Abante rages on, excerpts from his speech

A battle to pass a human rights measure penalizing discrimination against lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgenders is raging in the House of Representatives, where the incumbent Chairperson of the Committee on Human Rights, Rep. Bienvenido Abante (6th Distict, Manila City), is ironically blocking the bill's passage. In a controversial speech delivered last Monday, Rep. Abante, who is also a Baptist pastor, charged that the enactment of the bill would invite the wrath of God and would mean "death to the most cherished Filipino values of Godliness and moral rectitude."

LAGABLAB is calling anew for protest letters against Rep. Abante. We urge those who value human dignity and equality to demand for his resignation as the Chair of the House Committee on Civil, Political and Human Rights.

To read more and to download a copy of Abante's speech, visit http://lagablab.wordpress.com/2006/11/22/abante-speech/.

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Some quotes from Rep. Abante's speech:

"We cannot legislate on these. To abet sin and ungodliness is to invite the wrath of God upon ourselves and our God-loving nation."

"Mr. Speaker, my being a male is not my choice, that was Divine choice. Women being women is not their choice, that is Divine choice, and no human being has the right to go against God’s choice, Mr. Speaker."

"If I may quote, Genesis, Chapter I, when it spoke of creation, the Bible says, 'Male and female created Eden.' I do not find in the Bible that God created male and female and the in-betweens. Mr. Speaker, I find in the Bible that God created Adam and Eve. I do not find in the Bible that God created Adam and Steve."

"Mr. Speaker, I was told that the Lagablab Organization has declared an open war against me. That they will even campaign hard against me in my district. That I might not be voted upon. Huwag naman, Mr. Speaker. Hindi ko sila kaaway, Mr. Speaker. (I hope not, Mr. Speaker. They are not my enemies). But you know what, even if the Lagablab group has declared an open war against me, I declare to them the love of God because God loves them very much, Mr. Speaker."

"Thus, approving House Bill No. 634, Mr. Speaker, would mean death to the ideals and aspirations enshrined in our Constitution; death to a just and humane society that promotes the common good; death to the most cherished Filipino values of Godliness and moral rectitude."

"The Preamble is a living testament of our recognition of an Almighty God in a direct and personal way. In imploring the aid of Almighty God we manifested our unfaltering reliance upon Him and we recognize the reality that it is God Who guides the destinies of men and nations. In crafting laws, therefore, we must be guided by what is right before God. This bill, once signed into law, will encourage social aberrations as well as moral decadence through unconventional lifestyles that will come to pass as acceptable norms of conduct should this bill become a law."

[LAGABLAB Press Release, November 16, 2006]

Resign from Human Rights Committee, Rep. Abante urged

The Lesbian and Gay Legislative Advocacy Network (LAGABLAB-Pilipinas), a network of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender organizations and activists, condemned today Manila Representative and House Committee on Human Rights Chair Bienvenido Abante for "his homophobia and atrocious ignorance of the basic principles of human rights." Yesterday, Rep. Abante questioned AKBAYAN Rep. Etta Rosales's sponsorship of HB 637, a proposed bill that seeks to penalize discrimination against lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders (LGBTs).

LAGABLAB said that Abante's ridiculous opposition to a human rights measure like the Anti-Discrimination Bill betrays a fundamental disregard and disrespect of his mandate as the Human Rights Committee chair. "He should resign from his position if he himself cannot grasp the universality of human rights and human dignity," LAGABLAB Sec. Gen. Jonas Bagas said. "He should also undergo human rights education to understand that in our Constitution and in various international human rights agreements that the Philippines signed, equal protection from discrimination is guaranteed for all, regardless of sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity."

"How can he promote human rights when he has no sense of empathy and compassion? Human rights are about recognizing that regardless of our differences and our diversity, we are all equal. Obviously, Rep. Abante has not experienced what it is like to be abused or to be discriminated," Bagas added.

LAGABLAB said that lesbians and gays lose their jobs, get expelled from schools, and experience physical abuse because the society still treats them as second class citizens. "There are narrow-minded people like Rep. Abante who help deepen the stigma against homosexuals. There are parents who beat their presumably gay or lesbian children to 'correct' their homosexuality or to stop them from cross dressing. When they're thrown away from their homes, or when homosexuals lose their jobs, they have to deal with discrimination's inhumane consequences," Bagas said.

Bagas also chided the solon for spreading false information on the bill. "The Anti-Discrimination Bill will not allow for the legal recognition of same-sex marriage. It is only about curbing discriminatory practices and policies. To claim otherwise is to commit a grave lie," he explained.

He clarified, however, that not all religious people or religious organizations are as bigoted as Rep. Abante. "During the 12th Congress, the bill was supported by other religious organizations, specifically the NCCP/UCCP and Iglesia ni Kristo. We in LAGABLAB are aware that there are religious denominations that are opposed to homosexuality but are nonetheless in solidarity with the LGBT community in protecting their rights and freedoms," Bagas said. He added that other human rights organizations are supporting and campaigning for the bill's passage, among them Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the International Commission of Jurists.

LAGABLAB is urging lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders to write protest letters to Rep. Abante (visit www.lagablab.wordpress.com). "We will campaign against him in his own district and his own city. We don't take bigotry sitting down, especially those coming from public officials who enjoy the privileges provided by the taxes that we pay," Bagas warned.

