Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Should he win the national elections, presidential candidate Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte said he would consider legalizing same-sex marriage if a proposal is presented to him.
“If it reaches me in whatever capacity, I’ll consider it,” Duterte said on Thursday (February 18).
The Davao City mayor said the law mandates that marriage is between man and woman.
Duterte, who stressed he is against harrassment and bigotry, also believes members of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) community should be welcome to join the military.
His demagogic rise has drawn comparisons to Donald Trump, but Duterte considers the latter a bigot. And in 2012 the mayor passed landmark legislation for an office he set up to expand support for LGBT rights.
Lorna Mandin, the officer in charge of the department deep inside city hall, said the mayor heard the LGBT community was suffering and leaned on the “traditionally conservative” city council to pass the anti-discrimination law.
“He has a human rights perspective,” Mandin said as her colleagues wrote women’s rights slogans on large placards, their latest education drive.
Key to the programme is Norman Baloro, a public servant who runs an annual Christmas pageant for the LGBT community where partygoers dress up “as Cinderella or Barbie”.
Duterte attends every year, Baloro says, and also provides gifts for the raffle. “He gave 100 televisions, 150 cellphones, rice cookers, gas stoves,” Baloro said. “He doesn’t want the LGBT community left behind.”