Same sex adultery bill defended

MANILA, Philippines - Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman Jr. yesterday defended his bill seeking to criminalize same sex adultery in the country, saying it would help uphold the rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders (LGBT).

Lagman earlier filed House Bill 2352 that would amend obsolete provisions of Article 333 of the Revised Penal Code covering crimes against chastity by broadening the scope of what constitutes adultery to include married women in sexual relations with other women and married men having sex with other men.

He said that when he was a practicing lawyer, he had been consulted by clients who were left without legal recourse against erring husbands and wives because there is no law that punishes these kinds of extra-marital relationships.

He also clarified that he has always been a staunch advocate of gender equality and rights of the LGBT community, especially in terms of employment and non-discrimination in the workforce.

“I have fought for equal rights and treatment with regard to the workplace while I was practicing councilor, but we are talking about a different thing here. We are talking about the sanctity and preservation of marriage – that no person, straight or gay, should be exempt from punishment of the law if they commit adultery,” Lagman explained.

The measure “does not intend to push gays and lesbians farther into the closet, as claimed by the bill’s detractors... It is not about punishing homosexuality. It is about ensuring that the treachery and betrayal that go hand in hand with adultery – be it heterosexual or homosexual – cannot be committed with impunity.”

“Some gay people enter into marriage because they do not want people to know that they are gay. Why the need for such deception? After which they go on with their lifestyle simply because they think their act is not ‘adulterous’ since no law punishes such act,” he pointed out.

He also said the public should be wary of knee-jerk reactions that claim that the bill is anti-gay and reactionary when it is simply anti-adultery.

What is bigoted, he added, is to expect to be given equal rights when it comes to entitlements and privileges but not when it comes to punishments and penalties if people trample on the rights of others.

Lagman also dismissed as “nonsense” fears that he would soon file a divorce bill as HB 2352 is about upholding the sanctity and preservation of marriage.

“We should all think twice before getting into a relationship outside of marriage. If we should get married, we must stay faithful – not because the law provides a sanction for adultery and/or concubinage, but because we love our spouses and it is the right thing to do,” he said.