Adjudicators, esteemed moderator, opponents opponents from the negative side, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, gentlemen, an equal and rights-respectful rights-respectful afternoon to all. Former US President John F. Kennedy once said, "If we cannot now end our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity." These differences that I am talking about the society's clashing opinions and beliefs regarding our proposition this afternoon. Same sex marriage legalized is not only practical and necessary but also, indeed, it is beneficial not only for the LGBT community but rather for the equality that this world seeks. Allow me to present some of the numerous benefits of the change the affirmative side has been reiterating from the start of this timely debate. We now ask ourselves "why would it be beneficial AT ALL? what does it mean for us who are not part of the LGBT community?" 1. ECONOMIC ASPECT Legalizing same sex marriage does not only benefit the LGBT community but also the nation as a whole. Marriages provide more opportunities for local businesses. Hundreds of thousands excited same sex couples would start planning their weddings. It includes spending on wedding planners, florists, suits and gowns, photographers, hotels, restaurants, caterers, and more. Tourism will also be boosted by the same sex couples and wedding guests from other countries. In a 2012 study by M.V. Lee Badgett and Jennifer Smith of the Williams Institute, UCLA Scool of Law, the economic impact of extending marriage to same sex marriage in Australia was found to boost the Australian economy by $161 million over the first three years that it was legalized. Furthermore, New York City's economy was boosted by $259 million in the first year marriage equality was legalized. I quote CNN's published article online "Marriage equality has made our City more open, inclusive and free -- and it has also helped to create jobs and support our economy," Mayor Bloomberg said in a statement." statement." "More than 200,000 guests flocked to New York City from other parts of the state or country to partake in the celebrations. Hotels booked nearly 236,000 nights at an average rate of $275 per night. More than 40,000 wedding announcements were printed, and couples bought 47,445 wedding favors, the economic impact survey found." End of quote. 2. CONVENIENCE FOR FILIPINOS So if it were to be legalized in the Philippines, Filipino same sex couples will find it more convenient for them as they would not have to go overseas to have their marriage be recognized before the eyes of the law. Just like the first Pinoy same sex couple that were married in Italy and the singer/actor Aiza Seguerra with her partner Liza Diño in the United States. Despite their marriage abroad, they remain "single" because their marriage is void and will not be recognized in our country. "It's a form of formal discrimination," says Attorney Jay Bordon, co-founder of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) Bar Association. 3. PROPERTY, INSURANCE BENEFICIARY RIGHTS BUT DENIED Besides not having havin g the marriage recognized, there are more consequences consequenc es that the LGBT community must bear. In the same article by CNN, Aiza has vented out her frustrations on this issue. Because Aiza and Liza's
marriage is void, the house they purchased together is not considered as “conjugal property”. They would
have to find other legal means to share their ownership rights over such house (such as entering into a co-ownership arrangement or partnership, etc). For heterosexual couples, properties they individually own or buy together automatically become part of their conjugal properties upon marriage (subject to some exceptions and absent a prenuptial agreement). Aiza and Liza cannot name each other as “beneficiary” in each of their entitlements from government programs like the Social Security Syst em, Pagibig or Philhealth. This restriction has legal basis because under Philippine law same-sex couples have no legal relation with each other, either by consanguinity or affinity. Technically, same-sex couples are strangers to each other—they are not related by blood or by marriage ties. These are all supposedly their rights that must be exercised without question. However, because of their sexual orientation and gender identity, they were unjustly discriminated and denied of these rights. As a step toward the marriage equality rightfully deserved by the LGBTs, Albay Representative Edcel Lagman Jr. Lagman has filed such a bill to govern property ownership by cohabiting same-sex couples, which would allow them to decide whether to co-own the properties they acquire while living together, or to maintain exclusive ownership singly. The bill would protect the couple’s partnerships and property
not only from third persons but even from each other, similar to the protection given to heterosexual couples, he said. He said his bill was part of the move to recognize and protect the rights of members of the so-called LGBT community, especially considering that many same-sex couples are coming out into the open. This may still not be enough as the LGBT community surely deserves nothing less than marriage equality, but such legislative milestone would mark the path towards progress of a modern society.
4. PROCREATION DEBUNKED The negative side might say that marriage is for the purpose of procreation. Is marriage for procreation only? What about those couples who are physically unable or who are already old to bear children? Will their marriage be void? Simply, the answer is no. In fact, marriage for procreation purposes is not a legal requirement under the Philippine laws. According to Atty. Soledad Mawis, dean of the Lyceum College of Law, "A man and a woman without children is still a family. In addition to this, Philippine Family Code author Judge Alicia Sempio-Dy wrote and I quote: "The Committee believes that marriage may also be only for companionship, as when parties past the age of procreation still get married." End of quote. Moreover, raising children is not limited to biological parents as there is such a thing as adoption. Marriage and family goes beyond procreation. 5.
ADOPTION
Many children have no permanent homes, while others are forced to survive in an endless series of substandard foster homes. It is estimated that there are 500,000 children in foster care in the United States and 100,000 need to be adopted. Of the 594,000 same-sex couple households in the United States, 115,000 have children. Over the years, the number of children living with LGBT parents has risen tremendously. As the trend continues, that number will only increase, as same sex adoption and parenting becomes more and more widely accepted. 6.
