Bill criminalizing same-sex marriage filed in Congress
Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante (Vice Chair of the Committee on Human Rights) filed a bill to criminalize same-sex marriage in the Philippines.
On its face, the bill is both farcical and dangerous. I’ll explain why later, but let’s go through the bill’s salient points first:
- Over-all framework: In line with the constitutional declarations recognizing the sanctity of marriage, it seeks to criminalize the ‘highly immoral, scandalous, and detestable act’ of same-sex marriage.
- It penalizes several acts:
- Failure to declare one’s true sex or gender for the purpose of securing a marriage license. The penalty is imprisonment from 7 to 12 years and a fine ranging from P50,000 to P100,000.
- the issuance of marriage license to persons of the same sex or gender, which it seeks to penalize with imprisonment from 6 to 10 years and a fine from P50,000 to P100,000.
- solemnization of marriage between persons of the same sex or gender (same penalty )
- cohabitation between persons of the same sex or gender who live together as ‘husband and wife’. This merits the highest penalty: imprisonment from 10 to 15 years and a fine from P100,000 to P150,000.
- Offenders who are in public service shall be dismissed and barred from being employed by the government. If the offender is legally authorized to solemnize marriage, then his license shall be revoked permanently.
- If the offender is a foreigner, he or she shall be deported immediately.
- If enacted, the bill would require the Local Civil Registrar to ascertain – thru the birth certificate – the true sex or gender of the parties applying for marriage license. Any marriage license issued or any marriage solemnized in violation of the law shall be deemed null and void.
Let’s make a distinction between the intention of the bill and the its substance. The intention is clear: it wants to prohibit commitment ceremonies for LGBT couples. These ceremonies are not legally binding, but for a bigot like Abante such an expression of love must be grating that he feels it should be criminalized.
That said, the intention is not reflected in the bill. It is actually a sloppy piece of legislation, and it is seriously flawed. How can it criminalize an act that it has not defined? What constitutes same-sex marriage, when no law provides for one? Same-sex marriage does not legally. The ceremonies that so riled up Rep. Abante are mere ceremonies: they are not legally binding. Criminalizing same-sex marriage would be a dilemma for this bigot-cum-legislator: in order to penalize same-sex marriage, he would need to define it first. In short, he needs to recognize that it exists.
Take, for instance, the prohibition on the solemnization of marriage between persons of the same sex. Abante has made public his opposition to the rites performed by LGBT-friendly religious groups that officiate commitment ceremonies for LGBT couples, and clearly this provision is directed against such groups. However, under the Family Code [Title I, Chapter 1, Article 7 (2)], marriage officiated by churches can only be solemnized by any priest, rabbi, imam or minister of any church who have registered with the civil registrar general. In short, unless the ‘solemnization of marriage’ is defined by the bill to cover the rituals officiated by those who are NOT accredited by the registrar, then Abante’s bill CANNOT run after the LGBT-friendly religious groups.
With the infirmities of the provisions relating to same-sex marriage, is Abante’s homophobic bill still a cause of concern?
I’m afraid so. For all its flaws, what the bill actually criminalizes in the end is same-sex relationships. This is what the last prohibited act does – penalize cohabitation of same-sex couples, even those that never went thru same-sex commitment ceremonies. If enacted, it means that couples living together can be rounded up the police, arrested, and imprisoned for more than a decade. “It is unlawful and prohibited for any person to live or co-habit with another of the same sex or gender as husband and wife”, the provision reads. Forget about the role-playing stereotypes that is evident in the provision, what it means is that once an LGBT couple settles down, they are already deemed criminal.
If enacted and left in the hands of unscrupulous and bigoted law enforcers, this could be used as an instrument to harass and arrest homosexuals, whether or not they’re in a same-sex relationship. It would deepen the climate of stigma that allows discrimination, abuse, and hate crimes to flourish. Law enforcers are already prone to use obscure and archaic laws to abuse LGBTs, so one could only imagine the cruelty they could inflict with the help of a law that says homosexual love is illegal.
