Duterte Opposes Gay Marriage in Philippines, Reversing Campaign Pledge
By FELIPE VILLAMORMARCH 20, 2017
MANILA — The Philippines will not legalize same-sex marriage anytime soon, President Rodrigo Duterte has
said, reversing a campaign promise in which he pledged to support legislation to allow gay unions.
Same-sex marriage, deriving from that principle, protects both parties with respect to property rights
and even in caring for children both parties decide to adopt." She accused Mr. Duterte of being "unable to grasp truths beyond his myopic world of self-delusion." Mr. Duterte has had a complicated relationship with the Catholic Church, which he has assailed in vulgar terms as a "hypocritical institution." He has openly accused its leaders of corruption and sexual exploitation.
The bill would have legalized same-sex civil marriage in the Philippines, where the Catholic Church wields substantial political influence.
In a pre-election forum in January last year, Mr. Duterte endeared himself to progressives
and the gay community when he was asked whether he would push for legislation to allow same-sex marriages, and he replied that he would.
But he stressed: "Wherever God has placed you, stay there." He noted
that no one was empowered to "erase the great divide between a woman and a man." This stood in contrast to Mr. Duterte’s stance during the 2016 campaign, when he expressed support for possible legislation allowing same-sex marriage.
Rosales said that When people love each other, whether heterosexual or of the
same sex, what is paramount is the love towards the other person’s humanity,
