tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49681445006139545052023-11-17T00:12:55.103+08:00There's a cure for thatA fact-based look at homosexuality and gay rights in the Philippines from the perspective
of a European biologistErikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02928753211385443072noreply@blogger.comBlogger108125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968144500613954505.post-56034192922997100972013-01-26T21:18:00.000+08:002013-01-26T21:18:06.977+08:00A Great Pro-Marriage Ad From Britain<div style="text-align: justify;">
Here is an absolutely wonderful marriage commercial from our friends in the UK. A lovely, powerful, and important message in promotion of the civil rights issue of our generation.</div>
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The UK has had a Civil Partnership Law for same-sex couples since 2005. Those partnerships are equal to heterosexual marriage in every way, including in adoption rights, except that they're not called marriages. A separate, albeit equal, category. </div>
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A new bill which seeks to apply the term "marriage" to all relationships, gay as well as straight, <a href="http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/UK_government_formally_launches_same-sex_marriage_legislation_in_Parliament?dpl_id=654271" target="_blank">has this week been submitted in British parliament</a>. It will likely be voted on in the lower chamber sometime in February, and has the backing of the major political parties as well as Prime Minster David Cameron.</div>
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Good luck, UK! All love is equal, so let's keep working to end marriage discrimination once and for all!</div>
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<br />Erikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02928753211385443072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968144500613954505.post-25587738324420724142012-12-18T13:52:00.000+08:002012-12-18T14:02:17.725+08:00Times They Are a'Changing!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Equality is moving quickly in many parts of the world, and the last couple months of 2012 have been no exception. My liberal progressive heart is loving every minute of it!</div>
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Here's a quick, simplified round-up:</div>
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<b>THE PHILIPPINES:</b> Naturally, since the Philippines is dear to my heart, I have to give BIG kudos to the Filipino people for the recent passage of the Reproductive Health Bill in both the House and the Senate. Even though it doesn't have anything to do with gay rights, it's still a wonderful step forward! As soon as President Aquino signs the bill, we can finally start referring to it as the Reproductive Health <i><b>Law</b></i>. It's been a <b><i>long</i></b> time coming, so congrats, Philippines!</div>
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<b>URUGUAY: </b>On December 12th the House of Representatives of the South American nation of Uruguay passed a Marriage Equality Bill, 87 votes to 81. The bill will next go to the Senate for approval, where it is expected to pass. The president, Jose Mujica, has said that he will gladly sign the bill into law as soon as the Senate approves it. Looks like another majority-Catholic country will soon be joining the ranks of countries with marriage equality. Go Uruguay!</div>
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<b>MEXICO:</b> The Mexican Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision in the first week of December, striking down the state of Oaxaca's ban on same-sex marriage. The ruling does not strike down similar bans in other states, but sets a powerful precedent and paves the way for marriage equality throughout Mexico. Currently same-sex marriages are only performed in Mexico City and in the state of Quintana Roo, but in 2010 the Mexican Supreme Court ordered all of Mexico's 31 states to honor and recognize same-sex marriages no matter where they're performed.</div>
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<b>COLOMBIA:</b> The First Committee of the Senate of Colombia has approved a same-sex marriage bill on December 4th. The bill will proceed through the legislature in the coming months of early 2013. If no action is taken by the legislature by June 20, 2013, same-sex couples will <i>automatically</i> be granted full marriage rights by order of a Supreme Court decision that came in 2011. But wait, isn't Colombia majority-Catholic?? Yes it is!</div>
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<b>UNITED STATES: </b> 1. In November, pro-marriage equality President Barack Obama was re-elected, and four ballot initiatives in four states turned out very well for equality. The state of Maine legalized same-sex marriage by popular vote; the voters of the state of Washington approved marriage equality after the state legislature had already passed it last year; and voters in the state of Maryland did the same. In Minnesota, voters were asked if they wanted to include a ban on same-sex marriage in their state's constitution... the people said "no!" It was a great day for liberty and equality! America seems to be progressing faster and faster all the time.</div>
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2. In early December the US Supreme Court announced that it will hear two majorly important gay rights cases in its current session.</div>
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<b> </b>a) <b> </b>The first is regarding section III of DOMA (the Defense of Marriage Act), which, if found to be unconstitutional, would mean that the US federal government would be able to formally and officially recognize same-sex marriages for tax purposes, Social Security purposes, immigration purposes, and all the other 1,000+ rights and privileges that go along with marriage. This would be <i><b>huge</b></i>. Most legal analysts believe the Supreme Court will strike down DOMA section III, and the ruling - whatever it may be - will come in June of 2013.</div>
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b) The second case regards Proposition 8, the 2008 voter initiative that removed the right to marry for same-sex couples in California. No one's really sure what the Supremes will decide on this one, but a ruling will also come in June of 2013. The high court could uphold the ban (highly unlikely), could strike down the ban and return marriage equality to California (most likely), or strike down all same-sex marriage bans across America (possible, but not a sure bet). It's exciting to be sure, so keep an eye on these cases.</div>
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3. Next up: Illinois. America's fifth most populous state already has civil unions, but the Illinois legislature is scheduled to take up a full Marriage Equality Bill in January. </div>
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<b>CAMBODIA:</b> Prime Minister Hun Sen of the Kingdom of Cambodia is now speaking out publicly against anti-gay discrimination, speaking on TV to his countrymen not to foster anti-gay bias. Cambodia, like its neighbor Thailand, is known for being tolerant, but LGBT Cambodians are starting to request the same rights and freedoms as their straight countrymen, and it seems the government is starting to listen. The late king of Cambodia, Norodom Sihanouk, who passed away in October of this year, was known for his liberal ideals. In 2004 he stated: "As a liberal democracy, Cambodia should allow marriage between a man and man, or between woman and woman. It is not their fault that God makes them the way they are."</div>
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<b>FRANCE: </b>Draft legislation has been formally presented by the government of social democratic President Francois Hollande, and it will be voted on in the National Assembly in Paris in early 2013. <i>Vive la France!</i></div>
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<b>SCOTLAND: </b>A draft Marriage Equality Bill has been formally published by the Scottish government as of December 12th. Public consultation will proceed through March of 2013, after which time a bill can be presented to parliament for a vote. As part of the UK, Scotland already has Civil Partnerships. The proposed law, however, will bring full marriage equality for straight and gay couples alike, including giving religious and other belief communities the right to conduct same-sex weddings if they so choose. We're cheering you on, Scotland!</div>
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<b>THAILAND: </b> Finally! The Thai government is drafting a same-sex Civil Partnership Bill. The committee has already begun meeting, and the process should reportedly take six weeks. Sure it's just drafting, but it's long overdue for Thailand. After the drafting is complete it will be sent to legal experts to be ironed out further, and then presented to parliament for consideration. I can't believe it's taken tolerant Thailand so long to get this ball rolling, but kudos to them for finally getting on with it!</div>
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Erikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02928753211385443072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968144500613954505.post-72762846121232246682012-12-18T10:55:00.000+08:002012-12-21T18:31:04.137+08:00The Pope's Having a Really Bad Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Can't win 'em all, buddy.</div>
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When the pope woke up in the Vatican this morning, he was greeted with some very bad news. His morning report undoubtedly led with the front line: <b>RH Bill passes Philippine House and Senate.</b></div>
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While liberal progressives like me cheered for the Philippines, I can imagine that the halls of the Vatican most likely fell silent. You could probably hear a pin drop as the news came in. </div>
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Retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz, a life-long stalwart opponent of women's rights, gay rights, and common sense in general, conceded defeat on the matter. The pope too must swallow this bitter pill and accept reality.<br />
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While the Philippines' passage of RH legislation doesn't directly affect the pontiff, the message it sends is undoubtedly reverberating through the Papal Palace in <i>il Vaticano.</i> The Philippines is one of the Catholic Church's last bastions on earth. They've lost France; progressive liberalism has marched forward in Spain; Italy's moving forward bit by bit; Portugal has shaken off the shackles; and even Mexico and South American nations are giving the Catholic Church far less of a voice in public affairs.</div>
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This all must send a shiver down the spine of church leadership - not just in the Philippines but in the Vatican as well. The ice is starting to crack. For the first time in recent memory, the ´´Catholic´´ Philippines has went against the mother Church. They´ve chosen personal liberty and the rights and health of women over religious doctrine. Who knows what might come next, and perhaps that´s the biggest fear of all for conservative old men in robes. Divorce legislation? Allowing abortion in instances where the mother´s health may be impacted? An anti-discrimination law to protect the rights of sexual minorities? Same-sex partnership legislation?...</div>
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If the Philippines starts taking steps forward (i.e. <i>away</i> from the Church), will the Church start to finally lose its centuries old chokehold on the archipelago? </div>
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We can hope so.</div>
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I <strike>think</strike> hope this may also be a new day for the women's movement in the Philippines. A new era for Filipina women to stand up, be courageous, outspoken, and strong; to break away from old religiously-induced concepts of womanhood, i.e. being the weaker sex, quiet, and an obediant "helper" to her husband. It´s time for Filipina women to be comfortable with taking charge and standing up for their health and their rights, <i>unapologetically</i>.<br />
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The passage of the RH Bill may be the catalyst for a much-needed feminist movement in the Philippines, and I pray it is. Modern history shows that when women have a powerful and equal voice in national decision making, the chains of patriarchalism and machoism fall off. As a result, things get better for everyone - especially for minorities.<br />
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And so I say to my progressive friends in the beautiful Philippine Islands, best wishes to you as you see a new day dawning in your nation. A very big congratulations to all, and a thank you to the majority of legislators who voted for RH!</div>
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Keep up the push! Let <u>scientific knowledge</u> have a louder voice than ancient religious dogma, and I promise you you'll have a brighter, healthier, more democratic future.</div>
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Three cheers for the Philippines!</div>
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<br />Erikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02928753211385443072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968144500613954505.post-23031990475823029842012-10-02T13:02:00.000+08:002012-10-02T13:06:50.814+08:00Really, AXN?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikbfCgWWYLiIW1vehaEPgmHrx2mydIjE1kHuBAiGhR_dKRq4F2YqznupwA-e96zD2L2BurF-DQiyoLdXSVj885LqHdkfFsOTuunQcyaLOhf4GwSzjiUuBZHzzZhmdd8O8ve2-_8x4OyFcT/s1600/joshbrent.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikbfCgWWYLiIW1vehaEPgmHrx2mydIjE1kHuBAiGhR_dKRq4F2YqznupwA-e96zD2L2BurF-DQiyoLdXSVj885LqHdkfFsOTuunQcyaLOhf4GwSzjiUuBZHzzZhmdd8O8ve2-_8x4OyFcT/s1600/joshbrent.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holy shit, they do look <i>dangerous!</i></td></tr>
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It seems the sight of two men in a long-term relationship holding hands is simply too much for Asian cable network <a href="http://www.axn-asia.com/" target="_blank">AXN</a> to handle.</div>
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On Monday, October 1st, episode 1 of season 21 of <i>The Amazing Race</i> was aired across Asia on AXN. One of the team of racers was Josh and Brent, a couple who own and operate a goat farm in upstate New York. Josh and Brent have been in a monogamous relationship for 14 years, and are currently engaged to be married.</div>
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But of course, AXN didn't want anyone to know or see that. </div>
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When I watched the episode, I was a little curious why Josh and Brent's intro segment was so short. The other teams (consisting of sibling pairs, best friends, (hetero) dating couples, and (hetero) married couples), all had longer intros, showing their backgrounds, their lives, and, if they're a couple, their love for each other.</div>
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But not Josh and Brent. My girlfriend and I thought, "Wait a sec, something's not right here."</div>
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So, to satisfy my curiosity, I turned to YouTube to find <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2K56TSBfMxs" target="_blank">the full version of episode 1</a>; the version aired in North America and Europe. Sure enough, I found that AXN Asia had actually and literally <u>clipped</u> Josh and Brent's intro segment by nearly half, removing video that showed them interacting like an actual couple, including footage of them walking in their yard while holding hands.</div>
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My goodness yes, how terribly scandalous. We wouldn't want Asians to be exposed to reality, now would we, AXN?</div>
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Granted, I understand that AXN probably doesn't give a damn about whether or not Josh and Brent are an engaged couple holding hands. Most TV networks understand that program producers have artistic license and expressive freedom to do what they want. But the problem is that Singapore does <i>not</i> understand that. </div>
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AXN Asia is based in Singapore and broadcast throughout Asia, and as such it has to follow <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship_in_Singapore" target="_blank">Singapore law</a> (specifically the <i>Free-to-Air Television Programme Code</i>, Part 5) which states that TV programs must not "promote, justify, or glamorise" homosexuality in any form. Unfortunately for the rest of Asia -- aside from Malaysia which has equally archaic and homophobic broadcast laws itself -- everyone else's viewing experience in Asia has to be under Singaporean censorship as well. </div>
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Essentially, if you're watching TV in Asia you have to live under the strict Singaporean censorship rules if the network you're watching is based in Singapore, or the often equally-strict Hong Kong censorship rules if the network is based in Hong Kong.</div>
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I hope those bigoted cavemen are proud of themselves. What wonderful progress Asia is making these days...</div>
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<br />Erikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02928753211385443072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968144500613954505.post-30574232704928433932012-09-12T10:37:00.004+08:002012-09-17T10:09:39.979+08:00The Abortion Tragedy in the Philippines<div style="text-align: justify;">
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I'm so tired of the gaggle of "Pro-Life" politicians in the Philippines. You've seen them and <strike>unfortunately</strike> heard them: Golez, Pacquiao, Enrile, and our favorite dork of the month, Sotto, harping on about the grave dangers of condoms, pills, and IUDs. All, of course, propped up by the Philippine Mini-Popes, i.e. the CBCP.</div>
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Look, I'm a progressive liberal. I'm about as liberal as a person can get. When I say liberal I mean liberal in every way: an economic liberal, a military liberal ("a dove"), and a social liberal. I grew up in a liberal family, in a liberal culture, in a liberal country called Norway.</div>
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In my country, RH isn't an issue. It hasn't been an issue since...well...it's never really been an issue. This is because the Catholic Church holds absolutely no sway in Norway. None. The pope never visits us because we honestly don't want him to. (We think he's a bigot, to be quite honest with you.) In my country the government's been giving out free condoms and birth control pills since the 1960s, and the state doesn't interfere in a woman's right to choose what to do with her own body.</div>
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In other words, abortion is legal. More than that, it's free. Abortion is included in the national health care system, and women have the right to have an abortion (during the first 12 weeks of gestation) at any hospital across the land. I'm proud of this fact. Damn proud. I wouldn't want it any other way, nor would the <u>vast</u> majority of my fellow countrymen. In other words, yes, I'm pro-choice. (If you'd like to read my own take on the issue, and why I'm pro-choice, you can read my post <a href="http://progressph.blogspot.com/2012/09/when-does-life-begin.html" target="_blank">'When Does Life Begin?'</a>)</div>
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I get irritated when I hear "pro-lifers" in the Philippines (or wherever) claiming to be God's defenders of the unborn; claiming to know beyond a doubt that life begins the nanosecond a lone sperm brushes up against an ovum; shouting that abortion is "murder" and a danger to women.</div>
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<b>Well duh. <i>Obviously</i> it's a danger when it's illegal.</b> Obviously it's dangerous when women have no legal access to it and are forced to go to quack doctors, drink herbal concoctions, or attempt at-home abortions with barbeque sticks and clothes hangers.</div>
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Pro-lifers aren't pro-life at all. What they are is pro-birth. How the hell can someone call themself pro-life when they clearly don't really care what happens to children once they're born? If they were pro-life they'd do everything within their power to cut down the incidence of abortion, not simply outlaw it. And one of the best, cheapest, most effective ways to do just that, is <b>contraception</b>.<br />
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Being truly pro-life would include making it state policy to distribute condoms and other contraceptives to all women, including teens.<br />
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It would include a blitz of reproductive health education, from the school hall to the barangay hall. It would include being a defender of life - <b>of all life</b>, especially the lives of <i>the living</i> - not just a defender of zygotes and embryos.<br />
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It would include a massive push to get street kids <i>off</i> the streets and into safe, decent, stable homes; encouraging adoption, making it easier and less costly to adopt, and treating same-sex adoptive couples the same as opposite-sex adoptive couples. </div>
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I scoff at that claim of Senator Vicente "Tito" Sotto, who said on the floor of the Senate: <a href="http://www.prolife.org.ph/?p=923" target="_blank">"I stand up for life."</a><br />
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<b>No, sir, what you stand up for is birth</b>. If you stood up for life, you'd do something to help the tens of thousands of <i>already living</i> children on the streets of Manila, rather than simply drive by them on your way to and from work each day in the backseat of your tinted-window SUV. And by the way, handing out 500-peso bills at election time doesn't count as 'standing up for life'.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Pro-life? Sure, you go right ahead and keep telling yourself that.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The same
goes for the celibate, pro-birth bishops and cardinals, who get chauffered
from their cathedrals to their cushy, air conditioned residences in their private SUVs. That vow
of poverty makes life pretty rough, doesn't it, gentlemen?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Abortion is an intensely touchy topic, that much is true, and it likely always will be. The RH Bill does not give a thumbs up to abortion, seek to legalize abortion, or even create a path to potentially legalizing abortion. So while the RH Bill has nothing at all to do with abortion, abortion is nevertheless tied in with the broader topic of reproductive health, because one affects the other.<br />
<br />
Even though abortion is very much illegal in the Philippines, there is a very real abortion tragedy taking place every day across its 7,100+ islands. This tragedy affects women, especially lower-income women, who are caught between a rock and a hard place: unable to access effective, affordable contraception and the proper, medically-acurate information that goes along with it, while at the same time legally unable to make weighty decisions on their own in the event that they do experience an unplanned, unwanted pregnancy, which is partly the fault of not having full contraceptive choice in the first place. <br />
<br />
This is nothing short of a slap in the face to women's rights. In 2012, Filipina women deserve <u><b>so</b></u> much better than this.<br />
<br />
In 2010, the U.S.-based Center for Reproductive Rights put out a scathing report on the status of abortion in the Philippines, titled <i><a href="http://reproductiverights.org/sites/crr.civicactions.net/files/documents/phil_report_Spreads.pdf" target="_blank">Forsaken Lives: The Harmful Impact of the Philippine Criminal Abortion Ban</a>.</i> In it were cited tragic and shameful statistics backed up by the United Nations, the World Health Organization, the U.S. Department of State, and the European Union, among others, and I highly recommend you read it.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Because abortion is illegal under any circumstance in the Philippines, this means that abortion is non-existent. Correct? Far from it. The Philippines has a disproportionately high abortion rate, ranging from at least 560,000 to as many as 800,000 abortions per year, according to the World Health Organization. That's a ratio ranging from at least 25:1000 to 37:1000. Nobody really knows how high the figures go because, being illegal, secret abortions aren't exactly tallied and reported.<br />
<br />
Since the Philippines' population is only increasing, and economic hardships on families certainly aren't decreasing, the 800,000 figure is likely much closer to reality.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I want to do a quick comparison of stats between the Philippines, where abortion is illegal under any circumstances, and my country, Norway, where abortion is legal<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif";"><b>.</b></span></div>
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mso-tstyle-border-right:1.0pt solid #4F81BD;
mso-tstyle-border-right-themecolor:accent1;
mso-tstyle-border-insideh:cell-none;
mso-tstyle-border-insidev:cell-none;}
table.MsoTableMediumList2Accent1LastCol
{mso-style-name:"Medium List 2 - Accent 1";
mso-table-condition:last-column;
mso-style-priority:66;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-tstyle-shading:white;
mso-tstyle-shading-themecolor:background1;
mso-tstyle-border-top:cell-none;
mso-tstyle-border-left:1.0pt solid #4F81BD;
mso-tstyle-border-left-themecolor:accent1;
mso-tstyle-border-bottom:cell-none;
mso-tstyle-border-right:cell-none;
mso-tstyle-border-insideh:cell-none;
mso-tstyle-border-insidev:cell-none;}
table.MsoTableMediumList2Accent1OddColumn
{mso-style-name:"Medium List 2 - Accent 1";
mso-table-condition:odd-column;
mso-style-priority:66;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-tstyle-shading:#D3DFEE;
mso-tstyle-shading-themecolor:accent1;
mso-tstyle-shading-themetint:63;
mso-tstyle-border-left:cell-none;
mso-tstyle-border-right:cell-none;
mso-tstyle-border-insideh:cell-none;
mso-tstyle-border-insidev:cell-none;}
table.MsoTableMediumList2Accent1OddRow
{mso-style-name:"Medium List 2 - Accent 1";
mso-table-condition:odd-row;
mso-style-priority:66;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-tstyle-shading:#D3DFEE;
mso-tstyle-shading-themecolor:accent1;
mso-tstyle-shading-themetint:63;
mso-tstyle-border-top:cell-none;
mso-tstyle-border-bottom:cell-none;
mso-tstyle-border-insideh:cell-none;
mso-tstyle-border-insidev:cell-none;}
table.MsoTableMediumList2Accent1NWCell
{mso-style-name:"Medium List 2 - Accent 1";
mso-table-condition:nw-cell;
mso-style-priority:66;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-tstyle-shading:white;
mso-tstyle-shading-themecolor:background1;}
table.MsoTableMediumList2Accent1SWCell
{mso-style-name:"Medium List 2 - Accent 1";
mso-table-condition:sw-cell;
mso-style-priority:66;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-tstyle-border-top:cell-none;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableMediumList2Accent1" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent1; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: -1;">
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid #4F81BD 3.0pt; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent1; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 274.75pt;" valign="top" width="366"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-yfti-cnfc: 517;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Angsana New"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">The Philippines</span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid #4F81BD 3.0pt; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent1; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 204.05pt;" valign="top" width="272"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-yfti-cnfc: 1;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="background: white; border-right: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent1; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 274.75pt;" valign="top" width="366"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Angsana New"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">Reproductive health services</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #D3DFEE; border-right: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 63; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent1; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 204.05pt;" valign="top" width="272"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Angsana New"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">Severly limited, especially to the poor</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="background: white; border-right: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent1; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 274.75pt;" valign="top" width="366"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Angsana New"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">Sex education</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-right: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent1; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 204.05pt;" valign="top" width="272"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Angsana New"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">Very basic
and abstinence-based</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="background: white; border-right: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent1; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 274.75pt;" valign="top" width="366"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Angsana New"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">Legality of abortion</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #D3DFEE; border-right: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 63; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent1; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 204.05pt;" valign="top" width="272"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Angsana New"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">Illegal, unsafe, criminally punishable</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="background: white; border-right: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent1; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 274.75pt;" valign="top" width="366"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Angsana New"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">Annual abortion rate</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-right: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent1; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 204.05pt;" valign="top" width="272"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif";">25-37 per 1,000
women</span></b></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="background: white; border-right: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent1; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 274.75pt;" valign="top" width="366"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Angsana New"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">Women hospitalized/year due to unsafe abortions</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #D3DFEE; border-right: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 63; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent1; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 204.05pt;" valign="top" width="272"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Angsana New"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">ca. 90,000+</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td style="background: white; border-right: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent1; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 274.75pt;" valign="top" width="366"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Angsana New"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">Women who die/year due to unsafe abortions</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-right: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent1; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 204.05pt;" valign="top" width="272"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif";">ca. 1,000+*</span></b></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 6; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="background: white; border-right: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent1; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 274.75pt;" valign="top" width="366"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Angsana New"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">Influence of conservative religious lobbies</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #D3DFEE; border-right: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 63; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent1; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 204.05pt;" valign="top" width="272"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Angsana New"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">Major</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableMediumList2Accent1" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent1; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: -1;">