Admittedly, the likelihood of this bill being enacted this Congress is very low. But with the forthcoming election, this bill could be used as an instrument of hate to rally anti-gay sentiments and to mobilize support for homophobic candidates. It becomes a platform to spread hatred. This won’t pass this Congress, but we can’t tell what would happen next term. Rep. Abante is running for congressman in the 6th District of Manila again, and as an incumbent he has the advantage of being re-elected. He will surely re-file this bill.
That means we have one option: we have to fight back.
We have a culture war people. The fight for the spirit of the Filipino people begins. We liberals must usher in a progressive and welcoming future, one that shuns the evils of bigotry and conservatism. Now our core groups must stand as vanguards against the torrents of hate. Through our own efforts, and hopefully through the enlightenment of our kin and the rest of the Filipinos, more will stand by our side to prevent the Dark Ages from coming back.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by jonas bagas and QueerSilver, QueerSilver. QueerSilver said: @jonasbagas For somebody named Abante, he's so backwards! Pwede ba ang armas sa Batasan? I wanna hurt him tomorrow http://bit.ly/8ZTIKt [...]
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I hope this bad bill doesn’t give American Congressmen any ideas. We don’t need that sort of legislation here.
This speaks of discrimination. Seriously. To be have such loathing against such minority is something I don’t understand. I find this bill utterly STUPID and RETARDED
It is just SAD AND RATHER DISAPPOINTING that the who one who passed this bill is a VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS. Now let me ask, where is the HUMAN RIGHTS in that bill he asked?
Is this act is like some act of personal grudge? Hmmm..
mr. abante is soooooooo homophobic. he is abnormal.
HUMANS are composed of only 2 genders. MALE AND FEMALE. so i think he has a point. Stop deceiving yourselves.
@untitled
and God created Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve… Pathetic
This is bullshit. Reminds me of that statement they said when they banned Ladlad from running as a political party. If I remember correctly, they mentioned something about the LGBT community being grateful that we’re tolerated.
TOLERATED?! Ano tayo, mga may sakit? TOLERATED. Para bang mga my leprosy o nakakahawa na sakit na nakakapatay.
Nainis pa ako na hindi pinayagan ang Ladlad due to violation of moral grounds. What about the criminals who run for the presidency? What about people who are clear violators of graft and corruption in our senate? They would rather shun people who just want to live their lives with people they love who aren’t hurting anyone rather than do something about the rich sons of bitches who steal from the country and hurt MILLIONS.
I’m getting off topic with this rant.
My theory and conclusion here might be offensive to some people but hear me out.
This is the problem when the Church meddles in affairs of the state. It is clearly stated in the constitution that they are NOT allowed to. Sure, the Church hasn’t visibly done anything, they haven’t spoken in congress or passed bills. Unfortunately, the Church has other ways of influencing people. Because of years of whispering in people’s ears that homosexuality is wrong, gay people can be rehabilitated and straight is the one true path, we have come to THIS. You can lie, you can cheat and you can steal but you can NEVER EVER EVER BE GAY. Rather be a rapist than a homosexual, it seems.
What is WRONG with them? Is there anything wrong with what we’re doing? Are we hurting anyone? Are we killing anyone? Are we taking money or forcing people to sell their precious belongings? Apart from making macho manly straight men sick to their stomachs, have we done anything wrong? Has anyone been hurt because two girls like holding hands? Has anyone died because a man kissed his boyfriend on the cheek? Has there been a war started from a girl embracing her girlfriend in greeting? NO.
What is the MATTER? Is it wrong? Is it so wrong for two people to be in love? For a country that is purely Catholic, a country that follows a religion that believes in pure unconditional love, this is complete bullshit. Is it so wrong to love? Why is this religion going against love? Why is this country criminalizing love?