CLAIMS ABOUT SAME SEX COUPLE'S ADOPTED CHILDREN
People argue that LGBT parents are incompetent to raise children as compared to heterosexual parents. However, according to Dr. Fran Walfish, a child and family psychotherapist, LGBT parents provide an equally supportive and healthy environment for their children as heterosexual parents. Furthermore, the American Psychological Association observed that "not a single study has found children of gay or lesbian parents to be disadvantaged in any significant respect relative to children of heterosexual parents," and concluded that "home environments provided by gay and lesbian parents are as likely as those provided by heterosexual parents to support and enable children's psychosocial growth. The researchers also concluded there was no evidence that children raised by a single parent or same-sex couples were less competent or well-rounded than other children. These are obviously inconsistent with the widespread claim that children must be raised by a mother and a father to do well. Moreover, it has been argued that children being raised by homosexual parents affects their development. A 2010 study by Stanford researcher Michael Rosenfeld used census data to examine the school advancement of 3,500 children with same-sex parents, finding no significant differences between households headed by same-sex and opposite-sex parents. These kids may show better psychological adjustment and have the advantage of open-mindedness, tolerance and role models for diverse and equitable relationships, according to some research. In addition to these, a research by University of Kentucky Assistant Professor of Psychology Rachel H. Farr provides further support that children adopted by lesbian and gay parents are well-adjusted, not only in early childhood, but across time into middle childhood. Her study focused on a longitudinal follow-up of nearly 100 adoptive families with school-age children as they matured from early to middle childhood. And as per Farr, parents appeared to be capable in their parenting roles and satisfied in their couple relationships over time, with no differences by family type.
The US Supreme Court stated in its decision in the case of Obergefell vs. Hodges, I quote "A third basis for protecting the right to marry is that it safeguards children and families and thus draws meaning from related rights of childrearing, procreation, and education. … Without the recognition, stability, and predictability marriage offers, children suffer the stigma of knowing their families are somehow lesser."
7. REDUCING DISCRIMINATION THROUGH S-S M In the past and up to this point of time, discrimination is existing and will exist if we do not act and make a change. As a matter of fact, in a news article published by INQUIRER.net on August 10, 2017, one Bunny Cadag, a transgender woman, was hired by the Jollibee Foods Corporation in June 2017 for a transcription job, was told that JFC was not ready to accept the LGBT culture and that she was not welcome at their office. It should be the work that they do as a person rather than how they express their gender identity. The legalization of same sex marriage is beneficial in a way that it will help end discrimination or at least reduce discrimination against the LGBT. In an article published by the LA Times after the US Supreme Court has ruled for the legalization of same sex marriage, and I quote "In addition to clearing the way for same-sex marriage nationwide, Friday's decision may help end discrimination against gays and lesbians in other matters, such as adoption and custody rights, legal experts say. “This will have tremendous impact on family law in particular,” said Sarah Warbelow, the top
lawyer for the Human Rights Campaign in Washington. “Th is will be a tool to help us begin to eradicate those instances of discrimination.”
Theodore J. Boutrous, a prominent Los Angles lawyer who was part of the legal team that first took the gay marriage issue to the Supreme Court, said the opinion “rejects t he notion of second-class citizenship for gay people. Any law that discriminates against gay people is going to fall in the face of this ruling.”
8.
SOCIAL ACCEPTANCE THROUGH S-S M BECAUSE OF REDUCED DISCRIMINATION
Disccrimination has been there. But over the years, the societal acceptance for the LGBT community grows bigger and bigger. According to US Pew Research Center, Americans’ attitudes about gays and lesbians have changed dramatically over the past decade or so. These changing attitudes have meant that LGBT adults feel more accepted by society now than in t he past. When survey respondents were asked how the level of overall
social acceptance of people who are LGBT has changed over the past decade, their reactions were overwhelmingly positive. About nine-in-ten LGBT adults (92%) say society is more accepting of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people than it was 10 years ago. Survey says people knowing someone who is LGBT helps a lot in making the society more accepting of people who are LGBT. 9.
THE PERSUASION!
Discrimination is the result of the societal disapproval of the LGBT community. Same sex marriage has been brought to the society. This is a changing reality. It has become a growing necessity. Legalizing same sex marriage is in the spirit and aim of the Constitution as it requires that all persons or things similarly situated should be treated alike, both as to rights conferred and responsibilities imposed and not to give undue favor and unjustly discriminate. LGBT Filipinos are not seeking special rights, but full respect for the human rights they should enjoy as citizens of the republic. For everyone deserves the rights granted to them by the law, equality has been demanded by our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender brothers and sisters. Why must we deprive them of these rights solely on account that they do not belong to the society's so-called norms and morals or because they loved someone of the same sex? This change is one whose time has come that future generations will look back with surprise that the law ever prevented same-sex couples from marrying.
I quote an author named Audre Lorde “It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.”
THANK YOU!
