing them have become more vocal and militant in Western countries that they’ve won substantial ground as seen in the legalization of same-sex marriages and several legal victories against prominent personalities that issued statements perceived as slurs against them.
Again, while Philippine society is tolerant of gays, lesbians and transgenders, they are not so easily accepting of same-sex marriages owing to the country’s deep Roman Catholic morals, which doesn’t even recognize divorce, let alone tolerate the use of artificial contraceptives for family planning.
This Cebu City ordinance certainly doesn’t venture towards such controversial territory, but the local gays, lesbian and transgender community may want something basic and that is respect for and protection of their rights as persons regardless of their orientation.
There have been instances of abuse that go unrecorded in police precincts such as pellet shooting by youths on gays, which may not be physically harmful but is nevertheless degrading and abusive.
These and similar acts deserve some attention from local lawmakers whose constituents include them. The ordinance includes them and people suffering from physical disabilities.
The likelihood of this ordinance being approved is better than average, but its implementation depends largely on the local community’s attitude and mind-set. We can let this ordinance slide or we can respect and uphold this in our own little way.