I wish they would just take a second to think about how many people they are hurting in this country if they pass this bill. I wish some senators would be approached by a relative they didn’t know was gay, look them in the eye and say they can’t be with the one they love because it’s a crime. I wish they could look at the face of a gay boy who has been thrown out of the house because his manly father didn’t want to see his only son gay. I wish they could look into the eyes of a lesbian whose girlfriend left them because she thought their love was wrong. I wish they could see that this is doing more harm than good.
If there is truly love in this world, if truth and love and the common good do exist, this would be the perfect time for them to realize just how much pain they’re going to cause to the people of the Philippines.
Just want to remind everyone that in the BIBLE, God destroyed the SODDOM AND GOMORAH with FIRE and BRIMSTONE which because that city was filled with all kinds of dirtiness.
God made ADAM and EVE and not Adam and Steve nor Eve and Vivian. The point here is not DISCRIMINATION but to stop the WRATH OF GOD from plaquing our world. And you wouldn’t want that to happen.
LGBT are also people like us so it’s not right to discriminate them or hate them, but the point is once we LET THIS PLAGUE from spilling, soon our world will face the damnation.
The LGBT are not the crime here but by BEING LIKE ONE and DOING LIKE WHAT THEY ARE DOING are the CRIME on which the BIBLE speaks of. Being one of the LGBT is a cause of sin and is never from birth. God made us to who we are now, let’s not alter it as it is a crime in his creation.
It’s like we created a good painting that’s priceless, and yet someone DARE to do some enhancement or changes in our painting… what will you feel as the creator/painter? Will you let that someone or anybody just change your painting to what he/she/they want? I guess not!
This is never a discrimination brethren, this is just a warning for us! Let’s not allow God’s Wrath to come before us. Do not dare!
Thanks. It’s my point of view!
I don’t care if your GOD created ADAM and EVE and not ADAM and STEVE. We GAYS are here, and we are here to stay. If you don’t want to look at us as EQUALS, just leave us alone. GODDAMMIT!
I maybe gay, but I will slay anyone who will kill our freedom.
As in kaya kong makipagpatayan just like any other straight man pagka nangyari ito.
^ Someone just proved my point.
hay naku, who ever made that stupid shit BILL, cgro bakla xa!!! and he cant afford to admit na bakla xa….GOD have mercy!!! we have a freedom to love whom we want to love..what a narrow BILL..sayang lng effort niya…that won’t happen!! kc xa mismo is baklaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa and shit head….naubusan na xa cgro ng idea, kya LGBT npag tripan nya…shit lng!!!
The irony here is that Abante’s vice-chair of the “Human Rights” panel.
A million steps backward, pilipinas. A million steps backward.
However, I am not surprised with this. I will be surprised if the bill is not met with an angry gay-loving mob.
first things first—i am straight. i am neither PRO nor ANTI gay.
fact: the Bill is plain ignorant, flawed, and pathetic. coming from a vice chair of human rights? and he came up with this? cant he think of something better and be rather useful to our country politically? economically? cant he come up with something that actually possesses his title? something about human rights? oh, yeah, he did. he came up with something rather ironic to what he stands for. LGBT are a group of people, let them be. do not mingle with them if you do not like them. likewise, they would do the same, believe me, they would.
JD, you are quoting an old testament story. try to catch up with the times. what is the message of Christ you call God? What did Jesus do when Jews were stoning a prostitute to death? go read the new testament if to broaden your point of view.
be open minded and be sensitive to what your neighbors feel. you are not alone in this world.
to Human rights Vice chairman whoever, dude, next time, think.
I wonder why focus on same-sex marriage or even same-sex relationships? I mean, aren’t there more urgent issues to be pursued by congressmen other than homosexual relationships? Why not legislate to improve educational standards? Or create legislation for feeding the hungry or more importantly, creating a comprehensive agrarian reform program? Why criminalize love between two people of the same sex?