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid #4F81BD 3.0pt; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent1; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 274.75pt;" valign="top" width="366"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-yfti-cnfc: 517;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Angsana New"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">Norway</span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid #4F81BD 3.0pt; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent1; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 204.05pt;" valign="top" width="272"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-yfti-cnfc: 1;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="background: white; border-right: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent1; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 274.75pt;" valign="top" width="366"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Angsana New"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">Reproductive health services</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #D3DFEE; border-right: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 63; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent1; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 204.05pt;" valign="top" width="272"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Angsana New"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">Comprehensive and free of charge</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="background: white; border-right: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent1; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 274.75pt;" valign="top" width="366"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Angsana New"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">Sex education</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-right: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent1; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 204.05pt;" valign="top" width="272"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Angsana New"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">Comprehensive;
contraceptive-based</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="background: white; border-right: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent1; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 274.75pt;" valign="top" width="366"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Angsana New"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">Legality of abortion</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #D3DFEE; border-right: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 63; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent1; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 204.05pt;" valign="top" width="272"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Angsana New"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">Legal, safe, free of charge</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="background: white; border-right: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent1; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 274.75pt;" valign="top" width="366"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Angsana New"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">Annual abortion rate</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-right: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent1; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 204.05pt;" valign="top" width="272"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif";">12.7 per 1,000
women</span></b></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="background: white; border-right: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent1; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 274.75pt;" valign="top" width="366"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Angsana New"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">Women hospitalized/year due to unsafe abortions</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #D3DFEE; border-right: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 63; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent1; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 204.05pt;" valign="top" width="272"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Angsana New"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">0</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td style="background: white; border-right: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent1; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 274.75pt;" valign="top" width="366"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Angsana New"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">Women who die/year due to unsafe abortions</span></div>
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<td style="border-right: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent1; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 204.05pt;" valign="top" width="272"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif";">0</span></b></span></div>
</td>
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 6; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="background: white; border-right: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent1; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 274.75pt;" valign="top" width="366"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Angsana New"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">Influence of conservative religious lobbies</span></div>
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<td style="background: #D3DFEE; border-right: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 63; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent1; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 204.05pt;" valign="top" width="272"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Angsana New"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">None</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
Notice anything in there? There are several key points. Feel free to go back and read over them again 'til they sink it.<br />
<br />
It's not just Norway that has such statistics. The developed countries of Western Europe (all with comprehensive RH and the majority with legal abortion on demand) <b>have the lowest rates of abortion in the world</b>. <a href="http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/journals/3310607.html" target="_blank">The Western European average is 12:1000</a>, with the lowest being Switzerland at 7:1000, and the highest being France at 17:1000. (See also <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/18/abortion-rates-higher-countries-illegal-study_n_1215045.html" target="_blank">here</a>.) <br />
<br />
Which countries have the highest abortion rates?: developing countries where abortion is typically (and ironically) <i>illegal. </i>As American journalist and pro-choice advocate <a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/human_nature/2012/02/the_komen_fiasco_how_to_drive_planned_parenthood_out_of_the_abortion_business_.html" target="_blank">Will Saletan puts it</a>, "In other words, when you outlaw abortion and limit contraception, you get more abortion, because more women who don't want to have babies get pregnant. ...[A]nd they find ways to get abortions, whether you like it or not."</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
My point is this: My country is secular and non-religious; abortion is legal; teens get condoms and birth control pills for free in school; and we have same-sex marriage. And you know what? We're doing pretty damn well. <u>Our abortion rate is lower than countries where abortion is illegal</u>, not to mention the fact that, because abortion is legal, it's also safe. We have no women dying from botched abortions or self-administered abortion drugs or birth control use, or from infections rising from either of the three.</div>
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Seems to me that someone who truly stands up for life would make an attempt to care (at least just a <i>little</i>) that 90,000 Filipina women suffer each year in hospitals due to hemorrhaging,
sepsis, and punctured internal organs caused by clandestine abortions,
many of whom have treatment delayed or are openly scolded, lectured, and
threatened with criminal charges by hospital staff for their "sin."<br />
<br />
Seems to me that someone who truly stands up for life would make an attempt to care (at least just a <i>little</i>) that a minimum of 1,000 Filipina women are dying each and every year due to dangerous back-alley abortions. <br />
<br />
That is an unacceptable, preventable national tragedy.<br />
<br />
Instead, what happened in the Senate on September 5th? Sotto's dubious fears succeeded in <a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/265566/senate-nears-compromise-bill-on-rh-scraps-sections-on-abortion-contraceptives" target="_blank">deleting an entire subsection of the Senate version of the RH Bill</a> because of concerns that it might be used to legalize abortion 'some day.'<br />
<br />
Sotto and his pro-birth amigos and amigas removed the following provision: <b><i>"While this Act does not amend the penal law on abortion, the government
shall ensure that all women needing care for postabortion complications
shall be treated and counseled in a humane, nonjudgmental and
compassionate manner."</i></b><br />
<br />
How scandalous. <br />
<br />
The RH Bill doesn't contain a provision for abortion. None. Never has, never will. Anyone who has basic reading and English comprehension skills can figure that out by the very wording of the Bill. The zygotes will be safe if the Bill passes, don't worry.<br />
<br />
If you're anti-abortion you should <u>at</u> <u>the</u> <u>very</u> <u>least</u> be pro-contraception. Nothing cuts abortion rates more than easily-accessable, low cost, reliable contraception and medically accurate (not religiously inaccurate) reproductive education. <b>If someone is anti-abortion, anti-contraception, and anti-sex education, they're anti-women as well. </b><br />
<br />
The above deleted provision would have been a nice first step in the right direction. But pro-birth senators didn't like the idea of low-income women without options being treated humanely, nonjudgmentally and compassionately by medical professionals. For sure, nothing says "pro-life" like looking away while 1,000 women needlessly lose their lives. But it's okay; after all, they're doing it to protect the "lives" of zygotes.</div>
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Obvioulsy just making abortion illegal doesn't work; neither does it make a country "pro-life." The statistics make this fact abundantly clear, as "pro-life countries" have higher abortion rates than those that are pro-choice.<br />
<br />
I wonder how Sotto would try to counter-argue this fact. He'd likely discredit my point because I'm just another European who wants nothing more than to depopulate the Philippines in order to exploit it. Sure.<br />
<br />
And then he'd plagiarize and fact-twist my article the very next day.</div>
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>"I do not believe that just because you’re opposed to abortion, that
that makes you pro-life. In fact, I think in many cases, your morality
is deeply lacking if all you want is a child born but not a child fed,
not a child educated, not a child housed. And why would I think that you
don’t? Because you don’t want any tax money to go there. That’s not
pro-life. That’s pro-birth. We need a much broader conversation on what
the morality of pro-life is." </b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
- Sister Joan Chittister, Roman Catholic Nun, USA </div>
<br />
<br />
*<span style="font-size: x-small;">This number in reality is likely much higher, as reported in <i>Forsaken Lives</i>, because it relies solely on the reports of hospitals. Many hospitals do not list cause of death as "infection due to abortion." There are also likely many Filipina women who die at home, too afraid to seek medical treatment for fear of criminal prosecution.</span>Erikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02928753211385443072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968144500613954505.post-35337666766371334302012-09-08T13:09:00.000+08:002012-09-08T13:09:35.605+08:00I love me some Wanda Sykes!<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8SMxTx_HnZwlfmyZ9TS9MbOK8r81vWtwvchivrNY2p4xxMpua6iRxLGlSPF57IdnNlkEWiomHIoNuVJG3bC4jgXGjxFK0tEmUR0cWvup1pawkuPhs4d3Y1Cd0Y6vZzD-Yae9iiaJtI1UD/s1600/wanda&alex.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8SMxTx_HnZwlfmyZ9TS9MbOK8r81vWtwvchivrNY2p4xxMpua6iRxLGlSPF57IdnNlkEWiomHIoNuVJG3bC4jgXGjxFK0tEmUR0cWvup1pawkuPhs4d3Y1Cd0Y6vZzD-Yae9iiaJtI1UD/s320/wanda&alex.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
Well-known American comedienne and actress Wanda Sykes is absolutely awesome. Anytime I watch any of her stand-up comedy shows or acting spots on TV and in movies, I just can't stop laughing. She's comedy gold if you ask me. Her most recent film work was as the voice of Sid's Granny in <i>Ice Age: Continental Drift.</i><br />
<br />
Wanda is happily married to her wife, Alex, who hails from France.<br />
<br />
In response to the recently released 2012 Republican Party Platform, which includes an idiotic proposal to write an amendment to the US constitution to ban same-sex marriage, Wanda's sense of humor shined through on television interviews.<br />
<br />
According to Wanda (and common sense in general), the hard right shouldn't be threatened by marriage equality:<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><b>"It's not going to be mandatory. It seems like gay people are crazy and we go around and canvass the whole
neighborhood: 'Come to my big gay wedding, come on, it's mandatory!''
'If you don't agree with it, then chances are you don't know anyone who
is gay or are close to someone who is gay, so that even
increases your chances of never being invited to a same-sex wedding."</b></i></blockquote>
<br />
You can see the full MSNBC interview with Wanda Sykes below.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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Visit NBCNews.com for <a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; color: #5799DB !important; font-weight: normal !important; height: 13px; text-decoration: none !important;">breaking news</a>, <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032507" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; color: #5799DB !important; font-weight: normal !important; height: 13px; text-decoration: none !important;">world news</a>, and <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032072" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; color: #5799DB !important; font-weight: normal !important; height: 13px; text-decoration: none !important;">news about the economy</a></div>
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Erikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02928753211385443072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968144500613954505.post-80224300965575934352012-09-05T12:05:00.000+08:002012-09-05T14:17:46.080+08:00Democratic Party Platform Endorses Marriage Equality<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNWnNJ3OzdrfPNcbygEvb7U6fpl7V4_xTmqknkPGH_rMJMP-AHpbpRGjDh7P6R-skDJudDSj3Gk-TPcL2ESz8YU00cszCoEFAtkWvmp3gVxZfvtEQMb-ibedX6K-IYCR2ygCmNJ9YwKfXY/s1600/DNC2012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNWnNJ3OzdrfPNcbygEvb7U6fpl7V4_xTmqknkPGH_rMJMP-AHpbpRGjDh7P6R-skDJudDSj3Gk-TPcL2ESz8YU00cszCoEFAtkWvmp3gVxZfvtEQMb-ibedX6K-IYCR2ygCmNJ9YwKfXY/s320/DNC2012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In a series of speeches peppered repeatedly with references of the right of same-sex couples to marry, including from First Lady Michelle Obama and high profile Latino Catholic politicians, the first night of the Democratic National Convention in the U.S. was <i>very</i> memorable.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
A huge congratulations to my American Democrat friends, whose party has, as of today, <b>officially adopted a platform that solidly supports marriage equality for all</b>. This is the first time a major U.S. political party has officially endorsed same-sex marriage, and it's a very, very big moment for equality in America.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Under the heading "Freedom to Marry," the 2012 Democratic National Platform states:</div>
<a name='more'></a><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"We support the right of all families to have equal respect, responsibilities, and protections under the law. We support marriage equality and support the movement to secure equal treatment under law for same-sex couples. We also support the freedom of churches and religious entities to decide how to administer marriage as a religious sacrament without government interference.</i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>We oppose discriminatory federal and state constitutional amendments and other attempts to deny equal protection of the laws to committed same-sex couples who seek the same respect and responsibilities as other married couples. We support the full repeal of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act and the passage of the Respect for Marriage Act."</i></blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Platform also clearly vows to protect a woman's right to make decisions about her pregnancy, including access to safe and legal abortion.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>" Abortion is an intensely personal decision between a woman, her family, her doctor, and her clergy; there is no place for politicians or government to get in the way."</i></blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Perfectly said! </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This in <u>stark</u> contrast to the 2012 Republican National Platform, adopted at that party's convention last week, which calls for constitutional bans on both same-sex marriage <i>and</i> abortion.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The choice for progress, freedom, and fairness is crystal clear. I hope America chooses to continue moving forward when it goes to the polls this November, and rejects the Republican Party's ideas of moving backward. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
For those who are interested, the full <a href="http://assets.dstatic.org/dnc-platform/2012-National-Platform.pdf" target="_blank">Democratic Party Platform can be read in pdf format here</a>.</div>
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<br />Erikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02928753211385443072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968144500613954505.post-24257084611265573362012-09-03T09:40:00.000+08:002012-09-07T09:15:20.454+08:00Leaders Who Listen to Reason Rather than Bishops<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwRVV6f9lg6uiA0qzzBQUv2OsrIesWzsRTtJUmVnGAOxBsryMJqoy9A7FjOz7oMvKLHTlb8F40e76YkBP6RNxBF6-AHY4js82LJemW4MU3RPpavAsvb4buIkuUDPVPO6RXY6q4wRTmQnV/s1600/Cristina-Kirchner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwRVV6f9lg6uiA0qzzBQUv2OsrIesWzsRTtJUmVnGAOxBsryMJqoy9A7FjOz7oMvKLHTlb8F40e76YkBP6RNxBF6-AHY4js82LJemW4MU3RPpavAsvb4buIkuUDPVPO6RXY6q4wRTmQnV/s200/Cristina-Kirchner.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<i><b>"I believe it would be a terrible distortion of democracy if the
majorities – the actions of those majorities – denied rights to the
minorities."</b></i><br />
- Cristina Kirchner, President of Argentina<br />
(A Catholic president in a majority-Catholic country, by the way, which today has marriage equality.)<br />
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<i><b> </b></i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWPtNHZCalVGE0xz_nDgzRTotd-h41cQ_EP3aAucIiE_Iz8B4kcopz6CRtcsDUNyvqg74JQkopend5H9aFFbx_OlEHD5EOi2DVK9ieCnVAuEkKe8AO95R7b8niqTU1HjB5nFVylXueIkiu/s1600/verwilghen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWPtNHZCalVGE0xz_nDgzRTotd-h41cQ_EP3aAucIiE_Iz8B4kcopz6CRtcsDUNyvqg74JQkopend5H9aFFbx_OlEHD5EOi2DVK9ieCnVAuEkKe8AO95R7b8niqTU1HjB5nFVylXueIkiu/s200/verwilghen.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: right;">
<i><b>"Mentalities have changed. There is no longer any reason not to open marriage to people of the same sex." </b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
- Marc Verwilghen, Fmr. JM of Belgium<i><b> </b></i><br />
(Said in 2003, just prior to marriage equality passage.)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikchH_WZ7KCXyC9LkN9kKSbpVEVp6KXWQcGzdqTGMe10cV1R2tbZsVFmM7lM3X3lElh-MU0jRC8k7KL7QPry2ysqi7zCsvBMkKMfdRU82u4J6-UAuIMjaLBUOPu4GjvrbuKi-lBWcon9RK/s1600/jens-stoltenberg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikchH_WZ7KCXyC9LkN9kKSbpVEVp6KXWQcGzdqTGMe10cV1R2tbZsVFmM7lM3X3lElh-MU0jRC8k7KL7QPry2ysqi7zCsvBMkKMfdRU82u4J6-UAuIMjaLBUOPu4GjvrbuKi-lBWcon9RK/s200/jens-stoltenberg.jpg" width="150" /></a><i><b> </b></i><br />
<i><b>"It is love that must be the determining factor. Regardless of sex or sexual orientation, love should be the victor. Everyone should have the opportunity to enter into marriage. This is an incredibly important value and an important expression of respect for everyone in our society. The greatest of all is love."</b></i><br />
<i><b> </b></i>- Jens Stoltenberg, PM of Norway<br />
(Statement to parliament in 2008, just prior to passage of marriage equality legislation.)<i><b> </b></i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfKNSFPYbi_3uFcQZ2_Ihl3HM2Sqopo5zOILn-d5a7El2zy8j2MLzqUgfhTYr0Fnei9eb0auILPR9OOpRRZ71vrHDPVwSZSq5Cn3z7LSbg5f6NidZo-nwJ1bUBgyHotJTOvbwe5mbfeMYA/s1600/francoishollande.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfKNSFPYbi_3uFcQZ2_Ihl3HM2Sqopo5zOILn-d5a7El2zy8j2MLzqUgfhTYr0Fnei9eb0auILPR9OOpRRZ71vrHDPVwSZSq5Cn3z7LSbg5f6NidZo-nwJ1bUBgyHotJTOvbwe5mbfeMYA/s200/francoishollande.jpg" width="200" /></a><i><b> </b></i><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i><b>"Freedom is the ability to let two people in love unite under the law, regardless of their sexual orientation. Equality is allowing all couples to use the same legal device without discrimination."</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
- Francois Hollande, President of France</div>
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<i><b>''This is the way it needs to be in a modern society, where churches do not step in the middle of whether someone loves a person of the opposite sex or the same sex. I'm very proud of Denmark, where regardless of whom you're in love with, you have the right to be married.''</b></i><br />
- Helle Thorning-Schmidt, PM of Denmark<br />
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<i><b>''My view is that if two gay people want to get married, then I can't see why it would undermine my marriage to [my wife]. I will vote in favor of same-sex marriage."</b></i></div>
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- John Key, PM of New Zealand</div>
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<i><b>"Yes it's about equality, but it's also about something else: commitment. Conservatives believe in the ties that bind us; that society is stronger when we make vows to each other and support each other. So I don't support gay marriage despite being a Conservative. I support gay marriage because I am a Conservative."</b></i><br />
- David Cameron, PM of the United Kingdom<br />
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<b><i>"We're living up to our tradition of freedom. People should be able to show, for themselves and for those around them, who they are and whom they love. I and many others with me are looking forward to going to weddings this summer where the couples' love will be the focus, not their sex.''</i></b></div>
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- Fredrik Reinfeldt, PM of Sweden</div>
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(Said in April 2009 after passage of marriage equality legislation)<br />
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<i><b>"It's important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married. </b></i>[...]<i><b> My expectation is that, when you look back on these years, you will see a time in which we put a stop to discrimination against gays and lesbians. You will see a time in which we, as a nation, finally recognized relationships between two men, or two women, as just as real and admirable as relationships between a man and a woman."</b></i></div>
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- Barack Obama, President of the United States</div>
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<b><i>"Today, Spanish society is responding to a group of people who have been humiliated, whose rights have been ignored, their dignity offended, their identity denied and their liberty oppressed. Today, Spanish society grants them the respect they deserve, recognizes their rights, restores their dignity, affirms their identity, and restores their liberty." </i></b><b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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- José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Fmr. PM of Spain<br />
(2005 statement to parliament, after passage of marriage equality legislation.)<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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<i><b>"I rise today in support of Bill C-38, the Civil Marriage Act. I rise in support of a Canada in which liberties are safeguarded, rights are protected, and the people of this land are treated as equals under the law. We embrace freedom and equality in theory, Mr. Speaker; we must also embrace them in fact. </b></i><b>[...]</b><i><b> If we do not step forward, then we step back. If we do not embrace a right, then we deny it. Mr. Speaker, together as a nation, together as Canadians, Let us step forward."</b></i></div>
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- Paul Martin, Fmr. PM of Canada (2005 speech to parliament.)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEo5proNq5XLc73klrB9CMyBRoZIljbs7F-Y8aLXGF3K0i8QtupU_beHTpVla4poXHJMps4GoE6zPFZ0UadtYUnbgVxa4fiDS1G9xw61OPdpYKaGXY_61S1DJzrF4-GmU1uoDNlS2LV2IX/s1600/zoran_milanovic_AFP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEo5proNq5XLc73klrB9CMyBRoZIljbs7F-Y8aLXGF3K0i8QtupU_beHTpVla4poXHJMps4GoE6zPFZ0UadtYUnbgVxa4fiDS1G9xw61OPdpYKaGXY_61S1DJzrF4-GmU1uoDNlS2LV2IX/s200/zoran_milanovic_AFP.jpg" width="200" /></a><i><b> </b></i><br />
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<i><b>"I think we must go forward, and be inspired by the most advanced
countries in the world. Giving stronger civil legal rights to gay
couples will not deprive anyone of their rights."</b></i></div>
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- Zoran Milanovic, PM of Croatia</div>
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Hopefully one day we can add an Asian president or PM to this list...<br />
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<br />Erikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02928753211385443072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968144500613954505.post-59563009720484383952012-08-30T10:40:00.002+08:002012-09-02T14:13:41.117+08:00Sotto's March of Shame Goes On and On<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFrva1kcN21LziR1sJzf9HJr1vmLQ4cvqi7aAwwxbDFuq1M4K1UbNDJh2-WVvPEY5mrt3lytLDpl60wkxa8lxgWqBBbgVHWhzS4-Z-7O7U3q5vgz6pi4WX71IZ66tNNI2Ul5q2ljkGO6s3/s1600/sensotto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFrva1kcN21LziR1sJzf9HJr1vmLQ4cvqi7aAwwxbDFuq1M4K1UbNDJh2-WVvPEY5mrt3lytLDpl60wkxa8lxgWqBBbgVHWhzS4-Z-7O7U3q5vgz6pi4WX71IZ66tNNI2Ul5q2ljkGO6s3/s1600/sensotto.jpg" /></a></div>
Shamed Senator Vicente Sotto, of the Nationalist People's Coalition, keeps digging his hole of ignorance deeper and deeper.<br />
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Senator, it's time to put the shovel down.<br />
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We all saw him recently crying in the Senate during his passionate attack on the "big, bad" RH Bill (which has been proposed for more than a decade now), in which he used out-dated "facts" and was caught red-handed plagiarizing the intellectual property of no less than five bloggers. He then crassly dared the bloggers whose writings he pirated, to sue him. But that wasn't enough it seems.<br />
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It's no secret that Sotto is a Roman Catholic right-winger when it comes to social issues.<br />
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He's loud and proud in his opposition to women's right to make reproductive health decisions for themselves...<br />
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He's convinced (wrongly I might add) of the dangers of birth control pills, and he seems to have a dreaded fear of condoms. Perhaps he's allergic to latex. (A bad past experience perhaps?)...<br />
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He's all for the state being able to force couples to remain married, no matter the circumstances...<br />
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He enjoys dictating to Filipina women what they medically and surgically can and cannot do with their own bodies...<br />
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He's convinced that the UN and Western governments are pushing for the RH Bill as part of a "global abortion lobby" because they want to weaken the Philippines in order to exploit it. Um, WTF. Conspiracy theorize much?...<br />
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And needless to say, as a typical blast-from-the-past social conservative, he believes that state-sanctioned gay and lesbian relationships will cause God to send a rain of fire down upon the Philippine Islands...<br />
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Now, no doubt to the glee of the CBCP, Senator Sotto is blocking the Senate version of the Anti-Discrimination Bill (the Anti-Racial, Ethnic, and Anti-Religious Discrimination Bill of 2011). He is refusing to take it up until the term SOGI (which stands for Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity) is struck from the text.<br />
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That's right. Sotto is willing to pass the Anti-Discrimination Bill... only if it discriminates against LGBTQ Filipinos. As Senate majority leader, Sotto unfortunately has such power.<br />
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It seems it's not enough for Mr. Sotto to keep the Philippines from progressing, neither is it enough to treat LGBTQ Filipinos like society's abnormal misfits by vowing to fight against legal recognition of their relationships. No, he goes that extra mile: he doesn't even want his LGBTQ compatriots to be protected against blatant discrimination in the workplace, school, and health care setting.<br />
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What an honorable servant of the people. The CBCP certainly have their man in the Senate.<br />
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I think it's time for Sotto to take a very, very long vacation. He needs to go back to telling corny jokes on TV, or perhaps just join the priesthood if he feels so passionately about his convictions. He might look good in a long, pretty white robe, who knows.<br />
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Sotto needs to get the hell out of the Senate and let the Filipino people get on with business. Let them get on with their lives. Let them get on with the future of their nation.<br />
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I encourage you to <a href="http://www.titosotto.com/contactus.php" target="_blank">contact Mr. Sotto via email</a> to let him know that bigotry, homophobia, discrimination, and limiting the rights of women are <u>not</u> compatible with 21st-century democratic Filipino values. Better yet, run against Sotto in the next election and take his Senate seat.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmpfTwAkVtSBODqAs56KzdsFPEOMIPTqb5pRrflKc4Eadi9F7z6BFoYThXabikCo146KF6i9UOJ5-8s4cGgLuPY1rII2JnsCFyqd4yCHCokQUZgrtuTFCw3wOibzckO91Oey1vgOqoaTY/s1600/tito-sen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmpfTwAkVtSBODqAs56KzdsFPEOMIPTqb5pRrflKc4Eadi9F7z6BFoYThXabikCo146KF6i9UOJ5-8s4cGgLuPY1rII2JnsCFyqd4yCHCokQUZgrtuTFCw3wOibzckO91Oey1vgOqoaTY/s320/tito-sen.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Apparently it's cool to be pro-fetus, as long as you're anti everything else</i></td></tr>
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<i>Ref. <a href="http://www.mindanaoexaminer.com/news.php?news_id=20120829034505" target="_blank">Mindanao Examiner</a></i>Erikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02928753211385443072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968144500613954505.post-49506716759881755972012-08-28T16:32:00.001+08:002012-08-28T19:25:05.965+08:00Whooped by His Own Logic<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCi1iwcLmr84bftDCaew6ktMGKqRXYA9ms4JwXYiOIOn6UUvTHRGNyPKgFW7BUlWF5BYbyyStYIBYq1ijMHZchUgZ0xsBw64CK6QSoY_exe5e-WyDguSYZv1Tdjz9uUFLKIC0PDZnZGozY/s1600/brianbrown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCi1iwcLmr84bftDCaew6ktMGKqRXYA9ms4JwXYiOIOn6UUvTHRGNyPKgFW7BUlWF5BYbyyStYIBYq1ijMHZchUgZ0xsBw64CK6QSoY_exe5e-WyDguSYZv1Tdjz9uUFLKIC0PDZnZGozY/s320/brianbrown.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brian Brown and NOM: Bat shit crazy</td></tr>
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In the U.S. recently there was a low-key "dinner table debate" on marriage equality between one Mr. Brian Brown (President of the homophobic National Organization for Marriage) and one Mr. Dan Savage (a vocal advocate of equality... and of sanity in general).<br />
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I can give you the insta-rundown: Brian rambled on, jumping about illogically most of the time, covering all the old über conservative talking points. You know: "Gay people can't have kids, ergo they can't be allowed to marry; gay people marrying will lead to child abuse and destruction of the family; polygamy will come next and then men will marry horses." Genius.<br />
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Dan did a superb job of presenting the case for equal marriage, as well as shooting holes in the traditional religious counter-arguments. Dan Savage clearly won the debate because he was, well, logical, accurate, and sane.
