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PHILIPPINES-HOMOSEXUALITY-POLITICS-DUTERTE
Outrage as Philippines’ Duterte says ‘cured’ himself of being gay
MANILA, June 4, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has
sparked outrage after claiming that he “cured” himself of being gay with the
help of beautiful women.
Duterte is notorious for his foul-mouthed speeches that include insults,
threats to perceived enemies and references to rape that he casts as jokes.
The latest unfiltered comments came during an appearance before the
Filipino community in Tokyo last week.
During his speech Duterte appeared to say that one of his high-profile
critics, Senator Antonio Trillanes, was gay.
“Trillanes and I are similar. But I cured myself,” the president said.
The president explained that he “became a man again” after meeting his now
ex-wife.
“So beautiful women cured me,” he added.
Duterte has a wavering record when it comes to gay rights. During his
campaign for president in 2016 he voiced support for same sex marriage, but
later backtracked.
He has also used homosexuality as an insult, including against Philip
Goldberg, then US ambassador to Manila.
Bahaghari, a gay and transgender advocacy group, said Duterte’s comments
were dangerous and retrograde.
“It is symptomatic of an even graver illness: one of ignorance, prejudice
and hate,” the group said in an statement.
“These statements, like his perverted and offensive comments on women,
cannot be taken lightly or dismissed merely as jokes,” the group added.
The World Health Organization and American Psychiatric Association consider
homosexuality as a sexual orientation and not a disorder.
The Philippines has a reputation for openness toward homosexuality, but
watchdogs warn legal protections are lacking.
At the same time, the Catholic Church is a powerful force in the nation
where the majority of its 106 million people are counted as believers.
Abortion and divorce are both illegal, due in part to fierce resistance to
change from the church.
BSS/AFP/GMR/1017 hrs