I agree with the previous comments made that it really is DISAPPOINTING that the Vice Chair for the Committee in Human Rights is indeed, seriously, passing a bill that seeks to VIOLATE these very human rights! People should be FREE TO LOVE AND FREE TO LIVE WITH THOSE WHO THEY LOVE. We have a right to express ourselves freely, and if love is an expression, then this bill seeks to violate it.
As for the religious people, although it is explicitly stated in the Bible that Homosexuality is an abomination, know that not everyone in this country share your beliefs. People are not yours to judge. Live and let live. And more importantly, love your neighbors as your God has loved you (remember?). Christians should not push for the oppression of certain groups, if you’re to remain true to your faith. To do otherwise is hypocritical. As for God’s punishment, if that’s what you believe, you’re entitled to it, but don’t justify oppression of homosexuals just because you think you’ll be punished.
The Church, in an ironical way, always push people to commit to each other in love. What makes homosexual love any different? Why is it that now when homosexuals want to commit in love, the church goes against it, when in the first place, they’re the ones pushing for commitment?
If God is love, as the Church proclaims, and God is perfect, then we must also say that Love is perfect. To say that a certain kind of love is wrong is to indicate imperfection; a contradiction to the above premise; like saying a =b, b=c but a is not equal to c which does not make sense.
@JD
Strange – most of the theologians I have read say the same thing – Sodom was destroyed because of it’s people inhospitality to outsiders, not because of their homosexual acts. The notion that Sodom was being used as a punishment for homosexuality is usually a rhetoric I hear from Christian fundamentalists.
@untitled
Then tell that to bottleneck dolphins and bonobos. These animals also engage in occasional homosexual behavior, even if they’re also “Male” and “female” If being heterosexual is so natural, why are they doing it?
@Obed
God didn’t give them clothes either, so wouldn’t it be wrong for us to be wearing them?
Crimes are unlawful acts where there is a perpetrator and a victim.
Who is the perp and the victim in same-sex marriages or unions, or heck even cohabitation? ABSO-BLOODY-LUTELY NO ONE!
What is Benny’s basis for this Bill? His Bible. His hate-filled God. His Jesus. And even this father and son tandem of God and Jesus don’t agree. God hates gays. Jesus said nothing against gays.
Benny forgets the Bible also said: kill adulterers [hmmm, marami tayo niyan sa Pinas], kill non-virgins at marriage, kill children that talk balk, kill rebellious children [in fact may audience participation pa ang killing of rebellious children], that slavery is okay, genocide is welcome and approved of by God.
IOW, Bible-educated Benny gets to cherry pick his favorite Bible verses, and ignore the rest.
Why don’t kid fucker Catholic priests get 12 years in jail? Instead they have Papal forgiveness?
I think “untitled” above doesn’t even know what gender means and definitely has no idea what gay means. untitled, you are so pathetic and should be BFFs with Abante
@untitled and Obed:
Male and female? Adam and Eve… so LGBTs should be fined and jailed because you presume that God was retarded enough to limit love on the basis of gender? I could almost taste the stupidity all the way here. Your arguments prove absolutely nothing in this context.
Obed, your “uncle Benny” is a bigot. Period. He probably doesn’t like losing which is why he has blocked and attacked the anti-discrimination bill at all turns.
The vice-chairman of the House Committee on Human Rights does not understand the fundamentals of “Human Rights”. Kindly ask him to study the Universal Declaration on Human Rights (UDHR) again. The Philippines is a signatory. He is making a joke out of it.
Or does he not think that LGBTs are humans too? Tut tut tut…
You should get him a trophy or a golden cross for making it to the Human Rights Watch’s Hall of Shame. Congratulations for making this country seem even more retrogressive.
While you’re at it you might as well tell him that writing and filing bills on “mandatory bible reading for public elementary and secondary schools”, “exemption of bibles and religious articles from taxation”, and “exemption of church ministers, priests, rabbis, and imams from securing government license to solemnize marriage” is a waste of time and is probably against the constitution.
