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[av_heading heading=’For LGBTs, civil union more feasible than marriage – Roman’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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MANILA – A civil partnership would be a more feasible option for Filipino gay people than same-sex marriage, according to Rep. Geraldine Roman (Bataan, 1st District).
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier this week said “we can change the law” if it impedes the legal recognition of same-sex marriage.
But Roman – the Philippines’ first transgender woman lawmaker – believes the Philippines is not yet ready for same-sex marriages.
“We want to thank President Duterte for his support for the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) community,” she said in a statement. “It only shows that he wants equality for all Filipinos.”
But “the Civil Partnership Bill has definitely more chances of being approved,” said the lawmaker.
“What we are interested in is the legal recognition and the civil rights, bearing in mind what is plausible at this point in time and without offending religious sensibilities,” she said.
Roman was one of the coauthors of House Bill No. 6595 – primarily authored by House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez – which seeks to legalize civil unions among same-sex and heterosexual couples.
Couples cannot enter into a civil partnership unless they are at least 18 years old and free from any previous bond of marriage or civil partnership, the bill stated.
The bill also governs property rights, custodial rights over children and even adoption rights for couples who cannot produce a child.
Aside from back-tracking on same-sex marriage – Duterte rejected the idea in March this year – the President also vowed to protect the rights of gay people and invited them to nominate a representative to work in his administration./PN
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