Robredo on gay marriage: Choosing whom to love a ‘basic right’

Liberal Party Vice Presidential bet and Camarines Sur Representative Leni Robredo answers questions during forum ‘Women in Governance’ at the 8th Go Negosyo Filipina Entrepreneurship Summit in World Trade Center, Pasay City. INQUIRER PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES

“Who are we going to love and who are we going to live with is a basic human right.”

This was what vice presidential candidate Leni Robredo said when she was asked about her stand on same-sex marriage after boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, her colleague in the House of Representative, gave a controversial comment on the issue.

The Sarangani Representative called couples in gay relationships “worse than animals.”

Although she stressed that she lives by the dictates of her religion, Robredo, a Catholic, denounces discrimination against the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community.

“Very unfortunate na parang may discrimination, may judgement.  Sa atin kasi ang essence ng democracy ay binibigyan ng boses lahat kahit gaano pa sila ka kaunti, pinapakinggan lahat, nirerespeto ang preferences, nirerespeto ang mga opinyon ng bawat isa. Iba’t iba naman iyong relihiyon natin, pero ang healthy respect lang sa mga paniniwala ng iba,” said Robredo at the Go Negosyo Filipina Entrepreneurship Summit on Thursday.

(It is very unfortunate that there seems to be discrimination, there is judgment. For us, the essence of democracy is to give everyone a voice regardless if they are the minority; all is heard, preferences are respected, the opinion of each one is respected. Our religions may differ, but there should be healthy respect for the beliefs of others.)

READ: Pacquiao’s fight with LGBT won’t hurt UNA, says Binay camp

Robredo said she wants the government to listen to the voices of LGBT community and open the debate on same-sex union.

She said she believes that “your preferences doe not make you less Filipino.”

Robredo is one of the lawmakers who authored House Bill no. 3432 or the Anti-Discrimination Bill.

“Kailangan maging klaro ang policy ng gobyerno na pinapangalagaan ang karapatan ng bawat isa. Palagay ko hindi siya dapat maging exclusive sa usaping gender equality. Kasi ang same-sex union is just one of the manifestations na gender equality,” Robredo said.

(The policy of government on the protection of the rights of each person must be clear. I believe this must not only be exclusive to the issue of gender equality. This is because same-sex union is just one of the manifestations of gender equality.) CDG

READ: Palace on Pacquiao’s remarks on gays: ‘We are against discrimination’