You can <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=oG804t0WG-c">watch the discussion here</a> if you like.<br />
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What was most telling to me, and where Brian Brown unequivocally went down in flames and lost the debate, was when he stumbled over his own logic.<br />
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The moderator asked Mr. Brown, since his organization is called the National Organization for Marriage, why he isn't fighting to ban divorce. That kicked off an interesting back-and-forth. The tell-tale moment was when the moderator asked Brown, <b>"are you, for example...in favor of making divorce illegal again?"</b><br />
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Brown's response: <b>"No, just because you believe something is wrong doesn't mean you make it illegal."</b><br />
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(Whaaaaaaa?! There's a bitch-slap of irony for you.) <br />
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Savage: <b>"Then why not have the same policy toward civil gay marriage."</b><br />
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Brown: <b>"But that is -- then again, there is a misunderstanding here..."</b><br />
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Ya think? Brian Brown and his cohorts have a <u>major</u> misunderstanding of rational logic. He trapped himself in his own argument. It was an epic fail and I absolutely loved it!<br />
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Friends, this is the idiocy the homophobes are presenting. Not hard to see why the side of fear-based, right-wing bigotry loses every single time in a court of law. Some day they'll fade into the history books as small-minded zealots, just like those who opposed interracial marriage in the first half of the 20th century.<br />
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Hasten the day, and good riddance!<br />
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<br />Erikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02928753211385443072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968144500613954505.post-68058385419675212132012-08-08T13:17:00.004+08:002012-08-09T01:26:17.480+08:00APA Removes Transgenderism as 'Mental Illness'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Finally.</b> 2012 marks the year when the APA (the American Psychiatric Association) has officially replaced the term "Gender Identity Disorder" with "Gender Dysphoria." This means transgender is no longer categorized as a mental illness.<br />
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The U.S. now joins Canada, Great Britain, the Netherlands, France, the Scandinavian countries, and several others that have already changed their official policies.<br />
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The change will have an impact in legal cases and legislation, and is being hailed as a huge step forward for trans rights not just in the states, but potentially in other countries as well. For better or worse it cannot be denied that America is influential; this includes its medical associations, whose policies do have an influence on the policies of medical associations in other (less progressive) countries.<br />
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In the fall of 2011, the European Parliament passed a resolution calling on the World Health Organization to stop classifying transgender persons as mentally disordered. (Transgenderism is "on the books" in the <a href="http://www.who.int/classifications/icd/en/" target="_blank">ICD</a> as an illness, though hardly any credible psychiatrists consider it as such any more.) WHO already earmarks so-called GID (gender identity disorder) as gender dysphoria, and the next revision of the ICD will be released in 2015. It is widely expected that WHO will officially remove GID once and for all.<br />
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It's amazing to note that even <i>as recently as 1990</i>, homosexuality was classified as a mental disorder in the ICD.<br />
<br />
The classification of transgender persons as mentally ill denies freedom and equal opportunity to those who live between the two binary categories. In places where they are still officially labeled 'disordered' or 'confused,' trans persons are often disrespected by the medical profession, their employers, their families, and, of course, the law.<br />
<br />
The negative stigma surrounding gender dysphoria is a rotten leftover from the Victorian era and has no place in modern science.<br />
<br />
The definition of transgender includes:<br />
<ul>
<li>Persons who were assigned a sex, usually at birth and based on their genitals, but who feel that this is a false or incomplete description of themselves; i.e. the feeling of being born in the wrong body/the wrong sex.</li>
<li>A person who does not conform unambiguously to conventional notions of male or female gender roles, but combines or moves between these.</li>
<li>Non-identification with, or non-presentation as, the sex and assumed gender one was assigned at birth.</li>
</ul>
Transgender is not a sexual orientation and does not imply any specific orientation. It refers to one's gender identity and expression.<br />
<br />
For further details, please visit <a href="http://www.apa.org/topics/sexuality/transgender.aspx" target="_blank">the APA's information on gender identity</a>. <br />
<br />
<br />Erikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02928753211385443072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968144500613954505.post-13195502544868573692012-08-04T11:24:00.002+08:002012-08-04T11:30:40.885+08:00Noah, Lotsa Water, an Angry God, Gay Guys, and Ignorant Pastors<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gotta admit, the whole rainbow thing <i>is</i> pretty gay.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
You learn something new everyday. Turns out not only did gay people cause the utter collapse of Ancient Greece and Rome, but they also brought about the biblical "Great Flood" of Noah's day. <br />
<br />
As if the earth needed any more insanity and fact-twisting from our good friends on the Religious Right, a conservative pastor in Alabama USA (arguably the most conservative state in the union), is claiming that same-sex marriage was the true cause of the Great Flood described in Genesis.<br />
<br />
On the radio station <i>American Family Radio</i>, the broadcasting arm of the American Family Association (WTF?), Aaron Fruh, pastor of Knollwood Assembly of God Church in Mobile, AL, went on a rant against marriage equality, saying:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><i>"Find any society in human history that ever tried that experiment </i></b>[i.e. same-sex marriage]<b><i> and lived to tell about it; they've all been destroyed."</i></b><br />
<a name='more'></a></blockquote>
We're clearly dealing with a genius here. And really? "Knollwood"? That's pretty gay sounding. By the way, the Fruh-meister has previously stated that marriage equality is "heterophobic," believing that straights are the ones being picked on.<br />
<br />
Fruh claims that the society that existed just prior to the flood of Noah was the only one prior to the present to offer same-sex marriage. Yawn.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><b>"</b><b>T</b></i><i><b>he one society in history that first offered marriage certificates to same-sex couples, you'd think would be Sodom and Gomorrah, or Rome or Greece. It was actually the society just prior to the flood of Noah.</b></i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><i>"God knew that the people on the earth were going to destroy themselves through same-sex marriage, and so that's why he brought the flood. </i></b>[...]<b><i> Civilization was destroying itself, because there would be no more procreation; there would no longer be husbands and wives having children and furthering society."</i></b></blockquote>
<br />
Wow, this guy is making the dudes in <i>Dumb and Dumber</i> look like nuclear physicists. He seems to think that same-sex marriage automatically means opposite-sex marriage will cease to exist, and all the men of the earth will jump at the chance to dump their hapless wives in the gutter in order to marry other men. Men and women will simply stop having sex, no babies will be born, and the planet will be a human-free wasteland within 100 years... all because approximately 7% of the population will have the right to marry the person they love.<br />
<br />
It's so utterly ridiculous. It's like me saying I was 100% hetero until my country enacted equal marriage rights for LGBT people, then I magically switched teams and went gay. Well, I didn't. I'm still straight, as is everyone else who was straight before equal marriage became law.<br />
<br />
Back in Noah's day, God was apparently too worried and impatient to simply let mankind destroy itself through gay marriage, so he decided to speed up the process a bit and make everybody take a permanent swim -- including all the animals and insects.<br />
<br />
These reactionary nuts are great. Honestly I'm not quite sure if any of them know how to read. In any case it's pretty damn obvious none of them have ever picked up a world history, archeology, or anthropology book, let alone an updated biology book. The only book they ever pick up is the Bible, a book they treat as a literal, factual encyclopedia, which it <i>so</i> isn't.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aaron Fruh</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Let's crush some dreams, shall we?<br />
<br />
The "society just prior to the flood of Noah" to which Fruh is referring was known collectively as Mesopotamia. I'm gonna take a wild guess and say he probably doesn't even know that. Mesopotamia comprised what today is Iraq, northeastern Syria, and southeastern Turkey, and is known as "the Cradle of Civilization." During the Bronze Age (the time in which Noah supposedly lived), the Sumerians and Akkadians (later including the Assyrians and Babylonians) dominated the region.<br />
<br />
Nobody really knows when (or if) Noah actually lived, but we do know that ancient Hebrews did live in Mesopotamia in the Bronze Age and were influenced by local traditions, stories, and beliefs. One of these included the <i>Epic of Gilgamesh</i>, an over four-millennia-old myth describing a great deluge that impacted the region. The myth appears to have been borne out of an actual regional flood (or series of floods) that did happen along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.<br />
<br />
Gilgamesh was a king during the Dynasty of Uruk, ca. 2500 BCE, but the evidence for two large regional floods found in the soil strata pre-date his reign by more than 1,000 years. <i>Regional</i> floods, mind you, not global.<br />
<br />
Mesopotamian societies did not issue 'marriage certificates' to same-sex couples (nor did the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, for that matter). Have you ever noticed how Right-wingers love to feel smart and toss out random pieces of information without giving any specifics or backing up their conclusions? The art of saying "this is true because I say it's true" is their specialty. That's because they don't know what the hell they're talking about. They're just babbling.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately marriage certificates don't survive the passage of time so well, unless they're carved in stone. They're not, by the way. What we do have are various texts from Ancient Mesopotamia, including several Law Codes which <i>were</i>, in fact (glory be), carved in stone. The Codes of the Urukagina (2375 BCE), Ur-Nammu (2100 BCE), Eshnunna (1750 BCE), and the most famous, the Code of Hammurabi (1726 BCE), essentially ignore same-sex acts even though they heavily regulate marriage.<br />
<br />
Two laws from the Middle Assyrian Code of Assur in the 12th-century BCE mention same-sex acts in a way that is curiously most similar to another Ancient Near Eastern law code of the time: the Holiness Code of the Old Testament book of Leviticus. Interestingly, the Code of Assur pre-dates the Hebrew Holiness Code by roughly six-hundred years.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><b>"If a seignior </b></i>[an Assyrian man]<i><b> lay with his neighbor </b></i>[another Assyrian male]<i><b>, when they have prosecuted him and convicted him </b></i>[i.e. the first man]<i><b>, they shall lie with him and turn him into a eunuch"</b></i> (Table A, Paragraph 20).</blockquote>
<br />
The situation described is one in which a man has forced sex upon a local resident or business partner, who then has the option of bringing a charge against him. Take note that the penetrator is punished here, not the man penetrated, so the crime is clearly rape. Apparently his punishment for raping another man is that he is himself raped by a <i>group</i> of men (presumably the jury of his peers who found him guilty). Ouch.<br />
<br />
Homosexuality itself is not condemned (because the ancients had no concept of sexual orientation as modern science has taught us today), nor were same-sex acts looked upon as immoral or disordered. A man could visit a prostitute or sleep with another male, as long as false rumors or forced sex were not involved with another Assyrian male.<br />
<br />
Pictorial and literary references from Mesopotamia surviving today show an acceptance of some forms of same-sex behavior while expressing a wariness of other forms. Anal sex between men was clearly depicted in figurative art in the cities of Babylon, Uruk, Assur, and Susa, and these images show that it was usually carried out as part of religious ritual.<br />
<br />
Cult prostitution was common throughout the Ancient Near East, involving both opposite-sex and same-sex activity. Male and female cult prostitutes had intercourse with male worshipers in sanctuaries and temples throughout Mesopotamia, Phoenecia, Cyrpus, Corinth, etc., such as in the relief below from 2000 BCE showing a male worshiper penetrating a male priest (an <i>assinu</i>). Noted sexual historian Norman Sussman states in his piece, <i>Sex and Sexuality in History</i>, that:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: right;">
<i><b>"Male and female prostitutes, serving temporarily or permanently and performing heterosexual, homosexual, oral-genital, bestial, and other forms of sexual activities, dispensed their favors on behalf of the temple. The prostitute and the client acted as surrogates for the deities."</b></i></div>
</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: right;">
A manual called the <i>Summa alu</i>, which prognosticated the future based on sexual acts, declared that:</div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><b>"If a man copulates with an assinu </b></i>[a male transvestitic (eunuch) priest]<i><b>, trouble will leave him."</b></i></blockquote>
This sexual use of priests and temple prostitutes by the people groups surrounding ancient Israel was likely the main reason the Talmud (Jewish Bible, i.e. Old Testament) said anal sex was a no-no. "Everyone else's priests get used as an act of worship to their gods, but there's no way in hell we're gonna have our priests doing that as an act of worship to Yahweh." The ancient Jews were obsessed with being separate, different, and distinguishable from other tribes and nations, as well as obsessed with ritual purity.<br />
<br />
As with other societies in the Ancient Near East, however, <a href="http://progressph.blogspot.com/2012/06/weve-been-warned-again-gayness.html" target="_blank">including Ancient Greece and Rome</a>, what mattered in Mesopotamia was the role and status of a sexual partner, especially the penetrated partner, and the ramifications that may follow. The partner's biological sex didn't matter. Scholar and historian Dr. William Naphy, in his book <i>A History of Homosexuality</i>, takes note of:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><b>"</b></i><b><i>h</i></b><i><b>ow few cultures seem to have any significant 'moral' concern about same-sex activities. ...Most cultures seemed to accept that males might have sex with other males"</b></i> -- although for a male to assume the passive position in intercourse was thought to make him 'less than male,' unless he was an adolescent.</blockquote>
Laws banned only certain negative acts that may be connected to either heterosexuality or homosexuality, such as slander, rape, and incest. It is known that kings had male lovers along with their wives, warriors occasionally developed romantic relationships, and ordinary men customarily had anal intercourse with male and female cultic personnel.<br />
<br />
All this is fine and well, but does it tell us whether ancient Mesopotamians actually endorsed and sanctioned same-sex marriage? No. Evidence of same-sex marriage is at best indirect, but there are historical bits and pieces suggesting that certain same-sex relationships could be intimate and comparable to opposite-sex marriages. The celebrated story of King Gilgamesh, who had such a relationship with a man named Enkidu, exemplifies this. <i><b>"I loved him, and caressed him as though a wife,"</b></i> the tale records Gilgamesh as saying.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Example of Hittite cuneiform tablet</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Hittite Laws can be read to suggest that same-sex marriage may have been legally as well as culturally sanctioned in at least some parts of ancient Mesopotamia. Table I of the Hittite Laws, for example, regulated marriage, specifically the husband's payment of bride-price to the wife. Oh those were days, weren't they? When a man could buy a woman from her father and acquire a permanent maid and baby-making machine. Jeesh.<br />
<br />
Although it was assumed that this regulation applied to the advantage of free Hittite citizens, special provisions in Table I afforded explicit legal authority for slaves to obtain brides in this way; otherwise, slaves apparently could not marry.<br />
<br />
For example, section 34 provided: <i>"If a slave gives the brideprice to a woman and takes her as his wife, no-one shall [make him] surrender her."' </i> By one reading, section 36 then provided that, <i><b>"[I]f a slave gives the bride-price to a free youth and takes him to dwell in his household as spouse, no-one shall [make him] surrender him."</b></i> If the quoted reading is correct, a male slave with money (the bride-price) to pay for a male spouse could do so and expect that the transaction would be backed up by law. And, of course, if a slave were allowed to do this, it would go without saying that a free Hittite citizen could do the same.<br />
<br />
So, there is speculative evidence for same-sex relationships (and possibly marriages) in Mesopotamia, but hard historical proof just isn't there. It is also clear from surviving legal codes that producing offspring was an essential aspect of adulthood. It was expected and, in some instances, required. So while same-sex relationships may have existed here and there among the upper classes, it seems they were not widespread among the common masses.<br />
<br />
The reason I went through this topic in some detail, is because Aaron Fruh's "objection" to marriage equality is the kind of ignorant nonsense the pro-equality side is up against everyday. If you have the facts - as in <i>actual historical facts</i> - you can dismantle the regurgitated babble of the Religious Right with ease. If you know the truth you can speak up and set the record straight, putting an end to the lies the anti-equality side love to tell.<br />
<br />
Of course, any topic delving into God's wrath, arks, and floods, is bound to be contentious from the outset. Scientific evidence does <u>not</u> point to a massive global flood ever happening at any point in Earth's history. The original Hebrew of the book of Genesis spells this fact out as well, using the Hebrew term <i>kol erets</i> to refer to "the whole earth." <i>Kol erets</i> is used elsewhere in the Old Testament referring to local geography, i.e. the region where the author was from. In other words: the world known to the author/s. Had literally the entire planet been meant, the word <i>tebel</i> would have been used, which means the literal planet Earth. But <i>tebel</i> was not used.<br />
<br />
Regional floods <i>did</i> happen quite frequently in Mesopotamia, and some were large and incredibly destructive, claiming many lives. These can be backed up by historical records and archaeology. It is most likely that one of these floods, or the massive Black Sea flood that occurred some 7,500 years ago, left an indelible mark on the psyche of the region's people, and was passed down through oral traditions as a parable about being good and not angering the gods/God.<br />
<br />
Finally, based on the flood narrative in Genesis 6:1-13, same-sex marriage is simply not listed as one of its causes. The story states that:<br />
<ol>
<li>The human race had become "wicked" and "evil."</li>
<li>There were "giants in the land" (either as a result of breeding between fallen angels and human women, or of wicked, heathen men marrying pious women who believed in God, thereby corrupting their faith and producing wicked (demon-possessed?) tyrants as their offspring -- the exact meaning is rather ambiguous). </li>
<li>The rulers of the land were haughty conquerors who "were praised by all men."</li>
<li>The peoples' thoughts were "thoughts of only evil continually" (i.e. violent and oppressive toward one another).</li>
<li>Brutal violence, hatred, and corruption were everywhere. </li>
<li>Men were taking wives of other faiths and other tribes purely for lustful, carnal reasons (this taps into the Hebrew forbiddance of intermarriage in order to retain purity).</li>
<li>Polygamy is implied to have been rampant and celebrated.</li>
<li>The population was exploding as never before.</li>
</ol>
<br />
Doesn't exactly sound like men were abandoning women for men, or that the human race was threatened with extinction. Quite the opposite in fact, in both regards.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-CIX2_1K6Tajz7AN2YHgmrtpCdgU7DQ5j8rn2ZTnWVGIn652WIFsOq_xbILUhiGswtUmSs3bNGzu6cMSHqydT08HnJbGmuLLY2rwSPqwep9MeEVLJTmJPRfb0zavluhyKRlCfAPl7x72I/s1600/sheepshagger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-CIX2_1K6Tajz7AN2YHgmrtpCdgU7DQ5j8rn2ZTnWVGIn652WIFsOq_xbILUhiGswtUmSs3bNGzu6cMSHqydT08HnJbGmuLLY2rwSPqwep9MeEVLJTmJPRfb0zavluhyKRlCfAPl7x72I/s1600/sheepshagger.jpg" /></a></div>
Granted, Fruh claims his "evidence" comes from the Mishnah (specifically the Midrash Rabbah Genesis), a 3rd-century CE redaction of Jewish oral tradition, which does mention that men married men. But the Mishnah commentary also claims that bestiality was rampant prior to the flood; that these were the days when witchcraft and sorcery flourished; and suggests that human sacrifices weren't uncommon. Could not these have been more damning activities in God's eyes? Commenting that humanity "corrupted its way," as the Mishnah states, sounds far more like a result of rampant bestiality to me.<br />
<br />
It's important, however, not to place too much weight on the Mishnah. For starters, it's not the Bible. It's a commentary of oral traditions (known as the 'Oral Torah'), gathered from among Jewish Sages in the late 2nd century CE and written down by one man: Rabbi Judah HaNasi. This was at least 2,500 years <u>after</u> the supposed events occurred. It's simply impossible for anyone to know the exact details of what was going on over two millennia prior, based purely on word-of-mouth stories. The Sages were giving their thoughts and opinions based on the time and culture in which they lived. <br />
<br />
The time the Mishnah was written down (ca. 200 CE) also happened to be a time of <u>extreme</u> patriarchal conservatism among Christians and Jews alike, and Israel was at that time a province of Rome. The compiler of the Mishnah could not have avoided reading the dominant culture of the day (the Greco-Roman culture) into his narratives of Old Testament stories and regulations, nor could the Sages who past on those oral traditions. In other words, "We despise the Romans because they're immoral and wicked, therefore if Moses said the society of Noah's day was immoral and wicked, it must have been doing the things that Roman society is doing now."<br />
<br />
Most scholars point out that, in terms of its historical accuracy and content, the Mishnah contains extensive editorial reshaping of stories and statements, with few outside confirming texts. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Secondly, if men marrying men had been the primary cause of God's wrath, it seems the authors of Genesis would have at least mentioned it in passing as being one of the causes. But in fact the authors say the opposite: men were marrying women and the population was booming. Furthermore, Jesus never mentions men marrying men (or even general same-sex behavior) as being a reason for this flood or any other tale of supposed divine judgment.<br />
<br />
Thirdly, and most importantly, there is no historical, geographical, fossil, or archaeological evidence of a literal global flood in the first place. The tale is likely a cautionary parable adapted from other similar Ancient Near Eastern flood stories.<br />
<br />
I hope beyond hope that some day people will start to open other books aside from the Bible, and turn their ignorance into factual knowledge. The world would be such a smarter place, and perhaps Aaron Fruh would stop saying such foolish things.<br />
<br />
<br />Erikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02928753211385443072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968144500613954505.post-35037792959325852272012-07-30T14:57:00.000+08:002012-07-30T15:24:53.121+08:00The First Country in Asia to Say Yes to Marriage Equality...?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXEL1e6zOCsYXEGTD_FBD4k7Tjg57nmW-r6GmbS8gGeGb5x5G8Xw-WdvF4OSZL7mmLIBF84v7womAQK7d1w7ujJrhfcxLe5gSqbdjRCMC-sYyEhez2rVwDrinckeRQvzPqbX4olOam7fbw/s1600/trung-cau-y-kien-de-xuat-cong-nhan-hon-nhan-dong-gioi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXEL1e6zOCsYXEGTD_FBD4k7Tjg57nmW-r6GmbS8gGeGb5x5G8Xw-WdvF4OSZL7mmLIBF84v7womAQK7d1w7ujJrhfcxLe5gSqbdjRCMC-sYyEhez2rVwDrinckeRQvzPqbX4olOam7fbw/s320/trung-cau-y-kien-de-xuat-cong-nhan-hon-nhan-dong-gioi.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Some impressive things are happening on the equality front in one particular Asian nation, and it's catching everyone a little by surprise.<br />