@JD
Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed due to the residents’ violations on the tradition of hospitality and other similar misdeeds. Ask non-sectarian bible scholars.
You also posited that being LGBT is not a crime but being like one (huh?!) or performing activities that are associated to LGBTs is. Well… have you tried asking a fish to jump out of water lately? How about demanding a bat not use its biosonar/echolocation during flight?
Being a homosexual is not a decision. We did not wake up one day and “decide” that we will be attracted to people of the same gender as if it was as simple as picking a tie or choosing a brand of toothpaste. If you aren’t gay, you won’t “fully” understand this. If you’re an ex-gay, we have nothing to talk about (and you know why).
If it was a matter of choice then the entire world would be heterosexual. If it were that easy and with idiots like Obed’s “uncle” in the Congress don’t you think we might have “chosen” to be straight simply because it would have been less complicated?
Again, sadly, it isn’t a decision. However, ignorance is.
Somebody better tell the Church of Unitarian Universalists about this law. They’re an accredited church, and yet they will suffer from Abante’s narrow-minded attempt at legislation, which I can only surmise as his attempt at appeasing his equally conservative constituents.
Abante better remember that it is not only the Baptist Christians that he represents in Manila – he represents a much wider variety of citizens who may share the same religious beliefs as his congregation does. Would he like it if a Muslim representative made eating pork illegal, even if not everybody in their area of influence was a Muslim as well?
I for one am a deist, and a resident of Manila, and I am extremely disappointed that Abante claims to represent my interests, when he clearly does not
@twin:
funny how you level yourself with dolphins and bonobos.
@all the others who talk about the Bible and think they know what theyre talking about.
seriously, you really dont know what youre talking about.
and oh yeah, Ham was a homosexual, he watched his dad (Noah) getting naked and God cursed him, and his race became slaves.
@ all the homosexuals out there:
its fun reading your comments and reactions, but a few weeks ago Congressman Benny and Danton Ugly Gay Remoto had a debate at ANC and the good Congressman pretty much embarrassed the Ladlad President (or whatever position he holds) in National Television, then after that, just a few days ago, the good Congressman again bashed Remotos guts to pieces in front of National Television, but this time, the good Congressman was backed up by Anthony Taberna.
Thats 2 for the Congressman Benny and 0 for all the Homosexuals out there, so i think the good Congressman has really don his homework and is well-believed and respected by A LOT of reliable people, while you homos do nothing but react on blogs that was written by people from your own kind.
And by the way, homosexuality isnt a gender, it isnt an orientation and it isnt a contagious disease. Its a freaking choice that a very small and pathetic minority in this world, let alone our country (the Philippines), has chosen and is disgusted by many.
You think your straight girl-friends and boy-friends like your lifestyle? the love you to death, they respect your decisions, they stand by your side, they help you out, but dude, believe me, theyre disgusted by your lifestyle.
And lastly, for those threatening to hurt the good Congressman and his family, ID REALLY LIKE TO SEE YOU TRY. That would be a treat
@BFTAIII
How funny it is that you miss the point of my comparison – I brought up the examples of those mammals to counter the assertion being made by fundamentalists that to be homosexual is to be “unnatural.”
How strange it is that you assume that just because I think I should stand up for a fellow person’s right to be themselves without fear of bigotry and violence automatically makes me gay. I am not gay, and even if I were, why would that be a problem?
How ignorant of you to cherry-pick bible quotes which you think. I don’t admit to being some religious scholar, but I do know enough to call you out on your bullshit.
From the same Book of Leviticus that you quote Ham’s example from:
Leviticus 11:10-12
10 And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you:
11 They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination.
12 Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you.
Leviticus 20:10
And the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
Leviticus 17:10-14
10And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I will even set my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people.
11For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.
12Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood.
So of all the laws of Leviticus we should, you conveniently leave out the ones that prohibit us from eating dinuguan, shellfish, and the one that requires that all adulterers be put to death.
