Legalization of gay marriage in the Philippines

Philippines is long known for being a conservative and traditional society especially when
it comes to controversial issues. One of the most recent examples of such is the legalization of gay
marriage. This allows persons of the same sex to marry each other and be recognized by the law.
However, such issue became a controversy due to the fact that the religious sectors also have a
strong influence on their followers and in the state.

Personally, I am in favor of the legalization of gay marriage simply because of the rationale
or purpose of why this exist. Gay marriage is essential not only for the mere purpose of a title. It
also needed for the enshrinement of the same conjugal rights that a valid marriage has. There are
several instances wherein these same-sex partners are discriminated in terms of succession of their
properties. If one dies, the family of the deceased would be the ones who would succeed the
properties left by the former—hence creates an unjust situation for the surviving partner. And in
most cases, these are the same families who have neglected their family member for his or her
sexual orientation. By legalizing gay marriage, it would enable partners of the same sex and their
rights to be be protected by the law.

The Philippines still has a long way of socially accepting the rights of the third sex and that
they are also of the same stature as others too. However, we need to take small steps such as
recognizing the rights of the third sex into order to create a more just society.