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Is this happening in one of the region's bastions of democracy? -- Taiwan, Thailand, or the Philippines? Not quite. Surprisingly, the conversation of amending the marriage law to include gay couples is happening in a communist country: Vietnam.<br />
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The Vietnamese government is now <span class="" id="result_box" lang="en"><span title="For den kommunistiske regjeringen i landet vurderer nå om de skal tillate at par av samme kjønn gifter seg eller lovlig registrerer seg, slik at de kan motta rettigheter.">considering whether to allow same-sex couples to marry (or at least legally register) so they can receive the rights they're currently being denied. </span><span title="Dermed kan Vietnam bli det første landet i Asia som tillater homofilt ekteskap, skriver nyhetsbyrået AP.">Thus, Vietnam could very well be the first country in Asia to allow same-sex marriage, according to news agency AP.</span></span><br />
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<span class="" id="result_box" lang="en"><span title="Dermed kan Vietnam bli det første landet i Asia som tillater homofilt ekteskap, skriver nyhetsbyrået AP.">Admittedly it comes</span></span><span class="" id="result_box" lang="en"><span title="For det kommer som en overraskelse på de aller fleste at Vietnam nå vurderer å tillate homofilt ekteskap."> as a bit of a surprise to most that Vietnam of all places is moving toward equality. I would have placed my bet on Thailand, Taiwan, or even Nepal, which is still mired in debate over the ratification of its new constitution. </span><span title="Selv homofile aktivister, som har kjempet i årevis, er lamslått av Justisdepartementets forslag å inkludere homofile par i landets ekteskapslov.">Even
gay activists in Asia who have been struggling for years, are stunned by the Vietnamese Justice
Ministry's proposal to include gay couples in the country's Marriage
Act.</span><span title="Ingen vet hvilken form en ny lov vil ha, eller om den vil overleve lenge nok til å bli debattert i nasjonalforsamlingen neste år, men bare det at en ny lov vurderes er en seier for de homofile i regionen."> </span></span><br />
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<span class="" id="result_box" lang="en"><span title="Ingen vet hvilken form en ny lov vil ha, eller om den vil overleve lenge nok til å bli debattert i nasjonalforsamlingen neste år, men bare det at en ny lov vurderes er en seier for de homofile i regionen.">No
one knows what form a new law may take (if Vietnam's leaders will opt for a type of Registered Partnership, or recommend full marriage), or whether it will even survive
long enough to be debated in the 498-member </span></span><span lang="vi"><i>Quốc hội </i>(</span><span class="" id="result_box" lang="en"><span title="Ingen vet hvilken form en ny lov vil ha, eller om den vil overleve lenge nok til å bli debattert i nasjonalforsamlingen neste år, men bare det at en ny lov vurderes er en seier for de homofile i regionen.">National Assembly) next year, but the fact that a
new law is being considered is a victory for LGBTQ people in the region.</span></span><br />
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<span class="" id="result_box" lang="en"><span title="Ingen vet hvilken form en ny lov vil ha, eller om den vil overleve lenge nok til å bli debattert i nasjonalforsamlingen neste år, men bare det at en ny lov vurderes er en seier for de homofile i regionen.">It was only a</span></span><span class="" id="result_box" lang="en"><span title="For kun få år siden ble homofili betegnet som et «sosialt onde» i Vietnam, og ble sidestilt med rusavhengighet og prostitusjon."> few years ago that homosexuality was still described as a "social ill" in
Vietnam, and was juxtaposed with drug addiction and prostitution. </span><span title="Pressen har endret holdningene">Over the past five years, though, a</span><span title="Holdningene til homofile har endret seg de siste fem årene i Vietnam.">ttitudes towards LGBT persons have changed a great deal; a change that can</span><span title="Det kan faktisk tilskrives landets presse."> be attributed to the country's press. </span><span title="Siden pressen er ute av stand til å skrive om politisk sensitive emner, eller åpent kritisere landets ettparti-regjering, har de i stedet satt fokus på homofiles hverdag.">Since
the Vietnamese press are unable to write about politically sensitive topics,
or openly criticize the country's one-party government, they have
instead focused on gay life and daily struggles, shedding light on the everyday normality of the lives of gays and lesbians, including gay and lesbian couples.</span></span><br />
<span class="" id="result_box" lang="en"><span title="Siden pressen er ute av stand til å skrive om politisk sensitive emner, eller åpent kritisere landets ettparti-regjering, har de i stedet satt fokus på homofiles hverdag."><br /></span><span title="Vietnams første omtalte homofile bryllup gikk sin seiersgang på nettet i 2010, etterfulgt av noen få andre seremonier.">Vietnam's first publicized same-sex wedding took place in 2010, though it wasn't legally recognized, followed thereafter by several other "commitment-type" ceremonies. </span><span title="Justisdepartementet i Vietnam sier at et juridisk rammeverk nå er nødvendig fordi domstolene ikke vet hvordan de skal håndtere tvister mellom homofile som bor sammen.">The Ministry
of Justice of Vietnam said that a legal framework is now needed because
the courts are unsure of how to handle disputes, inheritance, and other legal concerns arising from same-sex couples living together. Unlike straight couples, gay couples are currently not covered under Vietnamese law.</span><span title="Den nye loven vil kunne gi dem rettigheter som å eie eiendom, arve og adoptere barn."> </span></span><br />
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<span class="" id="result_box" lang="en"><span title="Den nye loven vil kunne gi dem rettigheter som å eie eiendom, arve og adoptere barn.">The new law proposed by the Ministry of Justice would give same-sex couples the right to jointly own property, inherit, and adopt children.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPfGMFWrvxn0_bm1G6JUVH7EOEKLQ3yWbEnaONgar5XSzev2OezPDT2-3MgRquH0NzLfidCShoi57e8kUruDiozIKWJ9MGvruAdNrF661Wjki3HIXqb8r1hKFMZm6VIaSR3PMr0mmSkLTq/s1600/hahungcuong.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPfGMFWrvxn0_bm1G6JUVH7EOEKLQ3yWbEnaONgar5XSzev2OezPDT2-3MgRquH0NzLfidCShoi57e8kUruDiozIKWJ9MGvruAdNrF661Wjki3HIXqb8r1hKFMZm6VIaSR3PMr0mmSkLTq/s320/hahungcuong.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vietnamese Justice Minister Ha Hung Cuong</td></tr>
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<span class="" id="result_box" lang="en"><span title="Den nye loven vil kunne gi dem rettigheter som å eie eiendom, arve og adoptere barn.">In an interview on the 24th of June,</span></span><span class="" id="result_box" lang="en"><span title="Vi må, selvfølgelig, håndtere disse problemene, sa justisminister Ha Hung Cuong i et intervjue tirsdag."> Justice Minister Ha Hung Cuong said:</span></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><b><span class="" id="result_box" lang="en"><span title="Vi må, selvfølgelig, håndtere disse problemene, sa justisminister Ha Hung Cuong i et intervjue tirsdag.">"</span></span><span class="" id="result_box" lang="en"><span title="- Jeg tror, når vi tenker på menneskerettigheter, så er det på tide for oss å ta en titt på virkeligheten.">I think, when we think of human rights, then it's time for us to take a look at reality. </span><span title="Antallet homofile har økt til hundretusener.">The number of gays has increased to hundreds of thousands. </span><span title="Det er ikke få.">There are not just a few. </span><span title="De bor sammen uten å registrere sitt ekteskap.">They live together without registering their marriages. </span><span title="Vi må, selvfølgelig, håndtere disse problemene, sa justisminister Ha Hung Cuong i et intervjue tirsdag.">We must, of course, deal with these issues."</span></span></b></i></blockquote>
Minister Cuong is to be applauded for correctly stating that it's time to be realistic in light of human rights. He's wrong, though, in his assertion that 'the number of gays has increased to hundreds of thousands.' Gay and lesbian people haven't "increased" in number -- they're simply feeling more comfortable about coming out of the closet for the first time ever, and with that, naturally, more same-sex couples are publicly living together in permanent relationships.<br />
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<span class="" id="result_box" lang="en"><span title="Den 5.august skal den første homoparaden noensinne avholdes i Vietnam.">On the 5th of August, Vietnam will have its very first gay parade. </span><span title="Den kommunistiske regjeringen begrenser politiserte religiøse bevegelser som i andre land har jobbet mot homofile ekteskap, og de ser heller ikke på homoparaden som en trussel mot seg selv.">Clearly things are changing for the better, and quickly. What's more, politicized religious groups which have worked to stall or fight against LGBT rights and marriage equality in other countries (such as the Philippines and Taiwan), are severely restricted in their operation in Vietnam by the communist government.</span></span><br />
<span class="" id="result_box" lang="en"><span title="Den kommunistiske regjeringen begrenser politiserte religiøse bevegelser som i andre land har jobbet mot homofile ekteskap, og de ser heller ikke på homoparaden som en trussel mot seg selv."><br /></span><span title="Det er allikevel et lite stykke frem til en ny lov går gjennom.">There's still a while to go before a new law has the opportunity to come up for a vote. </span><span title="Justisdepartementet vil først vurdere innspill fra både publikum og offentlige etater, før de sender et forslag til om hvorvidt de skal anbefale homofilt ekteskap eller en annen type rettslig godkjennelse av det.">The Justice Ministry
will first consider the input from both the public and government
agencies before they submit a proposal on whether to recommend same-sex
marriage or some other type of legal recognition. </span><span title="Forslaget vil så bli vurdert i nasjonalforsamlingen i mai neste år.">The proposal is then scheduled to be assessed in the National Assembly in May of next year.</span></span><br />
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<span class="" id="result_box" lang="en"><span title="- Jeg tror alle er overrasket.">"I think everyone is surprised," says Vien Tanjung, an Indonesian LGBT rights activist. "Even if</span><span title="Selv om den ikke går gjennom så skapes det historie allerede."> [the legislation] doesn't go through, it's already made history. </span><span title="Personlig tror jeg loven kommer til å gå gjennom, sier Vien Tanjung, en indonesisk homoaktivist.">But personally, I think the law is going to go through."</span></span><br />
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<span class="" id="result_box" lang="en"><span title="Personlig tror jeg loven kommer til å gå gjennom, sier Vien Tanjung, en indonesisk homoaktivist.">Let us all hope so and wish the very best to all the same-sex couples in Vietnam.</span></span><br />
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<span class="" id="result_box" lang="en"><span title="Personlig tror jeg loven kommer til å gå gjennom, sier Vien Tanjung, en indonesisk homoaktivist.">Imagine if a <i>communist </i>country took the lead on LGBT rights in Asia, and showed it's neighboring democracies what equality is all about! Imagine what a proverbial slap in the face that would be, and perhaps serve as a wake-up call to other Asian countries that have done nothing more than hem-haw around the issue for years.</span></span><br />
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<span class="" id="result_box" lang="en"><span title="Personlig tror jeg loven kommer til å gå gjennom, sier Vien Tanjung, en indonesisk homoaktivist.">I think it would be a great shame upon Asia's democracies -- countries where freedom, liberty, and justice are supposed to reign supreme -- if their communist neighbor were to grant to its citizens the civil rights that the democracies themselves have so far refused to grant. Ouch.</span></span><br />
<span class="" id="result_box" lang="en"><span title="Personlig tror jeg loven kommer til å gå gjennom, sier Vien Tanjung, en indonesisk homoaktivist."></span></span><br />
<span class="" id="result_box" lang="en"><span title="Personlig tror jeg loven kommer til å gå gjennom, sier Vien Tanjung, en indonesisk homoaktivist."><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="" id="result_box" lang="en"><span title="Personlig tror jeg loven kommer til å gå gjennom, sier Vien Tanjung, en indonesisk homoaktivist."><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Quote sources: Associated Press (AP), Reuters, Aftenposten.</i></span></span></span>Erikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02928753211385443072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968144500613954505.post-20232216840756951642012-07-28T02:00:00.000+08:002012-08-04T17:29:53.562+08:00Submit a Guest Article!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Erikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02928753211385443072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968144500613954505.post-33105458740348970672012-07-27T14:41:00.001+08:002012-07-27T14:58:48.181+08:00HIV in the PHL. Religious Right, YOU'RE to Blame.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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If you're an HIV virion in the Philippines, business is booming for you these days.<br />
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One of only seven countries in the world where HIV rates have risen 25% over the last decade, the Philippines has a very big problem on its hands. But rather than listening to world medical experts and tackling the problem, the Philippine government is opting to listen to the Religious Right -- particularly the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) and its mother ship, the Vatican -- and taking a gamble with the lives of its own citizens.<br />
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Unprotected sex between men accounts for 87% of all new HIV cases in the country, <a href="http://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Asia/Story/A1Story20120726-361464.html" target="_blank">according to the DOH and UNDP</a>. Ten new infections are detected each day, and nobody really knows how many silent HIV carriers are milling around the general population. Many Filipinos remain untested for the virus, which has an asymptomatic latent period of up to 10 years, during which no major signs or symptoms are seen or felt.<br />
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When coupled with the fact that the Philippines has the lowest rate of condom use in Asia, it's a recipe for disaster. It's a recipe that is now starting to yield some unsavory and frightening realities.<br />
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In addition to this, according to Philip Castro, UNDP's HIV/AIDS Program
Officer in the Philippines, "More than 60% of MSM [men who
have sex with men] had reported having unsafe sex in their last contact." A <a href="http://www.wpro.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs_20120101_condoms/en/index.html" target="_blank">lack of awareness about testing and proper condom use</a> within the gay community is the root of this, which is further hindered by the Religious Right's insistence that LGBTQ people are disordered, and that national condom education and distribution must be blocked.<br />
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Of course, MSM then bear the undeserved brunt of the blame from the loving Religious Right, because of the former's supposed "unnatural mode of sex" and "rampant promiscuity." But the finger of blame pointed at MSM should be turned around and pointed squarely at the Religious Right instead.<br />
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That's right, Religious Right: <u>You're</u> to blame for the rise in HIV in the Philippines.<br />
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According to the World Health Organization (WHO), countries which implement 100% condom use contain epidemics and reverse the trend more quickly. The Religious Right, however, and especially the Roman Catholic Church, continue to lobby for the blockage of the RH Bill, and continue to tout that condoms are ineffective, that they give a false sense of hope, and that they do nothing more than encourage promiscuity in youth.<br />
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Hey geniuses, youth are already having sex (surprise! - even if they lie to mommy and daddy and say they're not). Come out from behind the four walls of your cathedrals and you might realize that. The Church's assault on condoms takes the problem of promiscuity (both straight and gay) and exacerbates it. <b>It makes things worse.</b> Because of it, Filipino youths aren't just having sex, they're having sex unsafely. They're putting themselves, their partners and their nation at risk.<br />
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Thanks, Religious Right, for all your "help."<br />
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This is the problem inherent when it comes to the Church, HIV, gay people, and condoms. The Religious Right sees all sex outside of marriage as eeeevil and sinful. To them, gay people aren't necessarily evil (though they <i>are</i> disordered), but if they ever fall in love and have sex (as human beings often do), well, <i>then</i> they're evil and sinful. LGBTQs are lambasted for having sex outside of marriage, while at the same time being denied access to marriage. There's religious logic for you.<br />
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The Roman Catholic Church, as well as other conservative Christian groups in the Philippines, insist that monogamous couples in responsible marital relationships are the key to stopping the spread of HIV.<br />
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<b>I agree with their point</b>. Ultimately that's an effective way to curtail HIV (though it avoids the fact that premarital sex among teens and young adults is a reality and is only going to increase). But to make their plan a success <u>they have to stop hindering people who want to marry, from marrying</u>.<br />
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When a person has no hope or prospect of ever getting married, they're generally more flippant with their sexual encounters. What's the point of searching for that Special Someone in your life if it all means nothing in the end; if you're met with discrimination at every turn; if your government ignores your existence. What's the point of touting yourself as marriage material if marriage will never be an option for you?<br />
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Telling people to only have sex inside marriage, and then forbidding them to marry, sounds like a plan hatched by a schizophrenic dictator. It's like telling everyone they have to grow their own food, and then, in order to protect the environment, passing a law that bans farming.<br />
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What we've seen in other countries that have had partnership and/or marriage rights for same-sex couples for many years now, including my home country of Norway, is that once the prospect of marriage becomes a reality, peoples' outlooks change. Stable relationships and monogamy are taken more seriously. People begin "grooming" themselves as potential marriage material, not necessarily just to get laid on any given Saturday night.<br />
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Having the right and opportunity to find and marry your one true love, and being encouraged to do so by your government, makes an indelible impact on the psyche. It encourages people to "clean up their act," so to speak, in their search for Prince or Princess Charming.<br />
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The Religious Right demeans same-sex relationships by demeaning the individuals in them; discouraging and even seeking to criminalize the same relationships they encourage for others. They continually tell gay and lesbian people that their relationships are not valuable, not worthy, and not permanent. They willfully undermine the LGBTQ individual's sense of belonging and community, and diminish humanity's common aspirations of strong families and lasting domestic relationships.<br />
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Is it any wonder that the LGBTQ community has largely turned from the spiritual institutions that have shut them out? Many have lost faith altogether as a result of such "Christian love," or have seen their faith weakened and shattered. Others simply stop caring, saying what I heard one gay man say a few years back: "Well, if I'm going to hell I might as well party like a rock star and go to hell in a <i>big</i> way. I guess it doesn't matter anyway; not in this life or the next." <br />
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The Religious Right is actually <i>encouraging</i> promiscuity among sexual minority Filipinos (not to mention incidents of bullying, hate crimes, substance abuse, and even suicide), while at the same time blocking legislation that would provide them the tools (i.e. condoms and sex education) to protect themselves, as well as potential partnership legislation that would encourage stable family units and monogamy.<br />
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If you see a massive forest fire burning out of control, what would you do? Apparently, according to Roman Catholic logic, you spray gasoline on it.<br />
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<br />Erikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02928753211385443072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968144500613954505.post-64792002505587592052012-07-16T16:17:00.003+08:002012-07-19T08:44:19.593+08:00Lessons From the Latino Playbook: Emphasize Family and Love More Than Rights<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Philippine and Hispanic cultures have so much in common. Heavily influenced by the 16th- and 17th-century culture of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habsburg_Spain" target="_blank">Habsburgian Spain</a> of old, the parallels between the two in terms of family life, customs, mores, and of course, Roman Catholic religion, are easily recognizable.<br />
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It is because of this commonality that I took notice of something that happened in the U.S. last week. A coalition of 21 different Hispanic organizations, whose members range from second and third-generation Hispanic-Americans to recent immigrants from Central and South America, announced a joint pro-LGBTQ equality campaign.<br />
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The name: <i>Familia es Familia</i>, or in English, "Family is Family." Its aim: to further build support for LGBT equality within the wider Latino community through public education, resources, and engaging the community through social media, and to heighten acceptance of LGBT family members within the Latino community.<br />
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While <a href="http://www.nclr.org/images/uploads/publications/LGBTAS_HispanicPerspective.pdf" target="_blank">54% of Latinos</a> currently support marriage equality, and <a href="http://www.pewhispanic.org/files/2012/04/PHC-Hispanic-Identity.pdf" target="_blank">59% feel</a> that homosexuality should be wholly accepted in society (68% of second-generation Latinos said the same), there is still work to be done to increase those numbers even more. This is especially true among those who come from very conservative Roman Catholic backgrounds and communities. <i>Familia es Familia</i> cuts to the heart of the matter in a way that resonates with all Latinos, and by cultural extension, Filipinos as well.<br />
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IMO, the <i>Familia es Familia</i> campaign is brilliant. Traditional Latino Catholic families are tight-knit, protective, and engaged in their community. Their values, outlook, essence, and guidance all come from the wellspring that is the family. This is known as <b style="color: #0b5394;">"the Catholic family dynamic."</b> Filipino families are absolutely no different in this regard, and this, to my mind, gives great cause for hope for the future prospects of gay rights and equality in the Philippines.<br />
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<i>Familia es Familia</i> carries a two-pronged message: 1) Your family members are your family members, no matter how they were born or who they fall in love with. Blood is thicker than water. And 2) All families are families and are worthy of dignity, support, and respect -- whether they're traditional nuclear, single-parent, or two parents of the same sex. The campaign appeals to the strong ties of the Latino Catholic family dynamic. The coalition of Latino organizations recognized this. They know what they're doing.<br />
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In Western cultures, which largely encourage independence of the individual, the issue of LGBT equality has been played almost purely from a rights perspective. "This group is denied the rights that this group have." "This person, by virtue of her sexual orientation, is being denied her rights and treated unequally." That's not cool. If there's disparity in society, it starts to make us very uncomfortable - especially for Scandinavian social democrats like me.<br />
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This is effective to a large degree for Westerners, and in cultures where equality is engrained into us from our toddler years onward. Hispanics, however, like Filipinos, aren't so big on individualism. In modern cultures influenced (or should I say <i>dominated</i>) by the antique customs of the so-called "Golden Age of Spain," the family supersedes the individual. The individual often submits to the family (and to tradition) for the good of the family as a whole, and for the good of the community. The boat should not be rocked. If you stand out too much or squawk for individual rights too loudly, you run the risk of being labeled a "me first" character.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ1BNPAGsfHBwHAx3_tZ-LbFbsHzdyFKK4KTFmBe6uKfBw-HSKl" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ1BNPAGsfHBwHAx3_tZ-LbFbsHzdyFKK4KTFmBe6uKfBw-HSKl" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Family is more than just the top middle circle.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I think the Filipino LGBTQ community could profit by tapping into the ideals of the <i>Familia es Familia</i> campaign. Approaching the issue of equality in the Philippines solely from a rights perspective may not be the best route through which to achieve progress. It works well in a court of law, but maybe not so well in the court of public opinion -- and let's face it, on the issue of LGBT equality, both of those "courts" are hugely important. <br />
