EVEN THOUGH the Philippines is seen as one of the most LGBT-friendly countries in the world, there are still many rights not given to the LGBTQ+ community. Same-sex marriage and the continued rejection of the SOGIE Bill are just two examples of this.
Despite this, the LGBTQ+ community in the Philippines pushes on, continuing to love who they love amid all adversities they may face. Many individuals, organizations, and public figures have spoken up for the legalization of same-sex marriage.
Make no mistake, though; the fact that it is not yet legal in the Philippines does not mean it has stopped members of the LGBTQ+ community from saying “I do” to one another.
Here are a few examples of LGBTQ+ couples in the Philippines who have been brave enough to declare their love to the world, going above and beyond to legally become one another’s spouse.
- Francis Libiran and Christian Mark Jacobs
When Francis and Christian first met, they were just two strangers in Paris. Christian couldn’t stop himself from chatting Francis up, and it felt as if immediately, they felt connected to one another.
Despite being from different countries, the two continued to find ways to see one another until Christian proposed to Francis a year later, at the very same spot they met.
The pair tied the knot in 2019 in a beautiful ceremony in Boracay, making plans to eventually get married in the United States to legalize their union.
More than just lovers, however, they are business partners too; with Francis working as a fashion designer for many notable celebrities, Christian has since taken over as president and COO of Francis Libiran Bridal.
- Ice Seguerra and Liza Diño
Ice and Liza originally met one another in 1999. While they first started as friends, they briefly tried dating, and then parted ways following Liza’s move to the U.S..
They would then reconnect with one another in 2013, with Ice soon proposing to Liza. Following this, they got married in San Francisco, California, just a year later.
Liza’s daughter, Amara, was only four when the couple got together. Since then, Ice has built a strong relationship with her, with Amara even referring to Ice as her “papa” in a Father’s Day Instagram post that she made back in 2023.
Ice has since said that he owes a large part of his self-discovery to Liza, saying in an interview: “Only Liza has made me realize you must fight for your love. Our goal is to always fight the problem and not each other. I am thrilled with her, and she is happy with me. We are so in sync. I am blessed that she is my wife.”
- KaladKaren and Luke Wrightson
KaladKaren, a transgender woman known to be a vocal advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, got married earlier this year to her beau, Luke Wrightson, in September of 2024.
The pair got married in the ceremonial county of Scarborough, North Yorkshire, in England.
Prior to this, she had posted Luke proposing to her not one, but two times, with the first being in September of 2020, and the second, July of 2024.
The two first met while KaladKaren was on vacation in Hong Kong, all the way back in 2012. After talking to one another nonstop for a few months, Luke then came to the Philippines to visit her.
In a video she’d posted in the past, KaladKaren opened up about how when she was young she thought that no one would ever love her because she was different, but this soon changed after she met Luke.
“Nakakatakot magmahal, nakakatakot masaktan, nakakatakot iwanan,” she noted.
“Pero sabi nga nila, minsan kailangan mo lang maniwala.”
- Pat Lasaten and Agnes Reoma
Members of the popular Filipino band “Ben & Ben” have recently tied the knot, as well.
They first started dating in 2014 when they were just college kids still hiding their relationship from their families. They definitely came a long way since then. They got engaged in July of 2023, which was initially rather difficult given that their parents were still on the journey of acceptance.
Despite these bumps in the road, Pat and Agnes enjoyed a beautiful, intimate ceremony in Los Angeles, California, with Pat writing on Instagram: “I married my best friend. It was a perfect day.”
Their love is what inspired the band’s song, “Paninindigan Kita”, released back in 2022 for Pride Month.
Here, the lyrics read: “Paninindigan kita oo, anumang sabihin ng magulong mundo, kahit ayaw nilang ako’y sayo, Ika’y iingatan ko.”
- Tim Yap and Javi Martinez
Tim and Javi first met through a mutual friend on Christmas day during a breast cancer awareness event, and they have been inseparable ever since, tying the knot in 2018.
The intimate event took place on Christmas Day in New York, with only two witnesses: their friends, Marcel Crespo and Lea Salonga.
Last year, 2023, they celebrated getting married a second time.
In an interview, Javi explained that they kept their union simple because they wanted to focus on themselves without having to focus on an audience.
To same-sex couples who also hope to get married someday, Javi said in an interview: “When you know you’ve found the one, you stick to it, you work it out, through thick and thin, you don’t give up. You take it to the next level.”
- Vice Ganda and Ion Perez
Vice Ganda’s love story with Ion began after the latter caught the former’s eye on an episode of “Gandang Gabi Vice” all the way back in 2017. They would continue bumping into each other until, eventually, in 2019, Ion came to admit that he viewed Vice as very special to him.
During the 10th anniversary celebration of “It’s Showtime”, the two then finally came clean about their relationship. In 2021, they announced that they’d gotten married, with Ion initially proposing in 2020.
In a vlog the couple posted to YouTube, they revealed that they’d gotten married at a simple ceremony at the Las Vegas Chapel in Nevada.
In their vows, they proclaimed their love for one another, while also promising that they would always be there for one another and inspire each other no matter what.
Hopes for the future
While same-sex marriage is currently not yet legal in the Philippines, one can hope that in the future, it will be.
Back in 2016, during his candidacy for vice president, now President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jur. said that he had nothing against same-sex marriage if ever the people would support its legalization.
To this, he said: “Kung magkakaroon tayo ng batas, eh kung sang-ayon ang taumbayan, anong sinasabi? Vox populi, vox dei – the voice of the people is the voice of God. Ganun tayo sumusunod.”
He added that he was in support of what Pope Francis had said: that the LGBTQ+ community should be integrated into society, saying, “Who am I to judge?”
Later on in 2022, he again stated that if ever Congress were to pass a bill for same-sex unions (not same-sex marriage), he would sign it.
