FILE PHOTO: Lito Atienza. INQUIRER FILES
MANILA, Philippines — While saying he respects the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community, vice presidential aspirant Lito Atienza insisted Friday he will only agree to same-sex marriage once men can get pregnant.
In an interview with Teleradyo, Atienza said the country must follow the “natural law.”
“Kapag ‘yung lalaki ay nagdadalangtao na at nanganganak, magbabago ako ng aking pananaw kasi ibig sabihin, nagbago na ang natural law,” Atienza said when asked what will make him support the institution of same-sex marriage in the country.
(I will support same-sex marriage once men can get pregnant and give birth. That’s when I will change my mindset because it means natural law has changed.)
“Kasi yung babae at lalaki lang yung makakabuo ng sanggol, natural law yun eh. Hindi pwedeng lalaki sa lalaki, babae sa babae. Hindi pwede yung babae sa hayop o lalaki sa hayop. Therefore we must follow natural law,” he added.
(Only men and women can create a child, that’s a natural law. It cannot be a man with a man or a woman with a woman. It cannot be the woman with animal or man with animal.)
Atienza likewise said that the country must follow the teachings of the Church, even citing the situation in the United States where same-sex marriage has been legalized.
“Kaya naligaw ang Amerika… marami na silang same-sex marriage na nagaganap. Binabago na nila yung interpretation ng wastong pag-iisip at wastong pagtanggap sa kabuluhan ng buhay. Look at where America is going now,” Atienza said.
(This is why America got lost… they have so many same-sex marriages. They are changing the interpretation of proper mindset and essence of life.)
“Very serious problem, namamaril ang mga bata sa eskwelahan, pumapatay ng tao. Why is this happening? It’s happening because they have also violated natural law,” he added.
(Very serious problem, children are shooting and killing individuals in schools.)
Despite his stand on same-sex marriage, Atienza said he respects the members of the LGBTQIA+ community and will “always defend” them.
“I will always defend the rights of anyone to be happy. Ikaw ay pinanganak na gay, lumaki kang gay, you continue being gay, karapatan mo yan. And I will always defend your rights,” Atienza said.
(I will always defend the rights of anyone to be happy. If you are both gay and grew up gay, that’s your right.)
“Under the Constitution, it’s also the right of everyone to be happy. I respect the rights of any citizen to define his own sexuality,” he added.