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The better approach, especially in places with a strong Catholic family dynamic, is <span style="color: black;">an approach <b style="color: #0b5394;">emphasizing love rather than rights</b></span>, i.e. the concept that families -- <i>all</i> families -- are something to be valued. This resonates with Filipinos; rich and poor, educated and non-educated, religious and non-religious alike. Shouting <i>"Rights! Rights! Give us our rights!"</i> may not resonate quite as well with the average Pinoy or Pinay as saying <i>"We're your family and your friends. We value families. We value <u>your</u> families. So please value our families, too." </i> The latter strikes a subtler chord; a chord that appeals to peoples' humanity.<br />
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Personal stories simply carry more weight than appeals to legal rights, which are often misconstrued as a push for "special rights", and equality proponents in many countries are starting to realize this. Framing the discussion in legal terms doesn't win over very many hearts and minds. It doesn't resonate well with the Average Joe on the street, or with lawmakers for that matter. Emphasizing love, commitment, stability, and family, however, can pack an emotional wallop. As the Freedom to Marry campaign in the U.S. says: <b style="color: #0b5394;">speak to the heart first, then the head.</b><br />
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In light of this, the Filipino LGBTQ community actually has a unique opportunity to step back and observe the wider picture of the struggle for equality from other countries that have already forged ahead. Gay rights activists in the Philippines can see what has worked and what hasn't, and tailor fit the different options to create a uniquely Filipino approach that will work best in their own communities. What worked in my country, which values liberality and fosters personal independence, may not work so well in yours.<br />
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From my observation, <i>Familia es Familia</i> could fit the Filipino "Catholic family dynamic" culture like a glove. Perhaps it's time for a <i>Pamilya ay Pamilya </i>campaign to kick-off in the Philippines. It certainly couldn't hurt.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">»</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">» </span><i>For those interested in ideas on how to move equality conversations forward in your community, I highly recommend reading <a href="http://www.letcaliforniaring.org/atf/cf/%7B7a706b3a-165f-4950-9144-2fc92fe4d8d1%7D/MOVING%20MARRIAGE%20FORWARD%20REPORT.PDF" target="_blank">this pdf report by Freedom to Marry</a>. (It is tailored to the U.S., but it has some EXCELLENT concepts that would work equally well in the Philippines, or anywhere else for that matter.<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">)</span></i><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"> </span>Erikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02928753211385443072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968144500613954505.post-1865790247804763252012-07-11T11:38:00.002+08:002012-07-11T12:23:14.891+08:00PMA: "We Won't Discriminate... Buuuut..."<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-vqOcTWMTQV6QngRhTFaUGN86VQtpQGkkGj8_OpnQ7EQaBBapy7BgVBsih5DcLJvwJE9447ubp0qOEqXdaWtUHd_xVavQtn6htA9WHD5Reker7MRCrZaUF-Z2V3R1yOzubnNQxfp_d82u/s1600/pma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-vqOcTWMTQV6QngRhTFaUGN86VQtpQGkkGj8_OpnQ7EQaBBapy7BgVBsih5DcLJvwJE9447ubp0qOEqXdaWtUHd_xVavQtn6htA9WHD5Reker7MRCrZaUF-Z2V3R1yOzubnNQxfp_d82u/s320/pma.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
In somewhat of a mixed-message, the PMA (Philippine Military Academy) has stated that there is no ban on gays and lesbians from applying for entry. They insist they do not and will not discriminate against or turn away cadets if they happen to be gay or lesbian.<br />
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This should be applauded. It's a great thing for the premier military academy of the Philippines to publicly commit to such a policy, and they honestly and sincerely deserve a pat on the back for it.<br />
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And then come the "buts"...<br />
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PMA spokesperson, Capt. Agnes Flores, says that cross-dressing is a total no-no. Okay. But that's not a gay issue, that's a cross-dressing issue. The vast majority of cross-dressers are either transvestites or transgenders, not gay men and lesbians (see <a href="http://progressph.blogspot.com/p/definition-of-terms.html" target="_blank">Definitions</a> page). Captain Flores is a little confused and prone to stereotyping, it seems. Bless her heart though, she's trying. <br />
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Flores admitted that there were "some gays" among PMA graduates, but she said these officers did not show gay behavior while in the academy.<br />
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Gay behavior? Uh-oh. Like waking up in the morning, brushing their teeth, putting their uniform on, eating breakfast? Again there is an evident stereotypical perception of "the gays" and "their behavior."<br />
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Listen now my friends, gay men do not dress like women, act like women, identify as women, or want to be women. Gay men are men who are simply attracted to other men. The same holds true for lesbians, only in the opposite direction of course.<br />
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There appears to be some PMA confusion between sexual orientation and gender identity. <br />
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In the fashion of conservative macho cultures, Flores simply presumes that all gay men are cross-dressing girly girls who run around screaming and flirting with all the other boys. Of course, in fairness, this can't be seen as too big of a surprise; after all, this is the only way that gay men are portrayed (and accepted) on Philippine TV and in most Filipino movies. It's easy to fall into stereotyping when the stereotype is the only thing that's constantly been shoved at you since childhood.<br />
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Continuing, Flores reminds everyone that “If they [gay cadets] display gay antics, they are going to be scolded because that’s
not what’s expected of them.”<br />
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Then it got me wondering. Straight PMA cadets are allowed to bring along dates and sweethearts to the PMA balls (such as the Ring Hop and Graduation Hop), recreation, and other academy-sponsored events. Will the academy allow this for its gay and lesbian cadets, too? Or would this fall under the classification of "gay antics"?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaEhAJmL5XBlk3N4hqWLOne0q-bTCeoSpk_WdJvzV6RbpD2yilg-fml9A7ahZw0G0jVO086JzZB1XW8NIKrfx7iaxAar1J7Rq8kZLV8py6Ys7nqTvxE2gqYInIu0S9FXOKFnk68rJG9MCa/s1600/Cadets_on_display_2_at_Philippine_Military_Academy.flv_000008067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaEhAJmL5XBlk3N4hqWLOne0q-bTCeoSpk_WdJvzV6RbpD2yilg-fml9A7ahZw0G0jVO086JzZB1XW8NIKrfx7iaxAar1J7Rq8kZLV8py6Ys7nqTvxE2gqYInIu0S9FXOKFnk68rJG9MCa/s320/Cadets_on_display_2_at_Philippine_Military_Academy.flv_000008067.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
And then there's the picture to the right, from the 100th Nite Show 2011: Cadets on Display. Is this scantily clad <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpysgHbNW40" target="_blank">dance ensemble</a> considered "gay antics"? Will it be from now on? Perhaps the academy will only classify it as "gay antics" if the cadets doing the dancing happen to be gay... or if a few of the cadets in the audience happen to be gay.<br />
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Then again, maybe to prevent an escalation of "gay antics" the academy could simply prohibit gay cadets from watching this portion of the "talent" display. Oh dear. This could get complicated, PMA.<br />
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PMA Superintendent Maj. Gen. Nonato Peralta said, “We cannot say that
it's [being gay and lesbian] prohibited. That’s not the case. We are
not prohibiting it."<br />
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Awesome. Again, to be applauded.
It's pretty much a good policy anyway since it's impossible to prohibit
sexual orientation. You could prohibit same-sex acts on campus (and
indeed I believe PMA policy is that <i>all</i> sex acts of any nature are
prohibited on PMA grounds, and rightly so), but sexual orientation is obviously different from sexual acts.<br />
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I applaud the Superintendent's statement. But when there's clear confusion among PMA officers and staff about the very clear differences between cross-dressing, transgenderism, and sexual orientation, how can you be sure what (or who) is actually prohibited or not?<br />
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While this is all a very good first step for the PMA, it seems they may need to hold some seminars on sexuality. Then, after everyone is on the same page of understanding what is what and who is who, they could sit down and write up some clearly defined policies that truly reflect a climate of inclusiveness.<br />
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<i>Quote sources:</i> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=826238&publicationSubCategoryId=68" target="_blank">Philippine Star</a>; <a href="http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/07/10/12/pma-no-cross-dressing-gay-lesbian-cadets" target="_blank">ABS-CBN</a>; <a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/226686/pma-no-ban-on-gay-lesbian-enrollees" target="_blank">Daily Inquirer</a>.<br />
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<br />Erikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02928753211385443072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968144500613954505.post-52740061476687225872012-06-30T12:56:00.000+08:002012-07-04T11:20:36.710+08:00We've Been Warned (Again): Gayness Destroyed Rome!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7fy3v1DTmVTxXYI1_CDcgs_odv-yYKRROf66BHDAEcl6NsFwsBXiJVfUwPQVI3uS2P2d_8S1YjjxskLwO9rxlhcV7e5VuCnLt2h6xMUGwODADPAyZU2xWQ_G06xgn0VJJGyz_zOYOWMzz/s1600/church-sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7fy3v1DTmVTxXYI1_CDcgs_odv-yYKRROf66BHDAEcl6NsFwsBXiJVfUwPQVI3uS2P2d_8S1YjjxskLwO9rxlhcV7e5VuCnLt2h6xMUGwODADPAyZU2xWQ_G06xgn0VJJGyz_zOYOWMzz/s320/church-sign.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yep, <i><u>unless they're MARRIED</u></i>. Silly Catholic Church!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
From the mind of Roman Catholic ethicist Benjamin Wiker comes an interesting article about same-sex marriage and homosexuality in Ancient Rome. He attempts (quite miserably) to prove that same-sex marriage and acceptance of homosexuality in a society leads to that society's demise, and pleads with us not to repeat the mistakes of Rome.<br />
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Wiker is a colorful character. In 2009 he authored a book entitled <i>The Darwin Myth: the Life and Lies of Charles Darwin</i>, in which he claims that Darwin was part of a 19th-century conspiracy to remove God from science and tear down biblical foundations of morality. He claimed that Darwinism (and, by extension, all of modern science and medicine, since these fields are based on the premise and findings of evolution) completely undermines the foundations of Christianity because it is "incompatible with natural law"<sup><a href="#fn1" id="ref1">1</a></sup>. Yep, all aboard the crazy train! <br />
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He also co-authored <i>Architects of the Culture of Death</i>, claiming that Enlightenment thinkers destroyed the sanctity of life. In other words, Wiker is already on my shit list, so to speak.<br />
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So now let's peruse Wiker's warning of perpetual doom and collapse in the very footsteps of Rome, brought about by... wait for it... same-sex marriage, of course!<br />
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(Following are snippets of Wiker's article, appearing in italics, which I've numbered. I've added my responses along the way in blue text. If you wish to view Wiker's full article you can do so by clicking <a href="http://www.catholicworldreport.com/item/1367/gay_marriagenothing_new_under_the_sun.aspx">here</a> (external link to catholicworldreport.com).)<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
_________________________ </div>
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1.<i> "Given that the gay marriage agenda will be increasingly pressed upon
Catholics by the state </i><span style="color: #0b5394;">(actually by democratic constitutions which do not show favoritism among the citizenry)</span><i>, we should be much more aware of what history has
to teach us about gay marriage—given that we don’t want to be among
those who, ignorant of history </i><span style="color: #0b5394;">(wow, now there's irony for you)</span><i>, blithely condemned themselves to repeat
it." </i><br />
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<i> </i><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>» </b></span><span style="color: #0b5394;">To his credit, at least Wiker doesn't put the word 'marriage' in quotations the way that some frightened conservatives do. I suppose they think that if they write 'gay "marriage"' it somehow means it's not real; it's just a bad dream or boogeyman that will go away if they pray hard enough. It's kind of cute actually. But sad.</span><br />
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2.<i> "Contrary to the popular view—both among proponents and opponents—gay marriage is not a new issue. </i><i>It cannot be couched (by proponents) as a seamless advance on the civil rights movement, nor should it be understood (by opponents) as something that’s evil merely because it appears to them to be morally unprecedented." </i><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>»</b> </span><span style="color: #0b5394;">True, same-sex marriage is not a "new" issue. Anthropology shows us
that same-sex unions have been recognized in many different cultures
through the centuries in one form or another<sup><a href="#fn2" id="ref2">2</a></sup>. <i> </i></span><span style="color: #0b5394;">In the modern world, however, it </span><i style="color: #0b5394;">is</i><span style="color: #0b5394;"> new, and it is </span><i style="color: #0b5394;">precisely</i><span style="color: #0b5394;"> an advancement of civil rights.</span><br />
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3<i>. "Gay marriage was—surprise!—alive and well in Rome, celebrated even and especially by select emperors, a spin-off of the general cultural affirmation of Roman homosexuality. Gay marriage was, along with homosexuality, something the first Christians faced as part of the pagan moral darkness of their time." </i><span style="color: #0b5394;">(Isn't it nice and Christ-like of Wiker to equate monogamous, loving, same-sex couples with "pagan moral darkness"?)</span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b> </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>»</b> Sure same-sex marriage was alive, in a manner of speaking, but</span><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">—</span></i><span style="color: #0b5394;">surprise!</span><i style="color: #0b5394;">—</i><span style="color: #0b5394;">it wasn't legally binding and it wasn't extremely common<sup><a href="#fn3" id="ref3">3</a></sup>. It was celebrated to a certain degree within the elite upper class, but often mocked satirically by the commoner. Same-sex marriage was actually <u>never</u> <u>legally</u> <u>sanctioned</u> in ancient Rome; there were no laws either for or against it until 342 CE<sup><a href="#fn4" id="ref4">4</a></sup>.<span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Unlike today, Roman
marriages were not officially registered, did not require permission
from the state, and did not require a priest or magistrate to declare
the couple as married. The ceremony simply consisted of the couple
declaring themselves to be married before a group of close friends
and/or family. Such ceremonies (and subsequent banquets) were
expensive, however, and this is why they were usually a luxury reserved
for those who could afford them.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><sup><span style="color: #0b5394;"><sup>
</sup></span></sup><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b> </b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>» </b>Marriages in Ancient Rome were really about one thing: procreation<sup><a href="#fn5" id="ref5">5</a></sup>. Love didn't factor into the equation. Marriage was a necessity for social existence, and the primary purpose of marriage was to produce offspring who would carry their father's name and inherit his assets. In the upper classes marriage might also be arranged for political reasons, i.e., for two powerful families to become more closely allied.</span></span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b> </b></span></span><br />
<div style="color: #0b5394;">
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>»</b> Roman culture never affirmed homosexuality because Roman culture neither knew of nor recognized sexual orientation<sup><a href="#fn6" id="ref6">6</a></sup>. Sex (and sexual relations) were based purely on the social status of the participants:</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Today, if a man sleeps exclusively with other men, we would consider him to be gay. Such was not the case in Ancient Rome. It didn't matter if a freeborn male citizen slept with women, men, or both, as long as the free male citizen was <u>always</u> <u>the</u> <u>penetrator</u>, i.e. the one "on top." If a free male citizen were ever to be penetrated orally or anally, a sexual violation known as <i>stuprum</i> would have been committed, and <u>he</u> <u>would</u> <u>lose</u> <u>his</u> <u>status</u> <u>as</u> <u>a</u> <u>man</u>. An adult male's desire to be penetrated in any way was considered <i>morbus:</i> a sickness, because it ran contrary to the ancient concepts of virility and power, and he would be labeled as lacking <i>virtus</i>, the quality that made men, men.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">A man could sleep exclusively with men, yet still maintain his status as a 'macho manly man,' as long as he was always doing the penetrating. To the Romans it didn't matter whom you screwed, it only mattered that you were always on top when you were doing it. This is why two, freeborn male citizens would not be in a serious <i>public</i> ("out") relationship together, let alone marry, and after the year 342 CE they could not, under penalty of death. (Though a man marrying a eunuch<sup><a href="#fn7" id="ref7">7</a></sup> or a foreign, passive male slave would have been tolerated and acceptable, as the penetrated male was not fully male according to the law; he would be considered as somewhere in between male and female.)</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9204m-NEe1uBgi5CVOrf5a4eeWm7YzYkn4RKzl-Ig6YmJ6pfRWEsnPmvySwmC8wYFkBNEyynBSK8gLN_uG7eKCbWnVngDIp9c6FqX6w6sjTXkkh26N9Hp1OfkG6J3r5kdxRj5HRuFGh9/s1600/halftruth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9204m-NEe1uBgi5CVOrf5a4eeWm7YzYkn4RKzl-Ig6YmJ6pfRWEsnPmvySwmC8wYFkBNEyynBSK8gLN_uG7eKCbWnVngDIp9c6FqX6w6sjTXkkh26N9Hp1OfkG6J3r5kdxRj5HRuFGh9/s320/halftruth.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="color: black;">4</span><i style="color: black;">. "So, what was happening in ancient Rome? Homosexuality was just as
widespread among the Romans as it was among the Greeks (a sign of which
is that it was condoned even by the stolid Stoics). The Romans had
adopted the pederasty of the Greeks (aimed, generally, at boys between
the ages of 12 to 18). There was nothing shameful about such sexual
relations among Romans, if the boy was not freeborn. Slaves, both male
and female, were considered property, and that included sexual property."</i><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>»</b> Actually, homosexuality has always been just as widespread as it was in the Greco-Roman world. Wherever you find humans, you find homosexuality. The difference here is that Wiker categorizes all physical contact between two people of the same sex as "homosexuality," without taking into account that much of the same-sex activity in Ancient Rome involved </span><u style="color: #0b5394;">heterosexual</u><span style="color: #0b5394;"> men<sup><a href="#fn8" id="ref8">8</a></sup>. That is not homosexuality; it is straight men seeking nothing more than sexual pleasure from both women and lower-status men: treating them as sexual objects. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Of course there were - as there always have been - men who were sexually and romantically attracted only to other men, but they were not known as "homosexuals." There was no Latin word (or Greek word for that matter) for "a gay man" because there was no modern scientific understanding of sexual orientation<sup><a href="#fn9" id="ref9">9</a></sup>. People were described according to the specific sex act(s) they engaged in, for example, <i>fututor:</i> literally 'he who fucks,' describing a virile man who is always on top, whether with women or men. Or <i>fellator:</i> literally 'cock sucker,' something an adult male citizen would never be, though he would gladly enjoy receiving oral sex from a woman, a slave of either sex, a prostitute of either sex, or a eunuch. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">5</span><i style="color: black;">. "But the Romans also extended homosexuality to adult men, even adult free men. And it is likely that this crossing of the line from child to adult, unfree to free—not homosexuality as such—was what affronted the more austere of the Roman moralists."</i><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>»</b> No, they didn't. This is historically inaccurate. There was a strong sense of shame connected with an adult free male being penetrated orally or anally (though none with being a man who does the penetrating). Public relationships between two freeborn male citizens were very taboo. They undoubtedly existed of course, but would have had to have been carried out "in the closet," in secrecy. The two would not publicly marry unless one was willing to endure public ridicule by losing his status as a man and becoming "the woman" in the marriage<sup><a href="#fn10" id="ref10">10</a></sup>, which some in the wealthier upper class were apparently willing to do.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">6. </span><i style="color: black;">"The first-century A.D. catechetical manual, the Didache, makes
refreshingly clear what pagans will have to give up, in regard to Roman
sexuality, once they entered the Church. </i><span style="color: #0b5394;">[...]</span><i style="color: black;"> Some of which would have been quite
familiar and reasonable to Romans, such as, “You will not murder” and,
“You will not commit adultery” (although for Romans, abortion wasn’t
murder, and a husband having sex with slaves or prostitutes was not
considered adulterous).</i><br style="color: black;" />
<br style="color: black;" />
<i style="color: black;">"But then followed strange commands (at least to the Romans), “You
will not corrupt boys”; “You will not have illicit sex” (ou porneuseis);
“You will not murder offspring by means of abortion [and] you will not
kill one having been born.” Against the norm in Rome, Christians must
reject pedophilia, fornication and homosexuality, abortion, and
infanticide. The list also commands, “You will not make potions” (ou
pharmakeuseis), a prohibition against widespread practices in the Roman
Empire which included potions that stopped conception or caused
abortion."</i><br />
<br />
</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Tx1nQZnXeDI2By6EIeHNReFQhhXyaTcZEbhh59LM3VFwZlhTjeJrv8Bz_bZubT5nidGGmde0XinwWH96J1rPMawh0rAnUrG8TUkxZ0U0Au2I0WtG4AnXEwJclpSH4uFms0Z4Mwd0vtwy/s1600/Didache.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Tx1nQZnXeDI2By6EIeHNReFQhhXyaTcZEbhh59LM3VFwZlhTjeJrv8Bz_bZubT5nidGGmde0XinwWH96J1rPMawh0rAnUrG8TUkxZ0U0Au2I0WtG4AnXEwJclpSH4uFms0Z4Mwd0vtwy/s320/Didache.jpg" width="274" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An original copy of the Didache, ca. 100 CE</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>»</b> If you've ever read any of Wiker's works you'll know he's not a fan of women having the right to decide what to do with their own body, which is why he works his "pro-lifeyness" into the conversation here (and literally everything else he's written). That's a whole other, unrelated topic, though, and I'll not explore it here. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">What needs to be pointed out here is that, in the Didache, <i>"You will not corrupt boys"</i> and <i>"You will not have illicit sex"</i> speaks against the Three P's: pederasty, pedophilia, and <i>porneia, </i>or rampant, lust-filled, sexual trysts<sup><a href="#fn11" id="ref11">11</a></sup>. These things apply to everyone: don't have sex with or molest little boys and underage youths (hello Vatican officials, are you listening?), and don't be a 24/7 party slut jumping from one person's bed to the next. Why Wiker thinks this targets LGBTs alone, and even reads <b>"...and homosexuality"</b> into it, is beyond me. It doesn't even warrant rational review. He literally added "homosexuality" into his commentary. And he has the nerve to blame <i>others</i> for having an agenda??</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">7. </span><i style="color: black;">"The Roman elevation of sexual pleasure above procreation, and hence
outside this tightly-defined area of sexual legitimacy defined by
Christianity, led to the desire for contraceptive potions,
