DEBATE BRIEF Good afternoon, classmates. Resolved: Same sex marriages should be legalized in the Philippines. Let me start with a quote. If homosexuality is a disease, let’s all call in queer to work: “Hello. Can’t work today, still queer. ” That was by Robin Tyler. Instead of saying hey, I’m pulling off a sickie today, you say hey, sorry if I can’t go to work—I’m still gay. Can you imagine that kind of situation? If so, let’s start asking ourselves today. Why do homosexuals have to be discriminated anyway?
Do they harm you or anyone in the society you live in? Same sex marriages have been an issue in the Philippines for a long time now, but since we live in a predominantly Christian country, people simply avoid further discussion of such. According to the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of Philippines, Article 2, Section 6; the separation of the church and state shall be inviolable. Meaning, no matter how grave the social issue may be, the church can never contradict the decision of the government and vice versa.
It has been widely understood that the Roman Catholic church will always be against same sex marriages considering the fact that their beliefs and principles are based from the sacred scripture. However, citizens who do not opt to engage into religious ceremonies have the option to be conjugated by means of civil wedding. It has been said under Article 7 of The Family Code of the Philippines, that marriage may be officiated by a person other than a priest, rabbi, imam or minister.
Included are any incumbent members of the judiciary within the court’s jurisdiction. Would you believe that even ship captains and military commanders under certain cases may solemnize a marriage? Point is, we should not depend on the church alone, rather, we should also take note of the privileges that the government has been proposing to satisfy our rights as humans and as citizens of this country. We may also assume that they created this so-called ‘civil wedding’ or ‘civil union’ to give way to the idea of same-sex marriage.
Yes, same-sex marriages have never been, in any way, legalized in the Philippines but it is possible that the government formalized civil weddings to actually give way to whatever the Catholic Church is against. It stands as an unanswered question, but nevertheless, we cannot say it is impossible. So to formally end my speech, I would like to share this quote. “Who would give a law to lovers? Love is unto itself a higher law. ” By Boethius, The Consolation of Philosophy, A. D. 524? THANK YOU!
