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Filipino same-sex couple get married online in Utah

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Davinci Maru, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Courtesy of Hergie &amp; Lady Facebook Page" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/06/30/20230630-via-hergie-and-lady-facebook-page.jpg" class="fr-fil fr-dib"/><figcaption><em>Courtesy of Hergie &amp; Lady Facebook Page</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — On Nov. 23, 2022, Hergie Bacyadan and Lady Denily Digo tied the knot over Zoom.</p><p>Bacyadan sported a white suit with black bow tie while Digo wore a V-neck white bridal dress.</p><p>They recited their vows, exchanged wedding rings and said &quot;I dos&quot; inside a hotel room in the Philippines.</p><p>Two of their friends also attended as witnesses.</p><p>In less than an hour, they legally became husband and wife — but in the US state of Utah.</p><p>Utah&#x27;s second biggest county has allowed virtual wedding ceremonies for international couples since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.</p><p>Same-sex marriage is not legally recognized in the Philippines.</p><p>Bacyadan, a wushu fighter and boxer, and Digo, a former banker, have always planned of getting hitched.</p><p>&quot;Para sa amin, hindi kasal-kasalan &#x27;yun. Big deal &#x27;yun sa amin kasi nag-celebrate kami ng pagmamahalan namin. &#x27;Yung pagmamahalan namin na &#x27;yun totoo,&quot; Digo told ABS-CBN News.</p><p>Bacyadan, 28, identifies as trans man while Digo, 31, said she is bisexual.</p><p>The couple received their marriage license a week after the virtual ceremony, which is recognized in dozens of countries that accept same-sex marriage. They have also decided to keep their last names.</p><p>They held another wedding ceremony, which was attended by their families and friends.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2692601" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div><div><strong>&#x27;WALANG PINIPILING KASARIAN&#x27;</strong></div><p>While they were flooded with wedding wishes, their detractors also came in droves.</p><p>&quot;Sobrang dami naming na-receive na mga bash, lalo na sa Facebook,&quot; Digo said. &quot;Sinasabi nila na hindi &#x27;yan tanggap ng Diyos. Masusunog &#x27;yung kaluluwa niyo sa impiyerno.&quot;</p><p>But for the couple, the online bashing motivated them more to prove them wrong.</p><p>&quot;Ang love wala namang pinipiling kasarian,&quot; Bacyadan said. &quot;Sabi ko sa kaniya (Digo), mas maraming bashers, mas maraming followers.&quot;</p><p>The couple, who also create content on social media, has nearly 1 million combined followers on TikTok, Facebook and Instagram.</p><p>They met through TikTok when Digo accidentally joined Bacyadan&#x27;s live streaming on the video sharing platform.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1632472" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div><div><strong>&#x27;PASS SOGIE BILL&#x27;</strong></div><p>Having a huge platform, the couple is calling lawmakers to pass the SOGIE Equality bill, a measure against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.</p><p>The measure has been languishing in Congress for the past 2 decades.</p><p>&quot;Iba talaga ang mga tao na manghusga. Kami, iniintindi nalang namin,&quot; Digo said.</p><p>&quot;Pinapahaba namin &#x27;yung pasensiya namin kasi alam namin hindi lang nila naiintindihan. Kulang sa awareness, kulang sa edukasyon patungkol sa pangatlong kasarian.&quot;</p><p>Bacyadan said he had been discriminated in sports. He has been subjected to several medical screening despite having a certification.</p><p>&quot;Ang kasarian ko babae pero ang puso&#x27;t isip ko lalaki,&quot; he said.</p><p>He won a silver medal in the Vovinam women&#x27;s 65kg category during the 2023 Southeast Asian Games.</p><p>Digo also said they were not looking for special rights but only equal treatment.</p><p>&quot;The only way lang po na matatanggap kami kung maipapasa ito kasi magkakaroon ng awareness, mababawasan &#x27;yung diskriminasyon at &#x27;yung nararamdaman namin na nao-oppress,&quot; she said.</p><p>The couple will be undergoing IVF next month to build a family.</p>

Filipino same-sex couple get married online in Utah

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Filipino same-sex couple get married online in Utah

Davinci Maru,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 30, 2023 10:11 PM PHT

|

Updated October 29, 2024 10:40 AM PHT

Read More:

same-sex marriage

same-sex union

same sex

marriage

ceremony

online wedding

virtual wedding

Zoom

Utah

US

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