abortifacients, and infanticide. </i><span style="color: #0b5394;">[...here he goes again with his anti-choice babble...]</span><i style="color: black;"> </i><i style="color: black;">It also led to seeing marriage as nothing but an arena for sexual
pleasure, which in turn allowed for an equivalency of heterosexual and
homosexual marriage."</i> <br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>»</b> </span><span style="color: #0b5394;">No, it didn't. Same-sex marriage was not equivalent to opposite-sex marriage in Ancient Rome. The former were not legally binding but were purely "blessing ceremonies," if you will, performed in the presence of friends of the upper class participants. Furthermore, Romans viewed marriage solely as an arena for producing offspring which would be legal citizens capable of inheriting their father's wealth, not an arena for sexual pleasure. It was a wife's <u>primary</u> <u>duty</u> to produce children for her husband. Love was irrelevant and, in many ways was seen as somewhat ridiculous in a marriage. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">It is commonly known that, for those who could afford it, </span><span style="color: #0b5394;">Roman men had wives
for dowry, procreation, and raising children, had concubines (or visited prostitutes) for
erotic, intimate sex, and had younger 'pet' male slaves (usually in their teens or early 20s) for satisfying pleasurable urges. It was perfectly acceptable for a married man to have sex with <i>infames:</i> slaves, prostitutes, entertainers, and people lacking social standing. It was not considered adultery and was not scandalous; it was "just sex."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">8.</span><i style="color: black;"> "Our reports of homosexual marriage from Rome give us, I hope, a clearer understanding of what is at stake. </i><span style="color: #0b5394;">(Naturally, in Wiker's mind gay people living openly in society automatically = a pink apocalypse.)</span><i style="color: black;"> As is the case today, it appears that the incidence of male-male marriage followed upon the widespread acceptance of homosexuality; that is, the practice of homosexuality led to the notion that, somehow, homosexual unions should share in the same status as heterosexual unions."</i><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>»</b> This is simple twisting of historical facts. Same-sex unions, as previously mentioned, did not share in the same status as heterosexual unions - not in society or in the eyes of the law. For a few emperors, yes, because emperors were able to do as they pleased and demand that it be accepted, even if the average citizen on the street laughed behind his back.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Same-sex marriage rites were banned by co-emperor brothers Constantius II (who himself had male courtesans<sup><a href="#fn12" id="ref12">12</a></sup>) and Constans (who was bisexual<sup><a href="#fn13" id="ref13">13</a></sup>) in the year 342 CE, but as the law spelled out, this specifically targeted unions between two freeborn Roman male citizens and did not immediately affect ceremonies between a freeborn male and a eunuch, for example. [See note 4 below for further details.]</span><i><br /></i><br />
</span></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTCrABAGfob9Z2XNtfSxEAdQUt_gX8H6e60iaE5zTuQeIXWrjBrY1gb4PDwjBLJi_9V4RfLGy8ZBG9iaJu18TIvKTz9TTyIG2zv0iPi_gVApUH76VAItbBxPjCTAQCD5fG5ke-9DhH3Br/s1600/roman-family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTCrABAGfob9Z2XNtfSxEAdQUt_gX8H6e60iaE5zTuQeIXWrjBrY1gb4PDwjBLJi_9V4RfLGy8ZBG9iaJu18TIvKTz9TTyIG2zv0iPi_gVApUH76VAItbBxPjCTAQCD5fG5ke-9DhH3Br/s320/roman-family.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roman family</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">
<span style="color: black;">9.</span><i style="color: black;"> "We must also add that heterosexuality among the Romans was also</i><i style="color: black;"> in a sad state. Both concubinage and prostitution were completely acceptable; pornography and sexually explicit entertainment and speech were entirely normalized; the provision of sex by both male and female slaves was considered a duty by masters. Paeans to the glory of marriage were made, not because the Romans had some proto-Christian notion of the sanctity of marriage, but because Rome needed more citizen-soldiers just when the Romans were depopulating themselves by doing anything to avoid having children."</i><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>»</b> And this was the fault of gay people? For the record, depopulation in the Roman Empire was due to endless wars and invasions, a series of plagues, and a very high infant mortality rate spurred by deteriorating standards of living in urban areas. Roman citizens weren't "doing anything to avoid having children." The </span><u style="color: #0b5394;">main</u><span style="color: #0b5394;"> purpose of Roman marriage was to have children<sup><a href="#fn14" id="ref14">14</a></sup>, and if a man's wife was barren he could easily divorce her and find a new wife who could bear him offspring.<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">Three children per family were expected if one was to be
successful in Rome. Having three children also carried its rewards: the
mother gained full legal independence by bearing three children and the
father received promotions in his job. Outside of Rome a couple must have
four children to acquire these privileges, and in the provinces, five
children was the minimum<sup><a href="#fn15" id="ref15">15</a></sup>.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">The birthrate among the <i>aristocracy</i> did steadily decline, and they typically had smaller families (two or three children). There was also an understandable fear of giving birth among many aristocratic women, because many women did not survive childbirth in those days<sup><a href="#fn16" id="ref16">16</a></sup>. This was one of the main reasons that contraceptives became more popular among the upper classes, especially if at least one male son had already been born (if I had been a Roman woman you can bet your ass I'd be "contraceptively active," too!). However, most Roman families were quite large, having five or six children. Due to poor health standards, though, an average of only three survived to adulthood.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">10.</span><i style="color: black;"> "The heterosexual moral disrepair in Rome therefore formed the social basis for the Roman slide into homosexual marriage rites. We hear of them from critics bent on satirizing such unions. The problem for the Romans wasn’t homosexuality as such, but that a Roman man would debase himself and play the part of a woman in matrimony."</i><span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>»</b> Exactly, because sex was a zero sum game in the ancient world, as were the relationships that accompanied it. One of the men would lose status (the penetrated) while the other gained it (the penetrator). If one of the men was not a eunuch, <i>cinaedus</i> (a typically passive, legally 'half-male,' transgendered person), slave, or foreigner, it would have been culturally unacceptable. This long-existing cultural taboo was later codified in Roman law, making same-sex union rites illegal and punishable by death if both the men were freeborn citizens [see note 4].</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">11.</span><i style="color: black;"> "The Christians found themselves in a pagan culture where there were few restrictions on sexuality at all, other than the imagination—a culture that, to note the obvious but exceedingly important, looks suspiciously like ours."</i><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>»</b> Yeah... not so much. As much as conservative Christians like to repeat it <i>ad nauseum</i>, modern Western culture is simply not like the culture of Ancient Rome - not by a long shot - and Wiker's own words spell that out. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">We do not practice concubinage, and prostitution is not legal in the majority of places. We do not consider husbands sleeping with prostitutes and slaves as morally okay. We do not own slaves in our homes and, by extension, we do not rape slaves or force them to sexually gratify us. We do not leave our infant children exposed to the elements if they are ill or handicapped. We do not worship our presidents and prime ministers as being divine. I could go on, but I think you get the point.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;">Wiker also comments on the fact that emperors Tiberius (ruled from 14 - 37 CE), Nero (37 - 68 CE), and Elagabalus (218 - 222 CE) were participants in their own marriages to other men - how they gave themselves "as brides," complete with wearing veils, according to satirical authors of the day, namely Tacitus, Martial, and Juvenal.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;">What Wiker fails to note, however, is that these three emperors were tyrants who were hated, dreaded, and (except for Tiberius, though this is debated) eventually assassinated. There is simply no way to prove these satires, for they do not stand recorded in official imperial dockets or anywhere other than satirical jabs from men who despised them. But these three emperors <i>were</i> very flamboyant and flaunting of their power, and as emperors they could basically do anything they pleased. They each also married multiple women, mind you. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;">None of them were incredibly stable either, mentally speaking. Nero, for instance, had sex with his own mother before having her murdered, and also ordered the murder of one of his generals because he wanted to marry his wife. He then divorced (and later executed) her because she didn't give him any children, whereupon he married another woman whom he reportedly kicked to death in a jealous rage when she was pregnant with their second child<sup><a href="#fn17" id="ref17">17</a></sup>. Not exactly a normal fellow was Mr. Nero.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;">And yes, Nero married a man named Pythagoras, taking on the role of the bride in the ceremony<sup><a href="#fn18" id="ref18">18</a></sup>. He also wed his 14-year old "boy-toy" named Sporus, whom Nero had castrated in order to preserve his youthful beauty [ibid.]. In that wedding, Sporus was presented as the bride, and Nero the groom. There is convincing scholarship suggesting that Nero's taking of Sporus as a bride had nothing to do with love or even lust, but with Nero's belief that Sporus may have been of illegitimate imperial descent and thus a threat to his reign. What better way to nip the potential problem in the bud than for Sporus to be castrated and dominated as a bride<sup><a href="#fn19" id="ref19">19</a></sup>. How very 'alpha male' of Nero.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;">Let's face it: Nero, for all intents and purposes, was not a rational fellow. For goodness sake, he once covered his own naked body in animal skins at a banquet, then leaped out of a cage and attacked the private parts of male and female prisoners who were bound to stakes<sup><a href="#fn20" id="ref20">20</a></sup>. This was the man's idea of a good time.</span></span><br />
<br />
</span></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4y_bI9sZEd9LoJP4FQeqlbsqNmU9gxRa7fRjjI6BIuTgO5Cb4GF8FzgMOA_fnrBMFJ6f50-KKY5xp8KE1kd-7JoXFtfk6hphdCGZaDBEMwrekJh5zTGn-QFUa3U8gPveSaqKNqi8lWJi/s1600/elagabalus.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4y_bI9sZEd9LoJP4FQeqlbsqNmU9gxRa7fRjjI6BIuTgO5Cb4GF8FzgMOA_fnrBMFJ6f50-KKY5xp8KE1kd-7JoXFtfk6hphdCGZaDBEMwrekJh5zTGn-QFUa3U8gPveSaqKNqi8lWJi/s320/elagabalus.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elagabalus, as portrayed in a National Geographic special</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;">Elagabalus, the other emperor used by Wiker as an example, was only 14 when he ascended to the throne. Like any rich, spoiled, teenage, Roman royal, he loved sex (lots of sex), parties, orgies, and power. Recorded as being extraordinarily handsome, he married and divorced five women by the time he reached the age of 18, when he was assassinated in a plot laid forth by his own grandmother. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;">He was known for his lavish, expensive lifestyle and huge palace parties, and was fond of having his subjects kneel and kiss his feet. He is said to have chosen personal slaves and courtesans based purely on their ability to, in modern vernacular, "give a good blow job." Remember, he was a teenager with unlimited power and free time, so this isn't too surprising.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;">His most stable relationship (if a horny, immature teenage boy can actually have such a thing) seems to have been with his chariot driver and slave, Heriocles, whom he referred to as his husband. Elagabalus is also reported to have married an athlete named Zoticus in a public ceremony in Rome when he was 17, for no other reason than that he had "a beautiful body and a large member"<sup><a href="#fn21" id="ref21">21</a></sup>. He soon kicked Zoticus out of the palace, though, because he was unable to get an erection on demand!</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;">But Elagabalus was fond of spitting upon rules and traditions, which he felt he was above. He often did things "just because he could," and many of the things he did outraged the public and even his own family<sup><a href="#fn22" id="ref22">22</a></sup>. Using him as proof that same-sex marriage was accepted and flourishing in Rome makes no sense at all.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;">So in my assessment, Wiker's argument, from top to bottom, is an epic fail. It doesn't leave us with an understanding that "same-sex marriage leads to national collapse;" it leaves us wondering how on earth a man like Benjamin Wiker can actually believe the babble he writes.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;">NB: For those who would like to read more on sex and sexuality in the Roman Empire, I highly recommend the excellent book <i>Roman Sexualities</i> by Judith P. Hallett and Marilyn B. Skinner (Princeton University Press, 1997). The book was part of my Biological Anthropology studies in university, and is an invaluable resource for properly understanding Ancient Greco-Roman and Near Eastern views on sexuality. It also, accordingly, sheds great light on the cultural context of certain Bible verses that have been incorrectly used by modern conservative Christians to condemn LGBTQ people and same-sex relationships.</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;">NOTES:</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><sup id="fn1">1. National Center for Science Education 2009.<a href="#ref1" title="Jump back to footnote 1 in the text.">↩</a></sup></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><sup id="fn2">2. <i>Encyclopedia of Anthropology.</i> Ex.: Ancient China, the Asia-Pacific, tribal Europe (pre-7th century CE), tribal Africa, several Native American tribes (both North and South American), Ancient Greece and Rome, and several European jurisdictions up until the mid-14th century CE (whose unions were even blessed and sanctioned by the Church).</span></span><a href="#ref2" title="Jump back to footnote 2 in the text.">↩</a></sup>
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><sup id="fn3">3. Hallett and Skinner, <i>Roman Sexualities</i>.</span></span><a href="#ref3" title="Jump back to footnote 3 in the text.">↩</a></sup>
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;"><sup id="fn4">4. a) In 342 CE, Emperor Constantius II and his brother Emperor Constans, declared same-sex union rites to be illegal in the Empire (<i>Code of Theodosius</i> 9.7.3). The law was not a blanket ban, though; it specifically forbid two freeborn male citizens from marrying (because such a union would violate the "impenetrable masculinity" of one of the Roman men). The law did not forbid the union of a freeborn male with a eunuch (legally a half-male) or a foreign male slave, as long as the freeborn male was classified as the husband and his body would never be subject to penetration by his "wife." In any case the law seems to have had little real effect, for there is no evidence for its enforcement.<br />
<br />
b) In 390 CE, Emperor Theodosius, under the guidance of Ambrose the Bishop of Milan, issued a decree that all manner of same-sex acts were illegal and punishable by death (<i>Code of Theodosius</i> 9.7.6). The old law against passive male homosexuality was thus expanded to include passive "non-male" homosexuality (see note 8), "for they appear to be in no way different from women" (ibid.). This law specifically targeted eunuchs who were incredibly powerful in imperial courts and hellenistic religious cults, and were, as such, a threat to the rising Christian church which labeled eunuchs (and by unfortunate extension, all men engaging in same-sex behavior) as heretics.</span><a href="#ref4" title="Jump back to footnote 4 in the text.">↩</a></sup><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><sup id="fn5">5. Treggiari, <i>Roman Marriage</i>. Balsdon, <i>Roman Women</i>. Roman marriage contracts explicitly stated that marriage existed for the procreation of children.<a href="#ref5" title="Jump back to footnote 5 in the text.">↩</a></sup></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><sup id="fn6">6. Hallett and Skinner.<a href="#ref6" title="Jump back to footnote 6 in the text.">↩</a></sup></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><sup id="fn7">7. According to Roman law (<i>Lex Julia Et Papia, Book 1, Digest 50.16.128</i> and <i>28.2.6.</i>) there were two classifications of eunuchs: crushed and natural. Crushed eunuchs (also called "man-made" eunuchs) had had their testicles crushed or removed, either by their masters or themselves, in order to serve in palaces or as religious functionaries (e.g. androgynous priests). They were typically feminine, long-haired, and often wore women's robes and perfumes. Natural eunuchs (also called "born eunuchs"), however, had no physical defects (were intact and could reproduce if they wished), yet had no innate desire for females. They also served at court or as (often transvestitic) priests in the many ancient cults. Both classifications of eunuchs were legally defined as <i>semiviri,</i> or half-men.</span></span><a href="#ref7" title="Jump back to footnote 7 in the text.">↩</a></sup></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><sup id="fn8">8. Hallett and Skinner.<a href="#ref8" title="Jump back to footnote 8 in the text.">↩</a></sup></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><sup id="fn9">9. Williams, <i>Roman Homosexuality.</i><a href="#ref9" title="Jump back to footnote 9 in the text.">↩</a></sup></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><sup id="fn10">10. Hallett and Skinner.<a href="#ref10" title="Jump back to footnote 10 in the text.">↩</a></sup></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><sup id="fn11">11. Milavec, <i>The Didache: Text, Translation, Analysis, and Commentary</i>.<a href="#ref11" title="Jump back to footnote 11 in the text.">↩</a></sup></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><sup id="fn12">12. Sextus Aurelius Victor, <i>Epitome of the Caesars</i> 42:18-19: "He [Constantius II] was devoted to his eunuchs and courtiers, and also his wives; but he was never defiled by any transverse or unjust lust." In other words, he was always the penetrator.<a href="#ref12" title="Jump back to footnote 12 in the text.">↩</a></sup></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><sup id="fn13">13. DiMaio, <i>Constans (337-350 A.D.); </i>Canduci,<i> Triumph & Tragedy: The Rise and Fall of Rome's Immortal Emperors. </i> Constans was known for hand-picking his bodyguards based more on their beauty than their competence, and had a reputation for scandalous behavior with "handsome, young, barbarian hostages." His sexual trysts reportedly greatly offended the legions, whose respect and support he gradually lost. Constans was assassinated in 350 CE. »It has also been noted by scholars and historians that Constans may have signed on to the law of 342 (see note 4) as a mocking gesture to the increasingly-powerful, prudish Christian moralists of the time, or to placate a public scandalized by his own behavior. (Neill, <i>The Origins and Role of Same-Sex Relations in Human Societies.</i>)<a href="#ref13" title="Jump back to footnote 13 in the text.">↩</a></sup><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><sup id="fn14">14. The sign and seal of a successful marriage was a male child. Balsdon, <i>Roman Women</i>.<a href="#ref14" title="Jump back to footnote 14 in the text.">↩</a></sup></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><sup id="fn15">15. ibid. <a href="#ref15" title="Jump back to footnote 15 in the text.">↩</a></sup></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><sup id="fn16">16. ibid. <a href="#ref16" title="Jump back to footnote 16 in the text.">↩</a></sup></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><sup id="fn17">17. Farquhar, <i>A Treasure of Royal Scandals</i>. <a href="#ref17" title="Jump back to footnote 17 in the text.">↩</a></sup></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><sup id="fn18">18. Champlin, <i>Nero</i>. This also highlights Ancient Rome's concept of same-sex marriage as being very different from our modern concept. In their understanding of "real men" who penetrate and "half men" or "non-males" (i.e. essentially a third gender) who get penetrated, one of the couple would automatically have to become the woman in the relationship, i.e. the bride. This concept is very similar to other ancient cultures around the world where gender roles are clearly defined, which have had, or in some cases still do have, forms of same-sex marriage (e.g. Native American and Inuit societies, Asian-Pacific Islander societies, Ancient Near Eastern societies, etc.).<a href="#ref18" title="Jump back to footnote 18 in the text.">↩</a></sup></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><sup id="fn19">19. Woods, <i>Nero and Sporus</i> (http://hdl.handle.net/10468/33).<a href="#ref19" title="Jump back to footnote 19 in the text.">↩</a></sup></b><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><sup id="fn20">20. Champlin,<i> Nero.</i><a href="#ref20" title="Jump back to footnote 20 in the text.">↩</a></sup></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><sup id="fn21">21. <i>Augustan History</i>, Life of Elagabalus 10.<a href="#ref21" title="Jump back to footnote 21 in the text.">↩</a></sup></span></span><br />
<br style="font-family: inherit;" />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><sup id="fn22">22. Elagabalus "abandoned himself to ungoverned fury," as historian Edward Gibbon noted. He had no respect for the senators (whom he referred to as 'slaves in togas') or the law. He dishonored and disrespected the Roman gods and their place in society. He built a new temple and declared there to be a new chief god, El-Gabal (a minor god in whose honor he was named), declared himself the cult's high priest, then forced the senators to watch each morning as he danced around the alter in priestly garments. He raised a statue of himself, which he instructed the people to adore, and he put a brothel inside the royal palace. He then took as his second wife a Vestal Virgin, a flagrant breach of Roman law, as Vestal Virgins were dedicated to the gods and required by law (under penalty of death) to remain celibate. Elagabalus simply didn't care. He did what he wanted at every turn, and his relationship with Heriocles was reportedly the last straw. It wasn't long before his egotism got him assassinated. (<i>Dio LXXX</i>.12.22; Halsberghe, <i>Le culte de Deus Sol Invictus</i>; and Icks, <i>The Crimes of Elagabalus: The Life and Legacy of Rome's Decadent Boy Emperor</i>.)<a href="#ref22" title="Jump back to footnote 22 in the text.">↩</a></sup></span> </span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Erikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02928753211385443072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968144500613954505.post-50111043930450380472012-06-23T12:17:00.001+08:002012-07-01T21:08:36.599+08:00France Set to Become One Kick-Ass Country<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Aq82nJ7_idCJ1D2DbY_CjMn_AjIo1PqtNd2sjh7ihJ94dXwbHBcYXoiId2BO0A9_inJyhJ4FzE005ElBMQVZMn7lmslpfezEFNPK7at1tydt-VtpXxvdogtdHmx7nyEGMSgerafD2zhT/s1600/hollande.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Aq82nJ7_idCJ1D2DbY_CjMn_AjIo1PqtNd2sjh7ihJ94dXwbHBcYXoiId2BO0A9_inJyhJ4FzE005ElBMQVZMn7lmslpfezEFNPK7at1tydt-VtpXxvdogtdHmx7nyEGMSgerafD2zhT/s320/hollande.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>New president, new day</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span style="color: red;">»</span></b></span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span style="color: red;">»</span> </b></span><b style="color: red;">Update added 30 June 2012</b><br />
<br />
France already rocks, but it's about to turn up the volume on its coolness level. <br />
<br />
Three-hundred forty three out of five-hundred seventy seven. That's the official number of seats that the French Socialist Party and its fellow-progressive allies now have in the National Assembly, as a result of elections held this month.<br />
<br />
That's a clear majority, and it means the conservatives, who earned only 223 seats, don't have enough votes to block the progressive legislative agenda of the new French government.<br />
<br />
The French Senate, too, has a clear socialist majority, and it's all very, very good news for equality.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Those same elections also brought in a new, liberal, socially progressive president: François Hollande. The president and his newly-formed government, headed by Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, have made a solid, public promise that same-sex couples will be able to marry no later than the spring of 2013, if not sooner. The new marriage legislation, which has already been drafted, will extend joint-adoption rights to same-sex couples, and also grant fertility access to lesbian couples.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span style="color: red;">»</span> </b></span><b style="color: red;">Update, 30 June:</b> A statement released by PM Ayrault's office yesterday announced that the government would be submitting legislation for marriage equality "in the next few months," speeding up their original time frame. Concurrently, the Junior Minister for Families, Dominique Bertinotti, told French newspaper <i>La Parisien</i> that marriage and adoption rights will be opened to same-sex couples before 2012 comes to close, but did not specify an exact time table (Reuters).<br />