And BFTA, adding insulting middle names to people does not add any legitimacy to your argument, unless you’re trying to come off as an angry troll. Which you are doing a terrific job of, by the way.
@ Twin
I
Yes, being a homosexual is “unnatural,” and you’re right, dolphins and bonobos do engage in homosexual behavior. But seriously, you’re going to compare yourselves to animals? Have some pride man (or woman, or gay, or faggot, whatever floats your boat). Animals have instincts, they don’t have feelings, they don’t think, they don’t assess, they have instincts, and innate or natural impulse, inclination or tendency.
We, on the other hand, as humans, have the capacity to think, we have the ability to distinguish. So if you compare homosexuality and the lifestyle that goes with it with animal instincts, you simply degrade the people living the lifestyle by suggesting that they didn’t think and they didn’t assess the situation that led them to homosexuality by giving in to the environment they’re in and inclining to the tendencies that they’re offered.
I mean, i practically lived in an all-girl environment, I’m the only boy in our family, and all my cousins in my dad’s side are all girls. But did i become gay, hell no. Because it’s a choice. Not an instinct. It’s a freaking choice. And we ALL have choices. The only funny thing is, that i know a lot of homosexuals that are good, in all aspects. But being gay just shows that they lack discipline and will-power to stick to the right thing, instead choose the immoral lifestyle that the good God himself didn’t like.
II
Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, the passages you showed talk about a whole different topic. Let’s stay in point my friend, we’re talking about the Bill filed by Congressman Abante criminalizing same-sex marriage and the homosexual lifestyle.
Don’t change the topic man.
You’re trying too hard to know these stuff bro, don’t stress yourself out. trying to defend the homosexuals is a lost cause already, because they themselves dig their own graves by living the life they life.
And oh yeah, I’m not an angry troll. In fact, once you get to know me (which i really hope that you won’t), you’ll see that I’m actually a very happy person.
And I’m not trying to add legitimacy to my argument, because I know what I’m saying is right and true. You, though, my pathetic friend, are trying too hard to prove me wrong (which you won’t), showing me and proving to all the readers here that you’re some low-life, trying hard freak that can’t admit that he (or she, or shim, or he-she) is a weak, arrogant person that won’t give in even though you know that you’re already proven wrong.
And I’m not trying to add insulting middle names to people, I’m also not trying to label them. But, for the sake of all that’s good, we all know that Danton “Ugly Fag” Remoto REALLY is ugly, i mean, he’s REALLY ugly.
You know what, maybe that’s why he chose to be gay, because he’s so ugly he couldn’t get any girls, so he just decided to be gay and join all the ugly faggots t\out there.
And lastly, for those freaks that are threatening to hurt the good congressman. I’D REALLY LIKE TO SEE YOU TRY
Actually, I’m not even going to try to refute you any further.
Because your anwers alone have proven to me and anybody else reading this blog that you are a hateful, narrow-minded, and bigoted jackass whose mind has long been cemented in your own religious prejudice prejudice and dogma.
For me to try to reason with you using data and would be like trying to talk to a dinner table.
Awwww. can’t think of anything else to say pinhead?
It’s weird, because i think i already said what you just said. Is that a sign that you’re drawing blanks and don’t know how to defend yourself anymore? My goodness, all your entries just before the last one are so long and detailed, why stop now?
It’s fun, ain’t it? Being proven wrong and can’t think of a comeback.
“Hateful, Narrow-minded and bigoted jackass whose mind has long been cemented in your own religious prejudice and dogma.”
Good assessment of me dum-dum. You really are as stupid as i think you are.
Because if you read my entries, it shows that i don’t hate you, I’m just telling you the truth while trying to get in your nerves (which looks like I’m doing a sweet sweet job off by the way).
Narrow-minded? Monks and Amish people are narrow-minded. I’m just standing up for what’s morally right.
