SAME-SEX COUPLES and FAMILIES and SEX WORK

I. SAME SEX COUPLES and FAMILIES

o Many religions hold negative views on homosexuality, leading to rejection based on religious beliefs. Detractors argue
that homosexuality lacks a role in reproduction and is therefore deemed unnatural and morally unacceptable.
o Aside from religious factor, another reason why homosexuality is not acceptable due to the prevalent influence of the
West, especially during the 19th century, with the Western notion that the middle class should be highly respectable. In
fact, the terms heterosexuality and homosexuality were first used during the 19th century.

HISTORY

o can be found among humans (Anthropological and scientific studies)

o can be found in the animal kingdom. (Anthropological and scientific studies)
Example: in chimpanzees and dolphins species.
o hunting and gathering societies in ancient eras.
o The Spanish in Central and South America during the 15th century.
o depicted in ancient civilizations’ artwork.
For example: in Toltec, Mayan, and Aztec civilizations.
o prevalent within the Sumerian, Babylonian, Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Chinese, Japanese, and Muslim civilizations too,
o also during the time of the ancient Hebrews and within Christian Europe.
o In the Philippines, a friar named Francisco Alcina recorded the homosexual male babaylan who acted, dressed, perform
the tasks as a woman, and married fellow men.

COUNTRIES THAT SUPPORT SAME-SEX MARRIAGE

Gay and lesbian couples tend to be more similar to, than different from heterosexual couples. Relationship satisfaction is related
to having equal power and control, being emotionally expressive, perceiving many attractions to the relationship, and
commitment. The LGBT communities in their respective countries intensified their campaign for samesex marriage. For them,
being afforded the right to getting married to their same-gender partners is the most crucial evidence that their society genuinely
accepts since their rights are recognized under the law. Discrimination and oppression against them will be avoided because they
have a law that defends their rights. At present, several countries support same-sex marriage.

ACCEPTANCE OF SAME-SEX MARRIAGE

o Despite the legalization of same-sex marriage in some countries, the LGBT community still faces numerous challenges
globally.
o While the United Nations recognizes LGBT rights as human rights, many nations have yet to adopt same-sex marriage
laws.
o Even where legalized, organized religions often reject such unions, leading to societal division on the issue.
o LGBT communities continue to advocate for legal recognition worldwide. Discrimination persists, particularly from
religious institutions, but studies show that children raised by same-sex couples thrive similarly to those from
heterosexual families.

POSSIBILITY OF SAME-SEX MARRIAGE IN THE PHILIPPINES

In the Philippines, the LGBT community faces hurdles in legalizing same-sex marriage due to Catholic influence. Despite
opposition, advocates persist in seeking marriage equality for rights recognition and protection. Debates on LGBT parenting and
marriage shape public opinion and policy.

II. SEX WORK

HUMAN TRAFFICKING Vs. SEX WORK:

Human trafficking - involves coercion and exploitation, including forced labor, sexual exploitation, and slavery, constituting a
violation of human rights.

Sex Work - entails consensual transactions between adults, where individuals exchange sexual services for money or goods.
 o "sex work" is preferred over "prostitution" due to its neutral connotation, and it encompasses various forms of
consensual sexual exchanges, whether direct or indirect, among adults of diverse genders.

Kinds of work:

o Direct sex work - that has a clear objective of exchanging sex for money, such as escorts, street sex work, brothels, and
private sex work.
o Indirect sex work - associated with sex work but does not always involve sexual intercourse.

Examples:

• Bar Worker
• Streetwalker
• Window Worker
• Brothel Employee
• Escort Agency Employee
• Independent Call Girl/Escort

DIFFERENT VIEWS ON SEX WORK

o An individual has the freedom to enter any contract as long as they are not being forced by anyone.
o Sex work is a manifestation of wage corruption, therefore it is degrading a person’s worth and also opens the path to
exploitation.
o Sex workers who enter into contracts of exchanging sexual services for money or trade are not voluntarily done, and the
sex worker is merely treated as a piece of commodity. From these varied views, what stands out is the belief that a sex
worker is a victim of their conditions in life, in particular the unequal socio-economic classes that push sex workers to
enter this kind of work even if it is against their will.

SEX WORK IN THE PHILIPPINES

o The first cases of what was referred to as prostitution in the Philippines date back to the 19th century, linked to a syphilis
outbreak.
o During American rule, a specific red-light district was established to contain the spread of syphilis, but it was shut down in
1918.
o Despite closure, sex work persisted clandestinely over time. Presently, it is considered illegal but subject to government
regulation, including sanitation measures and mandatory medical check-ups for workers in establishments like bars and
massage parlors.

CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF SEX WORK

o Some argue that sex work stems from individuals' voluntary choices and advocate for protecting their rights and
preventing potential abuses.
o Others perceive sex work as a form of exploitation within the patriarchal system, emphasizing power imbalances
between genders.
o Critics view sex work as a manifestation of sexual violence against women, rejecting the notion of conscious choice and
highlighting degradation and commodification.

LAWS RELATED TO SEX WORK

o Laws addressing sex work in the Philippines include the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012, the AIDS
Prevention and Control Act of 1998, and sanitation code provisions.
o Ordinances mandate that sex workers in legal entertainment establishments receive HIV education, access condoms, and
undergo STD examinations and treatment.
o However, street-based sex workers lack these protections, leading to increased vulnerability to STDs and abuse.