TO live in a patriarchal society where heteronormativity exists and is deemed the standard of human life can be likened to an old devout politician in the Philippines: too antiquated, non-progressive, and elusive to social justice dialogues.
The pastor-turned-lawmaker Bro. Eddie Villanueva and his son Sen. Joel Villanueva have once again proven that not all parishioners who are vocal about their faith understand what Jesus meant when He said: don’t judge others.
The Bible makes it quite apparent that God does not encourage its faithful to pass judgment on one another.
It was also mentioned in the teachings of Christianity that human beings do not possess the same comprehensive understanding as God. This only means that believers are not in the position to judge others since it is believed that human perspectives are biased due to the restrictions that they have.
But it looks like the Villanuevas have preceded the Lord’s judgment day.
The word of the Lord Villanueva
On Monday, Sen. Villanueva aired his disapproval of the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Expression, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) anti-discrimination bill, citing the word of God.
According to him, just because the proposed measure is being practiced in other countries does not mean the Philippines can practice it, too.
He went on to say: “If you cannot respect the word of God, if you cannot respect the Bible, please respect the beliefs of our countrymen.”
A week ago, drama ensued in the House of Representatives after the elder Villanueva, who represents the CIBAC Partylist and is founder of Jesus Is Lord Church Worldwide, walked out after he failed to stop the hearing of eight house bills that pertained to anti-discrimination of individuals on the basis of their SOGIESC.
What is SOGIESC Bill
The SOGIESC bill seeks to prohibit discriminatory policies such as denying people access to public services, imposing disciplinary actions, or rejecting their membership to any organization solely because of their sexual orientation, gender identity expression, or sex characteristics.
Other examples include refusing admission to or expelling people from a school or training institution, denying them access to public services, and imposing disciplinary actions on them.
The version in the Senate was authored by Sen. Risa Hontiveros, who believes the bill will end the decades-long discrimination and intolerance faced by the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) community.
No same sex marriage
None of the provisions of the SOGIESC bill discussed the inclusion of same-sex marriage, but the Villanuevas claimed that the bottom line of this bill is marriage, which is why they cannot let this bill pass into law. Under the Family Code of the Philippines, the state only acknowledges the marriage or union between a man and a woman.
“They want same-sex marriage. Let’s not fool each other,” the younger Villanueva said.
“SOGIE Bill’s ‘Equality and anti-discrimination Slogan’ is just a camouflage that will pave the way to detestable same-sex marriage being abhorred by God Himself,” the older Villanueva said in a tweet.
In 2019, Rep. Villanueva was also the same person who claimed that the SOGIESC bill threatens the freedom of non-members of the LGBTQIA+ community as it will supposedly undermine the role of parents, harm academic freedom, and endanger the freedom of speech and even of religion.
In the same vein, he claimed that the SOGIE Bill casts doubt on the fundamental principles upon which the laws of the country are based.
‘Blinded by ignorance and homophobia’
Members of the LGBTQIA+ community hit back at the Villanuevas after they supposedly “delayed” the discussions to legalize the bill.
Kaizen Kuno, 23, said that although they respect the people’s right to have their own beliefs, it doesn’t mean that the religious opposition, specifically the Villanuevas, have the right to impose their beliefs on other people.
“I think they’re blinded by ignorance and homophobia. They think they’ll have less rights as religious men when the members of the LGBTQ+ community are given equal rights, so they are trying to maintain the status quo,” Kuno told republicasia.
But isn’t the power given to them mainly from the people who elected them? The people who are just like them: believers of the Church, messengers of the Lord, and children of God.
The separation of the Church and the State
The 1987 Constitution clearly states that the separation of the Church and the State is inviolable. It also said that “no law shall be made respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”
A wall of separation between the Church and the state is in the best interest of the Church since it shields the Church from the authority and influence of government officials.
However, when the time comes for the state to establish laws to defend the rights of the people, the Church is the primary institution that drags down the process of these bills.
The father and son tandem seems to have forgotten the essence of this principle, and they are now using their Bible card to win the game.
But the fight is not over.
