'Same sex marriage a no-no in Phl'

MANILA, Philippines - While some US states may allow same-sex marriage that further got a boost from reelectionist US President Barack Obama, Philippine laws do not allow it, a Palace official said yesterday.

“Our law is very clear on the definition of marriage. It’s a union between a man and woman,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda, who is a lawyer, said yesterday in response to queries on whether the Aquino administration is open to gay marriage.

“We don’t have the same cultural milieu as the United States and remember, that is an election issue right now,” he explained, referring to the upcoming US presidential elections in November.

Lacierda added that he is not familiar with the laws of the US.

In September 2011 in New York, where he was the guest of Asia Society, President Aquino voiced some support for gay rights, but stopped short of endorsing gay marriage or adoption.

He voiced sympathy for gay rights but said he had mixed feelings about whether gay couples should adopt children.

Aquino initially declined to delve into a question on gay marriage but declared to the crowd: “Adults should be able to do whatever you want as long as you don’t harm anybody else.”

“But if the next step happens to be, we want the right to adopt, then I would be in a dilemma,” he said. “My priority would be looking after the child, who has a very tender and impressionable mind.”

Gay marriage has been growing in acceptance around the world, with New York state legalizing same-sex unions in July 2011.

No Asian nation allows gay marriage, although proposals have made headway in Nepal and Taiwan.

The country has a vibrant gay scene despite a macho culture and opposition from the highly influential Roman Catholic Church.

The Philippines has an official gay political party – Ladlad – and in 1994, became the site of Asia’s first gay pride march.