Saturday, June 24, 2023

Jemy Gatdula on LGBTQ++

I am reposting here portions of four recent articles by a friend and fellow BusinessWorld columnist, Atty. Jemy Gatdula. 

The Supreme Court celebrates Pride Month. It shouldn’t. (Part 1, June 2)
https://www.bworldonline.com/opinion/2023/06/02/526271/the-supreme-court-celebrates-pride-month-it-shouldnt/

“A community with likely a 2-5% share of the Philippine population, smaller than the indigenous peoples (20%) and Muslims (10%), and yet able to make universities, local government units, businesses, and even the Supreme Court itself feel obligated to pay homage to it can hardly be considered marginalized. The LGBTQIA++’s influence goes beyond the month of June: corporate policies, university courses, advertising, public parades, restaurants and churches compelled to adapt their facilities, even legislation or ordinances proposed or enacted. The LGBTQIA++ are practically extolled and celebrated every day all year round. That is not a marginalized community.”

The Supreme Court celebrates Pride Month. It shouldn’t. (Part 2, June 9) https://www.bworldonline.com/opinion/2023/06/09/527618/the-supreme-court-celebrates-pride-month-it-shouldnt-2/

Which brings us to this reiterated point: the freedoms of religion and speech are expressly and specifically declared in the Constitution, enjoyable by all. To give the LGBTQIA++ treatment not available to others is not upholding equality, it is the imposition of a privilege. The Supreme Court — on terms of prudence alone — would have done well to refrain from making itself vulnerable to appearances of preference, especially when no Constitutional or legislative provision requires it.

The LGBTQIA++: Marginalized and powerless. Who is? And are they? (June 16) https://www.bworldonline.com/opinion/2023/06/16/528887/the-lgbtqia-marginalized-and-powerless-who-is-and-are-they/

Nevertheless, this also has to be considered: even assuming that the LGBTQIA++ are identifiable and even assuming that the LGBTQIA++ should be classified as a “protected” class, what Philippine law or policy actually and expressly discriminates against them? Even marriage laws (i.e., the Family Code) does not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation. The members of the LGBTQIA++, like any individual, are all protected under the same constitutional rights as everyone else. That is why this “honoring” by government offices and politicians of the LGBTQIA++ by way of urging Pride Month on everyone is not “equality,” it is privilege.

The myth of LGBT discrimination (June 23) https://www.bworldonline.com/opinion/2023/06/23/530148/the-myth-of-lgbt-discrimination/

Congress alone gives the lie to the discrimination argument: a known transgender has been elected to the House and an LGBT party-list registered to run for a seat. Members of the LGBT community are prominent members of business, the academe, and showbusiness — with many of them occupying top positions and enjoying high earnings. And the political and social influence of the LGBT clearly goes beyond its 2-5% share of the population.

Meanwhile, this afternoon I saw a huge "Pride" parade by supporters of LGBTQ++ advocacies. At JP Rizal St. and surrounding areas in Makati. Many young folks, mostly middle class.

Oil/energy crisis, hunger/food crisis, population crisis, NCDs crisis, garbage crisis, climate crisis, virus crisis,... next is gender crisis? Ano main agenda, population control? More same sex union with no children?

A friend replied to me, "Destroy motherhood. Separate motherhood from being a woman. And then, destroy the family once the woman-hood and (it’s natural consequent) motherhood is destroyed.
That’s what I think the end game of the devil is."

See also other articles by Jemy Gatdula at 
Covid 31, Articles arguing for lifting the PH lockdown, April 18, 2021

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