It's the end of June, and Pride month has come and gone. In the capital, many embassies such as the Austrian, Dutch, and American delegations to this banana republic unfurled rainbow flags and sponsored a plethora of events, all designed to celebrate unity with the LGBTQ+ movement.
The multi-nationals followed suit, with JP Morgan and other buildings all dressed up in the rainbow flag. Surprisingly, many local communities also celebrated Pride, and not just in the capital. Bacolod and Lapu-Lapu cities organized their own unique parades and get-togethers, and Park Mall in the Reclamation Area even advertised its welcoming gay-friendly space. A wonderful unfolding of events.
But that doesn't mean all is hunky-dory. There are still groups that have mobilized to spread anti-LGBT vitriol, despite this day and age. Take for example the Couples for Christ-Foundation (CFC), who took the opportunity to pop the balloons at the One Big Pride parade of the Ateneo de Manila University by issuing its own statement against it.
Three so-called truths were laid down by the CFC:
First, "there are only two sexes as created by God" (and just to make sure we get it right, it goes on to specify these sexes as 'male' and 'female'). Genders, we are told, are "social constructs, as we see with the continually evolving LGBTQIA+ genders". These genders, the statement asserts, "have no basis in nature and reality".
Second, CFC says "homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered and contrary to the natural law. Same-sex attraction is objectively disordered". (I have no idea why CFC emphasized "disordered" so much, that it had to couple it with "intrinsically" and again with "objectively". Probably the writer had an OCD compulsion to make sure everything was in order).
Third, all these pride celebrations are "contrary to the Catholic faith, and thus injurious to the faithful, especially the young." (Predictable, coming from them, but I don't know why this message suddenly got lumped in together with this next thought bubble:) "All persons deserve respect and compassion. In reality, gays in the Philippines are well-accepted and not just tolerated. They certainly are not discriminated against, not persecuted".
Now, writer Evan Tan has already done an admirable job of dissecting these so-called truths over at Esquiremag.ph (read it, he's funny), but I simply can't leave well enough alone. In addition, here are a couple more observations that might be good to chew on.
The CFC wants its members to believe the LGBTQ community isn't discriminated against or persecuted. But does it not realize that by pronouncing homosexual acts as "intrinsically" and "objectively" disordered, it is a form of persecution already? Heck, why not add more slurs like "contrary to natural law" and "injurious to the youth". What do they think these are? A medical diagnosis that’s neutral and bereft of judgment?
With this statement, the CFC is showing its true colors as a persecutor and a discriminator. Where is the respect and compassion it professes? I don't see it demonstrated here.
And I just can't let go of "objectively disordered". Who viewed the LGBTQ community and objectively decided it was a disorder? The CFC leadership? They took a vote among the members and counted hands, with a majority opinion resulting in the establishment of an objective truth? That sounded very subjective to me.
No, CFC. It is you that is injurious to the youth. The gay youth, the lesbian youth, the queer youth, who are all coping with their sexuality and rejection. You make it possible for these youths to be hated and insulted. Your harsh words result in depression and suicides.
Happy Pride, CFC. I hope you're proud of what you've done.