But hey, i’ll give you bigoted, i am somewhat that. You know why, because I won’t just sit down and watch this God-given world, let alone my beautiful country be INFESTED by pathetic, disgusting, inconsiderate and self-centered primates (let’s call homosexuals primates, since YOU already compared them to bonobos) that think they’re being discriminated and picked on while in fact, they’re the ones discriminating themselves and picking on their own kind by living the lifestyle they live and flaunting it.
I mean, don’t get me wrong, I respect gay people, i honestly think that some of them are actually REALLY good in their own fields, i just really really despise their lifestyle.
You though, my stupid friend (which sounds like someone from dumb and dumber or dude, wheres my car), just showed EVERYONE (and i mean everyone, coz i just asked everyone i know to read this blog just so i can show them how i practically cut you into pieces, put you back together and and cut you to pieces again just for the fun of it) that you are lower than low, i mean if there’s someone lower than mediocre, that’s where you’re at. You’re LITERALLY, what they call scum.
Just a thought on the Biblical passage on Sodom and Gomorrah. My exposition is not in anyway favoring either side of the ‘fence,’ those who support the bill and those who dislike the bill. Consider this as a sharing from a person who consider himself a thoughtful reader of the Sacred Literature.
The traditional interpretation of Genesis 19:1-38 asserts that the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because of homosexual intercourse, however, a careful analysis of this account doesn’t in any way suggest such rendering. An exegetical, scholarly, critical, and even a literary reading of that passage indicates that the destruction of these two ancient cities is a result of the people’s mistreatment of strangers in their midst, which was very evident in their attempt to gang-rape Lot’s visitors. Thus, the two cities were punished for their act of social oppression and disregard for the inviolable conventions of hospitality in antiquity.
For more explanation, try reading the critical apparatus, also called scholarly comments/notes/annotations, in the New Interpreter’s Study Bible, Harper Collins Study Bible, and New Oxford Annotated Bible. The editors and contributors of these three study bibles are of diverse religions, traditions, academic backgrounds, and life experiences.
This is not to answer whether the proposed bill deserves to be passed or not; rather, it is a response to a previous comment which said that Ham (one of Noah’s sons) was gay. I read the Biblical account and it didn’t say anything about Ham’s sexuality. Neither have I read that Ham was cursed for seeing ‘his father’s nakedness.’ Instead, Canaan was the one cursed by Noah. It is not very clear why Noah cursed Canaan. Also, the Biblical passage is ambiguous as to whether Canaan was the son of Noah or Ham. Look at the passages which I quoted from the New American Bible:
Genesis 9:22 – Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father’s nakedness, and he told his two brothers outside about it. (It says that Ham was Canaan’s father)
Genesis 9:24-25 – When Noah woke up from his drunkenness and learned what his youngest son had done to him, he said: “Cursed be Caanan! The lowest of slaves shall he be to his brothers.” (With careful reading, it appears that Canaan was Noah’s youngest son)
-from a thoughtful reader of the Writings
If that is what the passages regarding Sodom and Gomorah really mean, then why are so many people so dead-set on asserting it speaks of God’s hate for gays?
In my second post, I didn’t elaborate on “It is not very clear why Noah cursed Canaan.” It’s actually understandable why Noah cursed Canaan since Genesis 9:24-25 named him as the offender. The same passage identified Canaan as Noah’s youngest son. To sum it up, Canaan = Noah’s youngest son = offender = cursed. Rather, it is confusing as to why the narrative initially identified Ham as the offender (Gen 9:22). Even if he was named at first as the offender, I couldn’t see any Scriptural basis for the supposed/assumed curse on Ham since the text clearly states that Noah’s accursed son is Canaan. Bible scholars have offered an explanation with regard to the confusing details in Genesis 9:18-29, but I think there is no point that I share them here.
@ Twin-Skies
“If that is what the passages regarding Sodom and Gomorrah really mean, then why are so many people so dead-set on asserting it speaks of God’s hate for gays?”
