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'Pinoy LGBT couples can't wait for Congress to act on same-sex marriage'

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/06/19/20180525-lgbt-protection-bill-3-jc.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>A university student pose beside a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) advocacy standee in Manila, May 25, 2018. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA- Filipino members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community can no longer wait for Congress to pass a law legalizing same-sex marriage.</p><p>This is according to lawyer Jesus Nicardo Falcis III who filed a petition before the Supreme Court seeking to legalize same-sex marriage in the Philippines.</p><p>&quot;They cannot wait. They&#x27;re already growing old. For them (LGBT couples), time is not a luxury they can afford to spend waiting for Congress to pass a bill allowing civil unions,&quot; he told ANC Wednesday.</p><p>&quot;I&#x27;d like to emphasize that I am more privileged than other LGBT individuals. I have the time, luxury, and maybe the relative political power to wait because my family accepts me,&quot; he added.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1430848" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="~//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="~//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>Falcis on Tuesday defended before the high court his petition which sought to declare parts of the Family Code unconstitutional, saying these violate homosexuals&#x27; right &quot;to found a family&quot; as protected under the 1987 Constitution.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/19/18/top-court-told-we-are-simply-asking-for-the-freedom-to-love">Top court told: &#x27;We are simply asking for the freedom to love&#x27;</a></li></ul><p>The landmark case opens legal discussion on what is considered taboo in Asia&#x27;s bastion of Catholicism and coincides with the LGBT community&#x27;s celebration of Pride Month.</p><p>Asked to comment on Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza&#x27;s statement that he is &quot;inclined&quot; to dismiss Falcis plea, the young lawyer said he is willing to accept the decision of the Supreme Court.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/19/18/jardeleza-says-inclined-to-dismiss-same-sex-marriage-plea">Jardeleza says &#x27;inclined&#x27; to dismiss same-sex marriage plea</a></li></ul><p>He, however, noted that a dismissal of the plea would not stop him from advocating for the legalization of same-sex marriage in the country.</p><p>&quot;It doesn&#x27;t mean that we will stop advocating for equal rights,&quot; Falcis said.<br/> </p>

<p>Filipino members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community can no longer wait for Congress to pass a law legalizing same-sex marriage.</p>

Filipino members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community can no longer wait for Congress to pass a law legalizing same-sex marriage.