LAGABLAB urged Congress to expedite the approval of the Anti-Discrimination Bill. "We've been pushing for this for six years. We urge the leadership of the House of Representatives to pass the bill before the end of the month. We also urge Senator Bong Revilla, who authored the Senate version of the bill, to push for its approval in the Senate. The plight of the LGBT community should not be ignored," Bagas appealed.

From Jonas: "Abante did it again"

Late breaking news: I first got a text message from indefatigable Jonas. Then this e-mail, providing the full details. In between rushing some documents, packing my things (I'm going to Legazpi today), I've been mumbling profanities - what a jerk!

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Hello folks, our dear friend from the sixth district of Manila did it again. inq7.net's Maila Ager wrote about the incident briefly, but here's a more detailed account on what happened.

Since there's an agreement with the House leadership that the bill would be approved this month, Etta delivered the sponsorship speech today. Everybody assumed that Abante was not there, and then suddenly, after Etta spoke, dumating si Abante, who immediately moved to have the session suspended.

While the session was suspended, a fuming Abante quickly approached Etta and said that the rights of lesbians and gays are not fundamentally HR issues. He said that repeatedly, and when Etta started arguing with him on the merits of the bill, dun na tumaas ang boses niya. Some reps had to go to him and pull him away from Etta.

When the session was resumed, Abante moved to adjourn the session. There was a quorum, though, and when he realized his folly, he moved to suspend the session again.

When it was resumed, he began questioning the technicality of Etta doing the sponsorship speech - she's no longer the chair, that he, as the committee chair, did not even know that the bill is in today's agenda, etc. Etta argued, however, that the rules provide that she, as one of the principal authors, may sponsor the bill. Also, the bill has been in the order of business since last year, so Abante should know that any moment the majority may tackle the bill.

The session was suspended again. Etta was told by the majority floor leader (Del De Guzman) that the bill will be tackled again next week, so the deliberation was suspended for the meantime.

While Etta was debating with Abante, Risa was moving around asking the other Reps to support the bill should Abante move to divide the House over the bill (he did not, which means he is aware that he would lose). Risa said that even the most homophobic reps said that they will support the bill. Rep. Villanueva of CIBAC, who's from the Jesus is Lord Movement, also committed to support the bill.

Anyway, after the ADB, the house majority tried to tackle the repro health bill. At sino ang humarang? Who else, but our dear Abante.

Anyway, i think we need to be more vocal about our support for the bill. Malaki ang naitutulong ni Etta, Risa and Mayong sa House of Reps, pero wala tayong ganyang allies sa Senate.

My concrete proposals:

Maglabas ang LAGABLAB ng press statement to condemn Abante's homophobia and ask him to resign as chair of the human rights committee. Baka pwedeng may similar statements din na ilabas ang ibang orgs? AI din? I will also ask the women's orgs kung pwedeng mag-issue din ng statement, since common enemy natin si Abante ngayon.

Next week, preferably on Monday, pwede ba na may mga at least 10 sa atin na pumunta ng House of Reps? Ipapa-recognize sa floor na guests ni Etta, that we are from a coalition supporting the bill.

Send letters of protest to Abante. Dapat ma-feel niya ang galit ng mga diosa. Even the conservative reps in Congress felt kanina na masyado siyang fundamentalist (merong ba ng moderate na fundamentalist? hmmm...). Baka pwedeng magpadala ng materials to prove na naabuso ang mga bakla at lesbiana, at duty nya na protektahan tayo from abuse.

Sana po ay pwede tayong kumilos for this.

Jonas

[INQ7 story here: Debate mars sponsorship of gay rights bill]

Anti-discrimination bill - update from the House

I've been meaning to post this e-mail update from Jonas regarding the Anti-discrimination Bill. I received this last October 13.

Early morning today, in between deliberations on the 2007 budget, Rep. Nograles (House Committee on Rules Chair) and AKBAYAN Reps. Risa Hontiveros and Mayong Aguja (Etta was in Mindanao) tried to have the Anti-Discrimination Bill passed on Third Reading. It would have been passed, along with a few other bills, had Rep. Abante of Manila been wise enough to understand the definition of human rights and his mandate as the chair of the House Committee on Human Rights. He stood up and said that he would interpellate the bill since he believes that what it promotes is "morally reprehensible." Rep. Nograles himself tried to reason out with him, but he was very adamant. Abante was also informed that they want to go through the approval of the ADB because there are other bills that had to be approved. Abante was unconvinced and even squatted beside the podium of the Majority Floor Leader (he decides on what bill to tackle) "para bantayan ang Anti-Discrimination Bill." He also argued with Mayong about the immorality of LGBTs, but Mayong just walked out. Abante was already being jeered by his colleagues, but the idiot was bent on filibustering.

He did not budge until session was finally adjourned at about 5 AM today. It will resume on November 6. Nograles assured AKBAYAN reps. that the bill will definitely be approved during the first week. If you have some cash to spare, send Abante a one-way ticket to Kitaotao or Guimaras just to get rid of him during that crucial moment. Also, spread the word: don't vote for him next year.

(Abante is the same guy who wanted to burn Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code.)