Well, I honestly don’t know. I can only speak for myself at the very least, and guess why people popularly understood Gen 19:1-38 as such at best. I, for one, had long understood that the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because of people’s homosexual acts. I grew up holding on to the traditional view as it was the interpretation I learned (religion class, Sunday school, church, tv programs, articles/magazines, home, friends, etc.). Every time I would encounter the passage, I was inclined to understand it the way I was taught. Let’s say, even before I read the text, I already had a conditioned interpretation in mind. It’s like saying that I was unconsciously reading my mind into the text.
Twin-Skies, I suggest you try to read Genesis 19:1-38 again. It doesn’t speak of ‘God’s hate for gays.’ Our God is a God of love, not of hate. Let’s suppose that the traditional view is the right interpretation, you’ll read that the people of Sodom were punished not because they were gay; instead the city was destroyed because of their act.
God’s love is perfect, as He is, and doesn’t discriminate. I believe we have an INCLUSIVE GOD, so it doesn’t matter whether a person is male, female, or gay. Peace!
Let me clear this up.
God does not hate gay people.
He has compassion for each and every one of us.
What He hates is the lifestyle of the homosexuals.
Because, first of all, God gave us freewill, meaning we can have the ability to choose, to decide and and to live our lives on our own.
And homosexuality and the lifestyle that it comes with is an immoral lifestyle that is not right in the eyesight of God and man.
To all you LGBT haterzz..
well, lets just say you are all freakin’ closet queen and kings!! accept the fact that even boys have their soft side even tho they are straight,, and also, to all people who are referring to the bible.. sheesh,, dont be posers,, go to church please,, and you will know that “THE OLD TESTAMENT IS MEANT FOR THE ISRAELITES!!!! AND SINCE MOSES DIED, THATS WHAT THEY USED,,, BUT SINCE JESUS CHRIST WAS BORN,,WITH THE HELP OF HIS DISCIPLES, THE NEW TESTAMENT WAS IMPLEMENTED!!! ” READ THE BIBLE, DO NOT CLAIM THAT YOU KNOW IT ALL!!! AND BY THE WAY, IM A LESBIAN,,FULL PLEDGE AND PROUD,, HOW CAN I DETERMINE WHO I AM IF IM STILL A FETUS!!! AND CAN A NEWBORN DECIDE WHAT GENDER HE/SHE MUST PICK!! THATS OBVIOUSLY SILLY AND IGNORANCE!! AND TO ADD,, GO AHEAD, SEND US ALL TO JAIL!! FOR YOU REP.ABANTE ONLY WANT FURTHER SOURCE OF INCOME,,HOW MUCH IS YOUR FINE AGAIN?? PHP100+K? THAT IS ABSOLUTELY ABSURD!! NOT ALL LBGT PEOPLE ARE RICH, YOU WOULD MOST LIKELY MAKE THEM POORER THAN POOR,,AND YOU MR. REPRESANTIVE HAVE ONE CORRUPT MIND!! I WONDER,,MAYBE YOUR SAME-SEX LOVER HAS RESENTED YOU!! THOSE PEOPLE WHO SIDES ON THIS WILL MOST LIKELY GO TO HELL! READ THE BIBLE PIPZ AND YOU’LL ALL BE ENLIGHTENED THAT GOD DOESNT REALLY CARE ABOUT GENDER!! I’LL SEND YOU A POSTCARD WITH YOU ON HELL MR.REPRESENTATIVE,,AND BY THE WAY,,ME AND MY PARTNER ARE GOING TO BE MARRIED AND WE DONT CARE WHAT IT TAKES,,WE WOULD SURELY MAKE IT HAPPEN!! FYI!!!!!
I’m so off the topic again, but I would briefly comment on “The Old Testament is meant for the Israelites.”
I have a different view. The Church consider the books of both Old Testament and New Testament as sacred, inspired, and canonical.