<br />
But it gets even better. A bill to lift the ban on gay men donating blood is also in the works, as is a bill to expand transgender rights. The latter will enable trans persons to legally change their gender even before they undergo SRS (sexual reassignment surgery), or even if they choose not have the surgery at all.<br />
<br />
I love France. I've been to France several times and it's the kind of country that leaves a very good impression. But on the issue of equal marriage, I've always found it odd that it's taken France so long to come around.<br />
<br />
France is not a rabidly homophobic place by any means. The French people are, by and large, very fair-minded and proud of being strongly supportive of equality for all. A 2011 poll found that <a href="http://www.ouest-france.fr/ofdernmin_-63-des-Francais-favorables-au-mariage-homosexuel-selon-un-sondage-Ifop-_6346-1848752-fils-tous_filDMA.Htm">63% are in favor of marriage equality</a>. Even though the majority of French people identify as Catholic, the French state is firmly secular; France was, after all, the first country in the world to create a Bill of Rights.<br />
<br />
The problem had been that right-leaning parties had held the majority in the Assembly for many years, which actually caused a marriage equality bill to go down in defeat in 2011. The next time a similar bill is taken up, in either late 2012 or early 2013, it will pass handily.<br />
<br />
Not only is this great news for French same-sex couples, it could potentially have a larger impact on the whole of Europe. With 63.5 million people, France is the second most populace country in Europe. Marriage equality in France would certainly help to speed up harmonization of marriage recognition laws throughout the EU.<br />
<br />
At present, EU countries have a patchwork of marriage laws (much like the states of the USA have). But as higher and higher percentages of Europeans are living in nations with equal marriage, it increases the pressure to adopt an EU regulation that same-sex marriages must be recognized in all EU member countries, whether the other country has equal marriage laws on the books or not. (Individual countries won't be forced to perform or legalize same-sex marriages within their borders, but they <i>will</i> have to honor and recognize the marriages of same-sex couples conducted elsewhere.)<br />
<br />
The European Parliament has already discussed this and adopted resolutions moving toward this end. With France joining the marriage equality squad, it's likely to tilt the momentum even further.<br />
<br />
So if you've always dreamed of a summer wedding in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, followed by an outdoor reception of awesome French wine, cheese, and croissants, go ahead and book your flight. By this time next year it'll be a go!<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNFgtLMHgTX03jkIoxgXBdll7K3w8R-THQJ_BNbIA6NNplvWZVNP6yJVOZJDeg9fSU6VnoE9nGMm7oitOEfD_IXsId-CmaI4HqjkCDitQth8fWJoF9DVVOzD6KUQLDupD0-MdphsQy9iMq/s1600/marriageequalityfrance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNFgtLMHgTX03jkIoxgXBdll7K3w8R-THQJ_BNbIA6NNplvWZVNP6yJVOZJDeg9fSU6VnoE9nGMm7oitOEfD_IXsId-CmaI4HqjkCDitQth8fWJoF9DVVOzD6KUQLDupD0-MdphsQy9iMq/s320/marriageequalityfrance.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />Erikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02928753211385443072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968144500613954505.post-37868314359904716022012-06-23T12:16:00.001+08:002012-06-28T20:23:00.050+08:00Interesting News Bites from Asia<b></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq6nE7AwWFqAZe2_iPeOwM60KaGptYnyHEAW-AvhKpkcuGeUqTgw8tslpim1eDW4p-Cr6ch1kbF_vtJdv8Hf0lC4clNWsdIWJM-bh5zS7-31abiaeu-sScO1_VOXFn0Ek0iKnK7YeO7q56/s1600/taiwan480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq6nE7AwWFqAZe2_iPeOwM60KaGptYnyHEAW-AvhKpkcuGeUqTgw8tslpim1eDW4p-Cr6ch1kbF_vtJdv8Hf0lC4clNWsdIWJM-bh5zS7-31abiaeu-sScO1_VOXFn0Ek0iKnK7YeO7q56/s320/taiwan480.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394;">TAIWAN:</span> </b> TAPCPR, the Taiwan Alliance to Promote Civil
Partnership Rights, has announced that it will deliver a same-sex
partnership bill to the Legislative Yuan (the Taiwanese legislature) in
July of 2012. TAPCPR has been advocating for a change in the
current civil law since 2009. Its bill will be
three-pronged, covering a partnership system, legalization of
same-sex marriage, and modernization of the current family code.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
A same-sex marriage bill has been proposed before in Taiwan, but
it met a major hurdle. This because, according to Taiwanese law, family
members of one spouse are automatically bound by law to become
relatives of the other spouse's family. The subsequent conflict over
the implementation of family inheritance laws has effectively stalled that
bill since 2003.<br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
The new partnership bill, however,
focuses solely on the union of two people, specifically removing the
couple's families from the equation.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
We'll hope for the best for the future of the bill!</div>
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXKwx54CWKSTGABv9vPPHymkR6l5ssKQwL18TlORx-4h1JbYC9nqCI5XfIc2YG7XDLaHLVg_llqvA82Jt_DknqwKDfpiVw1Pd4GS4JIHUZz9EgZQNf6zlyyAXKY6HfMTp3ewy7OO3QnrJX/s1600/malaysia_homophobia.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXKwx54CWKSTGABv9vPPHymkR6l5ssKQwL18TlORx-4h1JbYC9nqCI5XfIc2YG7XDLaHLVg_llqvA82Jt_DknqwKDfpiVw1Pd4GS4JIHUZz9EgZQNf6zlyyAXKY6HfMTp3ewy7OO3QnrJX/s320/malaysia_homophobia.jpg" width="289" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>...but making women cover their faces is perfectly all right...<br />
</i></td></tr>
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<b style="color: #0b5394;">MALAYSIA:</b> On a more disgusting note, Mashitah Ibrahim, a
Deputy Minister of Malaysia, assured the Malaysian Senate that being
LGBT is against Islam and, because Islam is the official religion of the
country, being LGBT is also against the Malaysian constitution.</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
When asked by a senator if it was right for the government to respond to LGBT
issues using religious doctrine, Ibrahim replied that the LGBT community
is not protected by the constitution. "Article 8 of the Federal
Constitution says there must be no
discrimination of citizens in terms of religion or sex. 'Sex' has never
been interpreted to mean sexual orientation; it has always been
interpreted to mean either male or female, and they are [the only ones]
protected by the constitution."</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
Malaysian human rights
groups fired back, however, saying that Malaysia risks being the
laughing stock of the world if it continues to hold on to such outdated
concepts. </div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
This follows this week's message from
Malaysian deputy education minister Mohd Zarkashi, telling parents to
look
out for the signs of "LGBT tendencies" in youth. He said parents must
"prevent youngsters from experimenting and making a choice of this
unnatural practice as a lifestyle later on."</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
I say we
should airdrop a few million updated human sexuality science textbooks
across Malaysia so the people can get some real education, rather than
knuckle-dragging religious gobbledygook. On second
thought, the morality police would probably just round up all the books
and burn them.</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
Ahhh the beauty of religion. That's quite a "democracy" you've got there, Malaysia.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; font-family: inherit; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQD39DvRWE_3ZcFXxEMCV31LCdwCcxhMohitmvVKB66qy3hNqOumVztbT9MFoAqRGP0aMxv5rCSw9seluPtaV0c-Gnq9DJax_ANWAHxaRxxe3iI8KnxU0lVDOxF3KphItusNsfdQO9TWWK/s1600/ho-chi-minh-city-saigon-skyline.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQD39DvRWE_3ZcFXxEMCV31LCdwCcxhMohitmvVKB66qy3hNqOumVztbT9MFoAqRGP0aMxv5rCSw9seluPtaV0c-Gnq9DJax_ANWAHxaRxxe3iI8KnxU0lVDOxF3KphItusNsfdQO9TWWK/s320/ho-chi-minh-city-saigon-skyline.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Ho Chi Minh City<br />
</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<b style="color: #0b5394;">VIETNAM</b><span style="color: #0b5394;">:</span>
This one threw me for a loop because it kinda
came out of the blue. The Vietnamese Ministry of Justice has directed
relevant agencies in the country, including the country's top law school
and the Vietnamese Supreme Court, to gather opinions about amending the
Family Law in order to potentially allow same-sex marriages.</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
The
Ministry has already held meetings in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City to
discuss the provisions that will need to be amended in the law if they decide to move forward with it. The issue is
scheduled to be discussed in the National Assembly in 2013.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
There's no guarantee a bill will be presented, or that if one <i>is</i> presented it won't get stuck in committee for ten years, but Go Vietnam! This is progress!<br />
<br />
<b style="color: #0b5394;">THAILAND:</b> I have been unable to find any relevant updates concerning the same-sex marriage draft bill that was supposedly submitted to Thai Parliament in late 2011.<br />
<br />
For some reason (this is just my observation here), it seems that whenever same-sex partnership legislation is submitted in any Asian country, it takes <i>ages</i> to move. Taiwan's had a proposal since 2003...the legislation hasn't moved forward. Nepal's Supreme Court ordered recognition of same-sex marriage there in 2008...no legislation has moved forward. Cambodia's king announced in 2004 that he supports legislation to legalize same-sex marriage there...nothing has moved forward since then.<br />
<br />
Do the legislatures of Asian countries typically move so slowly on everything? In Europe we can see bills drafted, submitted, debated, then voted into law all within a four or five month span. Asia come on, let's get the ball rolling already!<br />
<br />
(If you do happen to know the status of the Thai same-sex marriage bill, please feel free to give an update in the comment field below. Thanks!)<br />
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>Erikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02928753211385443072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968144500613954505.post-3068378772102827252012-06-18T17:42:00.000+08:002012-06-24T15:38:00.888+08:00What Ever Happened to Article 26 of the Philippine Family Code?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1HRasCxPbKUdIudAAtm0LxpE09A4DnvlatZBQ9vRM5L0EO5nUKYAYHlcmQhLHaOflucFhD5b9pPUKr2_HRv8OT0hQunV-d-HsPlCY8iyZ6ir-Z19zXAAoM35v_4tRbs8Mg9tSU6L8IBkw/s1600/marriage_certificate_void.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1HRasCxPbKUdIudAAtm0LxpE09A4DnvlatZBQ9vRM5L0EO5nUKYAYHlcmQhLHaOflucFhD5b9pPUKr2_HRv8OT0hQunV-d-HsPlCY8iyZ6ir-Z19zXAAoM35v_4tRbs8Mg9tSU6L8IBkw/s320/marriage_certificate_void.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>What happened to Article 26 of the Family Code?</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
A few days ago I received a very good question/observation via email, so I thought I'd share it as a post.</div>
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</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;">
____________________ </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">
<b>"I'm somewhat confused about the current status of same-sex
union law in the Philippines. Technically same-sex marriage is not
specifically banned or illegal, because of no law which forbids it or
Constitutional amendment which forbids it. </b><br />
<b>
</b></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">
<b>"However, the Family Code declares marriages to be between a man
and a woman only, which on technicality actually DOES make same-sex
union illegal in the country. But then the Family Code (Art. 26) also declares
that marriages conducted legally outside the Philippines shall be
recognized also in the Philippines..... If the law says that, so why
would a Filipino couple married in Spain (for example) not be able to
register as a proper married couple in the Philippines? It was
conducted legally, so why is this law just being ignored?</b> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">
<b>"What is correct? Is it just me or do these laws not contradict on each other?"</b></blockquote>
<div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;">
____________________ </div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-family: inherit;">
<b>
</b></blockquote>
<div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
For starters, if you happen to be confused: join the crowd. To the best of my knowledge, both of the above observations are correct and, yes, they do overlap in a contradictory manner. In other words, it <i>is</i> confusing!</div>
<a name='more'></a><div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
After
talking about this with a Filipino attorney friend of mine, who happens
to specialize in family law, I found out that he too sees a clear discrepancy within the legal framework on this issue; so much
so that he predicts it will likely be a source of equal protections
fireworks in the future.</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
The person who emailed the observation above is not alone in recognizing this unforeseen legal contradiction. It's not just pro-equality folks who have taken notice; the anti-equality folks have as well. <a href="http://progressph.blogspot.com/2011/06/discriminatory-amendment-proposed-by.html">Last
year Rene L. Relampagos, Bohol Representative in the Philippine House, together with Camiguin Representative Pedro P. Ramualdo, drafted and
submitted HB 4269 for this very reason.</a></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
The bill,
which has been under review with the Committee on Revision of Laws since
March of 2011, seeks to amend Article 26 of the Family Code <u>in order to
specifically add same-sex marriages to the list of "prohibited" unions
contracted overseas</u>.</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
In its current form Article 26 reads:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">
<b>“All marriages solemnized outside the Philippines, in accordance with
the laws in force in the country where they were solemnized, and valid
there as such, shall also be valid in the country, except those
prohibited under Articles 35(1), (4), (5), (6), and 36, 37 and 38.”</b></blockquote>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
Because same-sex marriages aren't listed in Articles 35(1), (4), (5), (6), and 36, 37 and 38, that makes the knuckle-dragging posse of ''Rene, Pedro & Pals'' nervous. It makes them <i>so</i>
nervous, in fact, that they're pushing to get discrimination against
same-sex couples written into the nation's law code, to, you know,
"protect (blah-blah) the Filipino (blah-blah) family (blah)."</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
In other
words, the same old neo-conservative religious babble.</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
So technically, no, same-sex marriages are neither forbidden nor
illegal under Philippine law. And, again technically, since same-sex marriages are obviously marriages, those which are contracted overseas in jurisdictions which have marriage equality
"shall also be valid" in the Philippines. That's the Philippine Family
Code speaking there, not me.</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
Of course the authors of said Article back in 1987 didn't know
that marriage equality would be sweeping the globe within twenty year's
time, but same-sex cohabiting partnerships were already in place at that time in several European countries.* Nevertheless, the law is there in black and white for all to
see.</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
My attorney friend agrees. Technically the Philippine state <i>should</i>
honor legal, foreign marriage certificates of same-sex couples. But
(and there's always a big 'but' tossed in there somewhere when it comes to
legal matters), he said that Article 1 of the Family Code gives the
government a free pass to deny marriage rights of any kind to couples of
the same sex.</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-family: inherit;">
<b style="color: #0b5394;">''</b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-weight: bold;">Marriage is a special contract of
permanent union between a man and a woman entered into in accordance
with law for the establishment of conjugal and family life." (The Family Code of the Philippines, Chapter 1, Article 1(a)) </span></blockquote>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDq3f0AK9rrq8ZA-bWFnDNjV8pYy-ykrS5OLoqgu3I5QAGKHuPWBXxmn1Ow-TyTKExdvjNmNtKSy9Jfmi_arcuKqIegsbQYTZ0sWPuuRSw9pWXfK55bcpNV-GCwypePP8AKK0b1HJO8mLT/s1600/marriage-equality_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="127" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDq3f0AK9rrq8ZA-bWFnDNjV8pYy-ykrS5OLoqgu3I5QAGKHuPWBXxmn1Ow-TyTKExdvjNmNtKSy9Jfmi_arcuKqIegsbQYTZ0sWPuuRSw9pWXfK55bcpNV-GCwypePP8AKK0b1HJO8mLT/s200/marriage-equality_0.jpg" width="200" /></a>If Article 26 were interpreted independently of Article 1, as it could and should be, same-sex marriages contracted abroad would be legally valid in the Philippines. That would then theoretically allow the Philippines to simultaneously deny legal recognition to <i>domestically </i>contracted same-sex holy unions in respect to Article 1, in order to "protect (blah-blah) the Filipino (blah-blah) family (blah)." You get the point.</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
That is actually similar to the current legal situation in Japan.</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
The Japanese Civil Code, Articles 731-737, as well as Article 24 of the Japanese Constitution, restricts 'marriage' to couples of the opposite sex. The restriction is not for moral reasons, however, as it often is in some majority-Christian and all majority-Muslim countries. Shintoism, the majority religion in Japan, is silent on same-sex relations, and Shinto temples do conduct wedding ceremonies for same-sex couples upon request.</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
In Japan the legal restriction is based in history, for the purpose of countering feudal arrangements
where the father or husband was legally recognized as the head of the
household, as well as for setting matters of 'matrimonial property distribution' which have always been a bit complex in the Japanese culture. However, when the new constitution codified the old legal code, it had the unintended consequence
of defining marriage as a union of "both sexes."</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
But in 2009 the Ministry of Justice announced that it was green-lighting the right of Japanese citizens to marry their foreign same-sex partners if that partner is a citizen of a country with marriage equality. Upon their return to Japan, the couple can officially register their marriage with the government, and the spouse can apply for a spousal residency visa for them to reside as a married couple in Japan.</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
So... why can't the Philippines do this? (Aside from the obvious reason of Catholic Taliban influence, of course.) Japanese law also defines marriage as between a man and a woman, yet it makes an exception by recognizing and validating marriages legally solemnized abroad. Put more directly, why can't the Philippines simply observe <i>its own laws</i> and do what Article 26 tells it to: <b>recognize as valid all marriages solemnized outside the country.</b></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
My attorney friend thinks that the Philippines <i>will</i>... eventually. Time is on the side of the pro-equality movement, and it truly only is a matter of time.</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
He thinks that as long as HB 4269 (or some other future discriminatory bill) can be kept from becoming law, sooner or later a civil case will be brought against the government over Article 26 not being applied fairly in accordance with the Equal Protection Clause of the Philippine Constitution. At the very least that would be a huge step forward, even if it would initially apply only to Filipino (and bi-national) same-sex couples who have married overseas.</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
In most -- if not all -- Western courts today, such a case would be a slam dunk for the pro-equality side. But Philippine courts aren't exactly Western in their thinking. This is especially true of the current Philippine Supreme Court, which is full of social conservative justices. The best bet, according to most legal analysts, is to wait until there are more liberal (or at least fair minded) justices on the bench.</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
That is something that is guaranteed to happen with time, and probably not a long amount of time. Each new generation of Filipinos is more favorable toward equality than the previous, and this includes judges. It is also true that no court system in a democracy is immune to cases and rulings that come from courts in other democratic nations.</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
Make no doubt about it: what happens in Europe, in Australia, in Canada, and especially in the U.S., absolutely <i>does</i> have an impact on what will happen in the Philippines. </div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
Of course, it goes without saying that all freedom loving Filipinos should do everything within their power to make sure Relampagos' discriminatory piece of legislation does <u>not</u> become law. The Philippines needs law revisions to take it <i>forward,</i> not send it backward. I urge all those reading this to let your voice be heard <a href="http://www.congress.gov.ph/contact/popform.php?re=sendemail&to=committee&id=0531&congress=15">by emailing the Committee on Revision of Laws Chairperson, Hon. Marlyn Permicias-Agabas.</a></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
Let them know they need to <i><b>dump the discrimination!</b></i></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
*<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Unregistered Cohabitation laws were already in place in the Netherlands (1979), Denmark (1986), and Sweden (1987)</i><i> at the time the 1987 Philippine Constitution was written.</i></span></div>Erikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02928753211385443072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968144500613954505.post-32042076409719426642012-06-13T10:23:00.000+08:002012-07-04T10:48:39.794+08:00P.U.S.H. Pilipinas<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-zF9B5opsL0HtFjrd95KtftmZ2Ciy0RqgFRC35YWsjZ2godW7EsAsGVyuKZm6xU5Xxta5Rccp_SpeGpIsaUVjHOcRJ0BkY9UZ6TGJzMKIyEr1TzJ3T2D3MpAlMHnMfKB1Y8JjWimqa9A3/s1600/P.U.S.H.Pilipinas700clubasia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-zF9B5opsL0HtFjrd95KtftmZ2Ciy0RqgFRC35YWsjZ2godW7EsAsGVyuKZm6xU5Xxta5Rccp_SpeGpIsaUVjHOcRJ0BkY9UZ6TGJzMKIyEr1TzJ3T2D3MpAlMHnMfKB1Y8JjWimqa9A3/s320/P.U.S.H.Pilipinas700clubasia.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>700 Club Asia hosts Kata Inocencio and Peter Kairuz</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Right out of the gate, allow me to say that I applaud <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CBN_Asia" target="_blank">CBN Asia</a> (Christian
Broadcasting Network) and its nightly show, 700 Club Asia, for the
many good works that they do, such as Operation Blessing. There are
many decent, caring people involved in the organization, and I do not
doubt that they love God.<br />
<br />
Every so often, though, like
their mother ship network CBN USA and its founder, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Robertson" target="_blank">Pat Robertson</a>, 700
Club Asia chooses to jump on the crazy train. This is what they did
during their June 11, 2012, broadcast which aired on Philippine TV
network GMA.<br />
<br />
As part of their week-long P.U.S.H.
Pilipinas specials (which stands for Pray Until Something Happens,
Philippines), the opening salvo was entitled "Pamilyang Pilipino, Gaano
Katatag?" (The Filipino Family, How Strong Is It?).<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
I
was saddened, but not surprised, to hear in it the usual conservative
evangelical fear of the unknown (in this case of same-sex marriage),
which was presented as a "major threat to the country's strong family
ties." They even played ominous sounding music when showing pictures
and videos of LGBT Filipinos. Unfortunately there was also an unhealthy
dose of non-factual "science."<br />
<br />
I can handle the conservative rhetoric
-- it's actually kind of entertaining to listen to them panic over the
prospect of gay people being treated equally -- but I cannot abide
shoddy information being presented as scientific fact.<br />
<br />
One
perpetrator of such pseudo-science is Bayani Esguerra, pastor of Word
International Ministries. "[Homosexuality] is not genetic," he said matter of factly in a
lengthy interview during the broadcast. "It is an acquired behavior."
Esguerra also happens to conveniently be Board Chairperson of <i>Bagong Pag-Asa,</i> the Philippines' own reparative "therapy" organization which attempts to have gay men pray their gay away.<br />
<br />
Esguerra seems like a nice guy with a nice smile, nice hair, and nice polo shirt. But his 'science' is just plain wrong.<br />
<br />
This
is what frustrates me to no end: when someone who is not an authority
in the field of science (in this case a pastor) makes declarations on
matters of science as though they <i>are</i> an authority in the field of science.<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Bayani, you're a <i>pastor</i>.</b> Stick to pastoring. You clearly haven't spent much time in a genetics laboratory.<br />
<br />
Esguerra
went on for days about how God made men and women for each other, about
Adam and Eve and being fruitful and multiplying, and all the other
goodies that conservative Christians like to throw around <i>ad nauseum</i>.
