SWS: 61% opposed to same sex marriage

MANILA, Philippines — Six in every 10 Filipinos oppose the proposal to allow same-sex civil unions, according to a survey conducted by Social Weather Stations (SWS).

The March 23 to 27 survey, the result of which was released as Pride Month ended yesterday, showed 61 percent opposing the passage of a law that will legally allow union between two men or two women.

Every year, during the month of June, members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community celebrate in different ways to call for equality.

Yesterday, thousands of LGBT members and their allies marched in Marikina City with their rainbow flags and banners expressing optimism that same sex marriage will become legal in the Philippines one day.

Twenty-two percent support the proposal, while 16 percent said they were undecided.

SWS said opposition to the civil union of same-sex couples was dominant in all areas, with the highest in the Visayas (21 percent agree, 66 percent disagree), followed by the rest of Luzon (20 percent agree, 63 percent disagree), Mindanao (21 percent agree, 58 percent disagree) and Metro Manila (29 percent agree, 56 percent disagree).

By religion, support for same-sex civil unions was lowest among Iglesia ni Cristo members (11 percent agree, 74 percent disagree).

It was followed by Muslims (12 percent agree, 60 percent disagree), members of other Christian denominations (15 percent agree, 70 percent disagree) and Roman Catholics (24 percent agree, 60 percent disagree).

Opposition to the civil union of a same-sex couple was strongest among single men who are widowed, separated or divorced, while support was strongest – although still less than the majority – among single men who never married.

The survey had 1,200 respondents and a sampling error margin of +/- three percent.

During the Pride March, Sandy Aloma, an actress, chose to be positive despite the survey and said she expected a bigger opposition, especially in a predominantly Catholic country.

“I’m surprised it’s only 61 percent. I would think it’s 77,” said Aloma, who has been with her wife Ida Ramos for 21 years. They have an adopted eight-year-old son Liam.