Plot Twist: Robin Padilla as an LGBTQIA+ Ally (for Now)
Robinhood Padilla (yes, let's go with his birth name on this one) has been on a liberal tear recently. Since being elected to the Senate, Padilla has filed bills upholding divorce; legalizing medical marijuana; translating laws and court orders to Filipino; including Philippine history in the high school curriculum; and now recognizing same-sex civil unions. A rebel with a cause. How about that?
“It is high time that the Philippines provides equal rights and recognition for couples of the same sex with no prejudice as to sexual relationships are protected and recognized and given access to basic social protection and security,” the bill’s explanatory note read.
“Providing equal rights and privileges for same-sex couples will in no way diminish or trample on the rights granted to married couples,” he expressed.
Rough and tough Robinhood, however, hasn't exactly been the friendliest of faces to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual (LGTQIA+) community. But with all the weird things that are happening in the theater of Philippine politics right now, would it really be a stretch to say that this guy has become, dare we say, an ally?
There was a time when Padilla was a hard-liner when it came to these conversations. In a 2013 interview with Pep.ph, Padilla had this to say about LGBTQIA representation in media.
“Huwag lang sana maghalikan sa telebisyon naman at telebisyon na 'yon. Iwan na lang nila sa pelikula iyon... Hayaan lang natin hangga't hindi sila naghahalikaan na dalawa doon,” the senator claimed.
He continued: “Mahilig tayong kumopya kung ano nangyayari sa Amerika. Ngayon ang sinisigaw nila, gay rights, kung anu-anong klaseng rights. E, ibigay na natin, kung anong rights ang hinihingi.”
The last snippet was a reference to the U.S. ruling that legalized same-sex marriage. When he was asked about doing the same in the Philippines, Padilla only said, “ayoko na mag-komento diyan.”
In 2014, when his daughter Kylie and Aljur Abrenica broke up, he simply stated: "Isang bakla ang gusto ninyong pag-usapan." This isn't exactly an endorsement of gay people now, is it?
View this post on Instagram>pHe and his siblings even had beef with their sister BB Gandanghari after she came out. But in an interview with Rappler back in 2015, he did point out that her transition changed his perspective toward the LGTBQIA+ community.>p“Syempre hindi naman lahat ng tao bukas lagi ang iniisip, marami din akong pagkakamali at marami din akong pagkakamali sa kanya,” he admitted.>pAt one point during the discussion, Padilla said he was happy for her nonetheless. “Hanggang ngayon, siyempre, I protest. Pero sa atin naman lahat siguro in general, pag mahal natin ang isang tao at masaya yung tao, it doesn’t mean you support, but you are happy as well. Masaya na rin ako para sa kaniya.">pHe's not been known to deadname her, too. That's always a plus, we guess.>pALSO READ:>pEverything you need to know about the Anti-Discrimination Bill>pSenator Robin Padilla Files Bill to Legalize Medical Marijuana Use>pDuring the campaign period for the 2022 Philippine Elections, Padilla had been vocal about his support for same-sex civil union measures, as well. He's... delivering.>pNow that he's a senator, he's found himself aligning with opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros on key issues like divorce and same-sex rights. Hontiveros once said she is willing to "cross party lines" for the passage of the divorce bill. >pAs the chairperson of the Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, Hontiveros has been a legitimate ally to the community in the Senate.>pShe has championed the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Expression and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) Equality Bill in the past, and has even received backing from the likes of Senators Nancy Binay, Imee Marcos, Grace Poe, and Juan Miguel Zubiri, among others. >pAn earlier version of the SOGIE bill had first been proposed in the 11th Congress (it's been a while). In 2017, the first SOGIE house bill of the 17th Congress was filed. Its counterpart was Hontiveros'.>pIn May 2019, the SOGIE bill officially became the longest-running bill under the Senate interpellation period. Hontiveros called for her colleagues to formally close the question period to make room for amendments and voting. It didn't push through. >pShe reintroduced it back in 2020 but was opposed by then-Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III, who said that the bill had "no chance" of passing Senate as long as he was the Senate President. Senator Joel Villanueva expressed dissent, as well.>pBut Padilla presents Hontiveros with an interesting partner moving forward. The rookie senator is part of the majority bloc, after all. That has to mean something. So they might just find themselves linking up again for Padilla's Civil Unions Act.>p
Photo by FACEBOOK.Credit goes to Padilla's team, of course (except for maybe Salvador Panelo). They're the ones behind the scenes who have been helping Padilla's progressive push—at least for the time being.>pSo what happens when he files some of the other proposed measures he's had before being elected? He did advocate for the reinstatement of the death penalty and a shift to federalism. But then again, he did say he wanted anti-political dynasty measures, too. So yeah, he can be a wildcard of sorts. Will the real Robinhood please stand up?>pAlthough for this particular bill, as well as the recent ones he's filed, we're seeing Robinhood, the outlaw legislator trying to do some good. In this political climate, these things are sobering to see. Although this version of Padilla also says a lot about the unpredictability of the Philippines' culture of bipartisanship.>pBut who knows with a guy like Padilla, really? This is in no way crowning the guy as a hero of the community. Let's just call it an acknowledgement amidst such an arguably low bar. We just hope that we're not speaking too soon.>p
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