That's his theological belief and that's fine. But when he treads on
science - which is my field - and twists data to make it sound as though
science has concluded that there is no genetic component to
homosexuality, well, that pisses this biologist off.<br />
<br />
What
Esguerra stated definitively, and what 700 Club Asia's hosts then repeated
blindly, is that studies of twins have found that homosexuality is nothing
more than a behavioral lifestyle choice that can (and should) be
changed. It is not, according to Esguerra, genetic. This, to his mind,
is because studies conducted involving identical twins did not find
that both twins were gay <b>100% of the time</b>. In the slash-and-burn mind
of the hardline biblical literalist, the case is therefore closed.<br />
<br />
Well, I'm truly sorry, but that's not <i>quite</i> how biology works.<br />
<br />
I know the topic of homosexuality and genetics can get incredibly
detailed and confusing,
and that is precisely why people who are not scientists (people like...
ohhh, pastors, for example) ought not skim through medical journal
essays and
then "report" to others what they <i>think</i> they read. Sorry to say, but taking a biology class in high school doesn't make a person a geneticist, any more than baking a ready-mix cake makes a person a five star chef.<br />
<br />
The very best scientific evidence today points to the environment
and genes both playing a role together in homosexuality. Bear in mind
that, in science-speak, "the environment" doesn't necessarily mean the
home one was raised in, but rather means <b>biological influences in the womb</b>, e.g. hormones.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9ISR4NoxwQyI_z-eNuWcIEP9etNbN3JUOawtX-i9roRPeI6kNQ4Hz-RdVuqliMpjvzOdxLl6B-qBCdwSNazJqgQlsS8dX4-f_C2uJ8DowuIje2Ck4ufhTLp6dsMSH_wgZtQOVGTsCc9T/s1600/identicaltwins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9ISR4NoxwQyI_z-eNuWcIEP9etNbN3JUOawtX-i9roRPeI6kNQ4Hz-RdVuqliMpjvzOdxLl6B-qBCdwSNazJqgQlsS8dX4-f_C2uJ8DowuIje2Ck4ufhTLp6dsMSH_wgZtQOVGTsCc9T/s200/identicaltwins.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
To
sort this out, scientists often employ studies of twins. In such a study,
identical twins are compared to fraternal twins. If something happens
more often in identical twins, then that something is influenced by
genes. This is because identical twins have the exact same genes,
whereas fraternal twins share only as many genes as any brother or
sister.<br />
<br />
There have been a number of twin studies, and all show similar
results. In one of the largest such studies (conducted by Bailey and Pillard) it was found that if one
identical twin is gay, the other is also gay 52% of the time. If the
twins were fraternal, they were both gay 22% of the time. For non-twin
biological siblings the rate dropped to roughly 11%. All other twin studies have
shown the same pattern. What this shows is that there <i>is</i> a genetic
component; there is something in the genes that makes them more likely
to be gay.<br />
<br />
But genetics alone isn't everything. If it were, identical twins
would both be gay 100% of the time. And if it were all environment,
identical twins would both be gay as often as fraternal twins, which they're not. This is
where our good friend Bayani Esguerra and his allies get confused and
start thumping their Bibles.<br />
<br />
"See?," they say. "Homosexuality is a
choice because twins only turn out gay 50% of the time. Yes! We win!"<br />
<br />
Nope, you don't. Science wins on this one.<br />
<br />
At first glance the results seem to suggest that at least some
homosexuality must not be genetic. If identical twins have the same
genes, how could one turn out gay and the other not gay as often as 50%
of the time? This is precisely what Bayani Esguerra is thinking. There
are, however, many traits that are not always the same in identical
twins, like eye color. They have the same DNA, but the activity of
their genes isn't necessarily the same, and the reason for that is a
process called <b>methylation</b>.<br />
<br />
Methylation turns
off certain sections of genetic code. So even though we inherit two
copies of every gene - one from our mother and one from our father -
whether the gene is methylated often determines which of the two genes
will be turned on. Methylation is inherited, just like DNA, but unlike
DNA it can change from one generation to the next and may be influenced
by things like long-term use of certain medications, smoking,
exposure to viruses, or even something as simple as the mother's diet, just to name a few prenatal environmental factors.<br />
<br />
Regardless, the concordance rate of identical twins is more than twice that of
fraternal twins. What that means is that neither the social nor prenatal environment <i>alone</i> can explain this significant difference.
The only variable at play is the different genetic code of fraternal
twins compared to the identical genetic code of identical twins. This
demonstrates that genes are extremely important factors in determining
sexuality.<br />
<br />
The principle difference in comparing rates
between fraternal twins and non-twin siblings (22% to 11%, respectively)
is the prenatal environment. Fraternal
twins share the prenatal environment, they are womb-mates, while
non-twin siblings are not. The fact that the homosexual concordance
rate for fraternal twins is more than twice that of non-twin siblings
shows that the prenatal environment is also a significant factor in the
development of homosexuality.<br />
<br />
See, Bayani? It gets a bit complex. It is this <i>interplay</i> of prenatal environment and genes that most
often results in homosexuality. (Remember, prenatal environment has to do with how the brain is
hardwired very early on.) In the womb, things happen that affect how we
develop. A surge of hormones here, a viral influence there, and we are
not the same as we would be without these environmental factors.<br />
<br />
We can look at handedness as a good example here. Some people have genes that make them more likely to be left-handed. Not
all of these people end up lefties, though. Something else happens
during fetal development. Science hasn't pinpointed precisely what this
something is, but it is crystal clear that the combination of genes and
environment makes a person left-handed.<br />
<br />
This is not dissimilar from what makes a person gay, lesbian,
bisexual, or transgender. And, of course, since the brain continues to
develop after we're born, the postnatal environment can affect how the brain
develops even after a child draws its first breath, though to a far lesser degree.<br />
<br />
Conservative
biblical literalists like Esguerra claim that, because no one <u>single</u>
'gay gene' has been found, homosexuality is unequivocally a learned
behavior with no biological basis. Of course they say that; that's
easy to do when you completely dismiss the prenatal environment and the fact that many genetic traits are caused by <i>a series of genes</i> working in concert.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://progressph.blogspot.com/2011/07/science-of-born-this-way.html">(For
further details, I visited the topic of the evangelical assertion that
"there is no scientific conclusion that there is a gay gene" in a
previous post.)</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWz5gNfJiiNw8LQW2lRfXgT6dylt-Z6JrQtwM4ys5H2FJBCBS014uKxqXw6tB9cTTlM_17qW5q0JEHGOEcIQNkFepNoyVxpa0Om1u6ZWr8OowxRaqpExMketrmohFz_2RXABLZJBT9xLO3/s1600/science-and-religion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWz5gNfJiiNw8LQW2lRfXgT6dylt-Z6JrQtwM4ys5H2FJBCBS014uKxqXw6tB9cTTlM_17qW5q0JEHGOEcIQNkFepNoyVxpa0Om1u6ZWr8OowxRaqpExMketrmohFz_2RXABLZJBT9xLO3/s200/science-and-religion.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
This insistence of theirs is based on their
interpretation of the Bible, not on science. They're trying to make science fit their theology, rather than allowing modern science to shed light on ancient beliefs that are turning out to be less than spot on. This non-academic bias
then allows them to deny biological causes of homosexuality, fight against gay rights and
demonize the LGBT community, all while claiming to be God's mouthpiece
of family values and love on earth.<br />
<br />
Esguerra takes his cues from the playbook of the so-called "ex-gay" organization <i>Exodus International</i> in the U.S., anti-gay evangelical leader Pat Robertson, as well as James Dobson's <i>Focus on the Family</i> group, all of which continue to foolishly tout that there is no genetic cause for homosexuality.<br />
<br />
Take this excerpt from right-wing Christian activist Peter Sprigg's book, <i>Outrage: How Gay Activists and Liberal Judges are Trashing Democracy to Redefine Marriage,</i> as an example. (Yes, by the way, that's the actual title of his book.)<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"If you did a study of identical twins, you would find that one
hundred percent of black identical twins would be black, one hundred
percent of male identical twins would be male, one hundred percent of
redheaded identical twins would be redheads, and one hundred percent of
blue-eyed identical twins would have blue eyes. Remember, identical
twins (known to scientists as "dizygotic,' [sic] meaning that they come
from the same fertilized egg) have a completely, one hundred percent
identical genetic makeup. Therefore, a study showing that 52 percent of
the identical twins of homosexuals are also homosexual proves only one
thing - that homosexuality is not genetic." (<i>Outrage</i>, pp. 39-40)<br />
<br /></blockquote>
No, what it proves is that Sprigg is no scientist. He's actually a Baptist minister and Senior Fellow at the <i>Family Research Council</i> who has testified against gay rights and marriage equality in several U.S. courts... And, not surprisingly, his side has <u>lost</u> <u>every</u> <u>time</u>.<br />
<br />
His argument (at least what he <i>thinks</i>
is an argument) highlights the all-or-nothing mentality for biology
held by most evangelical leaders. It's the black-and-white way in which they see things. Unfortunately for them, though, human sexuality is anything but black-and-white, and neither is science. They incorrectly assume that because
some of the identical twins had differing sexual orientations,
homosexuality is therefore not genetic.<br />
<br />
Hopefully now, you, the reader, can identify this not as science but as science fiction.<br />
<br />
Oh and by the way, Sprigg's information is wrong in another way, too. Identical twins are not dizygotic, they are monozygotic, meaning from one (i.e. <i>mono</i>) fertilized egg. <u>Fraternal</u> twins are dizygotic.<br />
<br />
You can argue your theology all you want; it is entirely open to
interpretation and debate. But if you're not a scientist,
don't take scientific data and twist it to fit what you think it should say.
In my experience pastors don't make very good scientists. I don't
want them interpreting scientific data any more than I'd want a race car
driver diagnosing a complicated medical condition.<br />
<br />
So, 700 Club Asia,<i> Pamilyang Pilipino</i> is doing just fine. Your nation will survive to see tomorrow, even if your government decides it's finally time to recognize<i> all</i> Filipino families. It might be a better use of time and energy to focus on corruption, drug abuse, and poverty, for those things are far more of a threat to <i>Pamilyang Pilipino</i> than any amount of same-sex couples could ever be.<br />
<br />
P.U.S.H. Pilipinas? Sure, I'll bite. But I'll be praying for <i>progress</i> to happen in the Pilipinas - not more of the same, blind, inaccurate religious rhetoric.<br />
<br />
(For what it's worth, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=5GWOU-dKD0w&list=PL3B94E6EA4A0E0528#%21" target="_blank">you can watch 700 Club Asia's <i>Pamilyang Pilipino </i>episode here</a>. It's an hour-long program, but the first 12 minutes or so are the most revealing.)<br />
<br />Erikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02928753211385443072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968144500613954505.post-29029932702227895522012-06-08T09:50:00.002+08:002012-06-09T00:39:29.797+08:00Wedding Bells Ringing in Denmark, for Everyone!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZuwX3333UVxEEjELgV5xcGndfCqtG-EWADCd9eZftztsOeD1oX99nmb4gA70fJbOy9PeLLk8OKe8N332dYWETwLCisfEDackVYuJGCQnGZwvoikQQLjxS6jVw3NmxDdwb7_LDjYlRWHnn/s1600/denmarkmarriageequality.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZuwX3333UVxEEjELgV5xcGndfCqtG-EWADCd9eZftztsOeD1oX99nmb4gA70fJbOy9PeLLk8OKe8N332dYWETwLCisfEDackVYuJGCQnGZwvoikQQLjxS6jVw3NmxDdwb7_LDjYlRWHnn/s320/denmarkmarriageequality.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Anxiously waiting as the final vote was tallied in parliament</i></td></tr>
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Great news from Copenhagen as yesterday the <i>Folketing</i>, the Danish Parliament, voted overwhelmingly to amend that nation's marriage law, making it gender neutral. The previous day (Wednesday), parliament rejected a bill that would have created a separate system of marriage for gay couples under different terminology.<br />
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With the passage of the new, gender-neutral law, same-sex couples will now be able to marry in churches of their choice, the same as opposite-sex couples. Priests will not be forced to perform the weddings if they happen to disagree on personal grounds, however, a majority of pastors in the country do support marriage equality. This includes a majority of priests in the Evangelical Lutheran Church, to which 80% of Danes belong.<br />
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Denmark now joins its neighbors Sweden, Iceland, and my country, Norway, making the four Scandinavian countries a solid marriage equality neighborhood. I couldn't be prouder!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyNxSlEwkYN_-PbQq2FlKCk41M3yfqGorfwaBqyBgBnuco8m5yCsknLsjR8RFXrEcPqF3RZRqnVu47y2WrC_f7ScwPzrDPEWZkhciJirxnLrSy2Q7LT9hPIEpFNDbB3jlMYuWIqt8uhqQx/s1600/helle-thorning-schmidt_955142_26.ashx" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyNxSlEwkYN_-PbQq2FlKCk41M3yfqGorfwaBqyBgBnuco8m5yCsknLsjR8RFXrEcPqF3RZRqnVu47y2WrC_f7ScwPzrDPEWZkhciJirxnLrSy2Q7LT9hPIEpFNDbB3jlMYuWIqt8uhqQx/s320/helle-thorning-schmidt_955142_26.ashx" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt fulfilled last year's campaign promise</i></td></tr>
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Denmark's current system of registered partnerships has been in place since 1989, when Denmark became the first modern country to enact such a law. Registered partnerships conferred all the same rights of marriage, only without calling it marriage. With yesterday's legislation, however, the separate-but-equal status is gone and <u>all</u> couples and marriages will be viewed and treated as 100% equal before the law, and just in time for June weddings.<br />
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By the way, I checked the news and weather in Copenhagen and things look fine. No floods, no earthquakes, no tsunamis, fireballs, or rains of frogs. Just partly cloudy and 18°C. Sorry CBCP, I'm sure that probably confounds and upsets you.<br />
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<b>Congratulations to all the happy couples in Denmark!</b><br />
<br />Erikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02928753211385443072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968144500613954505.post-8471713080521240902012-06-04T14:03:00.000+08:002012-07-04T10:49:53.158+08:00Dueling Messages From the Top<div style="text-align: center;">
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The past few weeks have been interesting ones.<br />
<br />
I'm not an American, neither am I Filipino, but I've spent quite a bit of time in both the
U.S. and the Philippines. I've been fairly amazed by the recent
contrary messages on marriage equality that have been sent from the
White House on one side, and Malacañang on the other.<br />
<br />
President
Barack <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/05/obama-comes-out-i-think-same-sex-couples-should-be-able-to-get-married/" target="_blank">Obama has announced</a> his full support for the right of same-sex
couples to marry, sending a resounding message of equality around the
world.<br />
<br />
The shockwave hit the Philippines, too. Within hours, it
seemed, Malacañang was sadly distancing itself from the
statements coming from the White House.<br />
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"I've always
been adamant that gay and lesbian Americans should be treated fairly and
equally," President Obama stated. "[O]ver the course of several years
as I have talked to friends and family
and neighbors, when I think about members of my own staff who are in
incredibly committed monogamous same-sex relationships, who are raising
kids together [....] at a certain point I’ve just concluded that for me
personally it is
important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples
should be able to get married."<br />
<br />
First Lady Michelle Obama also publicly voiced her stand on the matter, saying, "...for Barack and me, it really comes down to the values of fairness and
equality we want to pass down to our girls. These are basic values that
kids learn at a very young age and that we encourage them to apply in
all areas of their lives. <b style="font-weight: normal;">And in a country where we teach our
children that everyone is equal under the law, discriminating against
same-sex couples just isn’t right. It’s as simple as that."</b><br />
<br />
Malacañang Spokesperson
Edwin Lacierda, however, when fielded with media questions on the
matter the day after Obama's statement, dodged the question as if
reporters were throwing bags of poop at him. "Legally impossible in the
Philippines," was the response.
When pressed further, Lacierda simply <a href="http://www.philstar.com/nation/article.aspx?publicationsubcategoryid=200&articleid=805998" target="_blank">stated</a>
that "Gay marriage is not for the Philippines. Our laws are very
clear... our definition of marriage is a union between a man and a
woman."<br />
<br />
What
message is being sent by these two presidents to the citizens of their
respective nations? The scenario of the dueling messages
from the White House and Malacañang made me stop and think.<br />
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Gay and lesbian kids and teens in America are now, perhaps for
the first time, hearing from the top that they deserve to be treated
normally and equally; that they can have just as much chance and just as
much right to get married and build a home with <i>whomever</i> they
fall in love with.<br />
<br />
Gay and lesbian kids and teens in the Philippines,
however, are still hearing from the top that even though they're free to do as they please,
they will not be treated equally before the law; that they do not and
cannot have the right to get married like the rest of their friends and
neighbors; that the value of who they are as a person is just a little
bit less than the value of "normal", straight citizens.<br />
<br />
Not only is
such a message damaging to the impressionable
self-worth that young people form of themselves, but it is also fuel
for bullies. It gives a pass to intolerance and exclusion. We are
quick to blame the bully for his or her behavior, or perhaps, and
rightly so, the parents. But we must also look at the wider picture.
When the law
treats citizens differently and perceives some citizens as different,
and when elected officials continue to devalue certain forms of love and
certain forms of families,
whose lead do we think the bullies are following?<br />
<br />
Young
people, like all people, simply follow the example they are given from
the top. Any time certain citizens are excluded, the outcome is always
damaging. When the law doesn't reflect equality, society won't reflect
it either.<br />
<br />
The Philippine Constitution is a beautiful document. It contains
an impressive <a href="http://philippines.ahrchk.net/news/mainfile.php/leg_sel/15/" target="_blank">Bill of Rights</a> which, in Section 1, states <b>"...nor shall any
person be denied the equal protection of the laws."</b> That is a
guarantee of equality before the law. But the problem is that where the
issue of marriage equality is concerned, the emphasis is placed on one's
gender, on one's sexual orientation, whereas marriage laws should be
about one's humanity, as "any person", in line with Article III
Section 1.<br />
<br />
As young Filipinos grow up, it becomes ever hard for those who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender to
develop a healthy self-esteem and embrace who they are. This is because <i>the law</i>
doesn't embrace who they are. Section 1 of the Bill of Rights becomes
conditionally operational and is precluded from being relied upon in
certain circumstances (i.e. "this applies to everyone, including me...as long as I'm straight").<br />
<br />
The Family Code goes even further by operating
to deny a right: the right to marry. What message does this send down
the line to the common tao and impressionable youth? It's a powerful message that comes from the top -- from the
very document that Filipino heroes fought to establish for <i>all</i> Filipinos.<br />
<br />
Homophobia
is currently enshrined in many nations' laws, much as racism was years ago.
While many of the younger generation see through the bigotry of the
older generation, many do not. Laws that support bigotry make it easier
for those who, either in their own minds or as proxies of their
parents, spew intolerance based on difference. Those same laws could
also convince some who would otherwise support equality to go against
their intuition and develop a belief that there is something wrong with
the "other."<br />
<br />
Personally, based on <a href="http://progressph.blogspot.com/2011/09/president-aquino-on-same-sex-marriage.html" target="_blank">his candid comment</a>
at last year's Asian Society Forum in New York, I don't think President
Aquino has a problem with marriage equality. Privately he's probably
supportive of the concept. Unfortunately things don't get better when presidents are privately progressive and publicly silent. We need more from our leaders. Even my 95 year old grandmother can sit in her living room and be supportive of this or that. It's our <i>public</i> position that pushes change...especially if we're elected leaders.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguo1TDs2J2c6UreTRfMaCUrE8mPHzDfLSkUHHOMzpfCdq6uBWQwlxThk9mpsjkZBQ_lU09Fn_Hbzt0SoFkKbglykbOnZKl1KtI85dY77BPLIfSq_JYchiLtkrbHGOw-wxWs14BDpit8WIq/s1600/rodrigo-duterte.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguo1TDs2J2c6UreTRfMaCUrE8mPHzDfLSkUHHOMzpfCdq6uBWQwlxThk9mpsjkZBQ_lU09Fn_Hbzt0SoFkKbglykbOnZKl1KtI85dY77BPLIfSq_JYchiLtkrbHGOw-wxWs14BDpit8WIq/s200/rodrigo-duterte.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Vice Mayor Duterte</i></td></tr>
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There are those in the Philippines, though, who <u>are</u> starting to
speak out for fairness. From the deep south city of Davao, Vice Mayor
Rodrigo Duterte has recently voiced his support for marriage equality.
"Being married and marrying the person that you love is a matter of
choice," <a href="http://www.interaksyon.com/article/31639/palace-says-gay-marriage-not-for-ph-but-davaos-duterte-calls-it-a-matter-of-choice" target="_blank">Duterte said</a>. "Gays are supposed to have the [same] rights and freedom as heterosexuals, including the freedom to marry and build a family."<br />
<br />
“I look at them as human beings and not on their gender,” he said.
“If people want same-sex marriages, gay marriages, it is their choice.”
While acknowledging that Philippine law currently does not have marriage equality, Duterte went on to say that, “If there is a
law (bringing marriage equality), I
will support it and go for it.”<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Rodrigo Duterte, PLEASE RUN FOR PRESIDENT!</b> His statements
were a refreshing, progressive breath of fresh air from a Philippine
political landscape that is all too often stuck in the mud of the dark ages.<br />
<br />
With more leaders like Duterte in the Philippines, the playing field
could start to be leveled and the mainstream could start to be
corrected. Then, maybe then, we'll start to see that we're not so
different after all, which is precisely what Article III Section 1 of
the Philippine Constitution has been saying all along.<br />
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(Comments may be posted in the Disqus field below)<br />
<br />Erikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02928753211385443072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968144500613954505.post-4310487107031014612012-06-04T13:34:00.000+08:002012-06-04T14:06:28.946+08:00Conservative Jews and French Kisses<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yesterday the Conservative faction of Judaism in North America formally endorsed marriage equality. Oh yeah, you read that right: the CONSERVATIVE Jewish branch! Reform Jews, the more liberal faction of Judaism to which most Jews belong, have already been long supportive of equality. This move by their conservative brethren was a welcomed surprise.<br />
<br />
So much for the argument that "all major religions are opposed to same-sex marriage." Sorry if it scares you, but there are millions of progressive Jews, Buddhists, and Christians (such as myself) who are fully and entirely supportive of equal marriage.<br />
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Also yesterday, on a non-religious note, in Paris the new French President Francois Hollande and Prime Minister Jean Marc Ayrault announced that a change in legislation to allow same-sex couples to marry and adopt children will be done 'quickly' and that a draft bill is 'ready,' according to French news site Yagg.com.<br />
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The new French executors vowed to keep their campaign promise of bringing marriage equality to France, stating that they understand the urgency and importance of it.<br />
<br />
A Socialist Party spokesperson stated that legislation will likely be presented in the National Assembly for discussion 'before the autumn,' and with it France is set to join other predominantly Catholic countries which already have marriage equality.<br />
<br />
The French government's decision highlights the point that civil unions, which France has had since 1999, simply have not been good enough for a country that prides itself on treating everyone equally.Erikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02928753211385443072noreply@blogger.com0