LGBT groups: “If he’s sincere, support pro-LGBT measures.”
On Wednesday, LGBT groups said that Senator Manny Pacquiao should heed the call of the community to pass measures to uphold the rights of the sector if he’s sincere with his apology.
This, after the senator said that he has already apologized regarding his remarks to the LGBT sector.
According to a report on ABS-CBN News, Bahaghari chairperson Rey Valmores-Salinas said that they needed concrete solutions that would recognize the rights of the LGBT community and would help eliminate discrimination.
She also challenged the senator to publicly support the passage of the SOGIE Equality Bill and other measures in support of the community.
“Clear pronouncements on LGBTQ+ issues are important because otherwise, it’s all motherhood statements. Apologies are appreciated, but it’s not just apologies we need,” Valmores-Salinas told ABS-CBN News. “We need concrete solutions to issues of discrimination, violence, poverty, and denial of state recognition faced by the LGBTQ+ community.”
PANTAY national convenor Vince Liban also echoed Valmores-Salinas’ statement, saying that words weren’t enough to make amends.
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According to Liban, the list of Pacquiao’s judgments and insults on the community was long and the senator didn’t just apologize because it’s election season.
The senator earlier stood by his stand as he opposed same-sex marriage, but said he loved the LGBT community for being “smart, hardworking, and resourceful”.
Last 2016, Pacquiao was met with heavy criticism by the LGBT community both locally and abroad after he said that couples in same-sex relationships were worse than animals.
Pacquiao later apologized for his remark but didn’t change his stand that same-sex marriage should remain prohibited in the Philippines.
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