For gay rights advocates in the Philippines, the decision is a ray of hope for LGBT communities here and abroad.
Following the landmark decision in the US, Ang Ladlad Party-list spokesperson Bemz Benedito said the development is sure to inspire similar petitions in the country.
"They have laid down the groundwork for anti-discrimination and now the same-sex marriage. So we hope the same development will also happen in the Philippines... The Philippines should be ready. There's no other time but now. We have so many LGBT Filipinos suffering from prejudice and there's so much LGBT couples now who need that right and recognition as couples," Benedito told ANC on Saturday.
Benedito, however, admitted similar measures including anti-gender discrimination face an uphill battle in the country, especially given a resistant Catholic church.
"We are taking our battle one step at a time, but it's very clear for us in Ang Ladlad that the right to marriage is a basic human right, that the state should recognize [LGBT couples'] partnership and they should be accorded those rights and privileges just like any heterosexual couple."
"I hope that we can do the same so that no LGBT will be discriminated from their own country and they don't need to go to other countries just to get married and just so their union will be recognized," said Benedito.
The Ang Ladlad spokesperson called on allies in Congress to help push for LGBT rights, beginning with the approval of the anti-discrimination bill which has been pending for 15 years.
Benedito admitted making any headway rests on the LGBT community having a united stand and someone to represent them in the halls of Congress.
"No single law has been passed to protect the rights of LGBT Filipinos... We need also to solidify our community to support one political movement that will really represent their cause. We need allies, other party-list groups in Congress to push for laws that will really protect us." -- ANC
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
