Keep fighting for same-sex marriage, CHR urges LGBT community

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) urges members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual (LGBTQIA+) community to continue pushing for the legalization of same-sex marriage.

CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia issued this statement on Thursday in response to the decision of the Supreme Court (SC) to dismiss with finality a petition urging it to allow the union between people of any sexual identity.

“One with the cause, we encourage the LGBTQI community and its allies to press on in spite of this hurdle and continuously find ways to claim the right to be treated justly as humans whose rights are equal with everyone else,” De Guia said.

She clarified, however, that the CHR respects the decision of the Supreme Court to deny the petition based on a technicality.

“The Commission on Human Rights respects the recent Supreme Court decision in Falcis v. Civil Registrar General on marriage equality,” she said.

“Despite the decision, we find hope that the Court recognized the long history of the struggles of the LGBTQI for equality, including freedom from being discriminated for their choice of relationship,” she explained.

On Monday, the Supreme Court released a two-page notice saying it had junked the appeal, as “no substantial arguments were presented to warrant the reversal of the questioned decision.”

“No further pleadings or motions will be entertained” on the matter, said SC clerk of court Edgar Aricheta.

READ: It’s final: SC nixes plea for same-sex marriage

The CHR meanwhile urged both chambers of Congress to file bills that would make same-sex marriage legal — as it would be a way to normalize the existence of various gender preferences in the society and a step to prevent violence towards LGBTQIA members.

“We also call on the government, particularly Congress, to review current laws and policies that apply to this matter and ensure that provisions be free of language that may discriminate and perpetuate violence against specific groups, more so if they are already vulnerable and marginalized under current contexts,” De Guia noted.

/atm