LGBT PARENTING

LGBT
o IS AN INITIALISM THAT STANDS FOR LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL,
AND TRANSGENDER. IN USE SINCE THE 1990S, THE TERM IS AN
ADAPTATION OF THE INITIALISM LGB, WHICH WAS USED TO
REPLACE THE TERM GAY IN REFERENCE TO THE
LGBT COMMUNITY.
o IT BEGINNING IN THE MID-TO-LATE 1980S.
 LESBIAN
A LESBIAN WOMAN IS ONE WHO IS ROMANTICALLY, SEXUALLY AND/OR EMOTIONALLY ATTRACTED TO WOMEN. MANY
LESBIANS PREFER TO BE CALLED LESBIAN RATHER THAN GAY.

GAY
A GAY MAN IS ONE WHO IS ROMANTICALLY, SEXUALLY AND/OR EMOTIONALLY ATTRACTED TO MEN. THE WORD GAY CAN BE
USED TO REFER GENERALLY TO LESBIAN, GAY AND BISEXUAL PEOPLE BUT MANY WOMEN PREFER TO BE CALLED LESBIAN. MOST
GAY PEOPLE DON’T LIKE TO BE REFERRED TO AS HOMOSEXUAL BECAUSE OF THE NEGATIVE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS WITH
THE WORD AND BECAUSE THE WORD GAY BETTER REFLECTS THEIR IDENTITY.

BISEXUAL
A BISEXUAL PERSON IS SOMEONE WHO IS ROMANTICALLY, SEXUALLY AND/OR EMOTIONALLY ATTRACTED TO PEOPLE OF
GENDERS BOTH THE SAME AND DIFFERENT TO THEIR OWN.

TRANSGENDER OR TRANS
AN UMBRELLA TERM USED TO DESCRIBE PEOPLE WHOSE GENDER IDENTITY (INTERNAL FEELING OF BEING MALE, FEMALE OR
NON-BINARY) AND/OR GENDER EXPRESSION, DIFFERS FROM THE GENDER THEY WERE ASSIGNED AT BIRTH. NOT EVERYONE
WHOSE APPEARANCE OR BEHAVIOUR IS GENDER-ATYPICAL WILL IDENTIFY AS A TRANSGENDER PERSON.
 LGBT PARENTING
 REFERS TO LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER (LGBT) PEOPLE RAISING ONE OR MORE
CHILDREN AS PARENTS OR FOSTER CARE PARENTS. THIS INCLUDES: CHILDREN RAISED BY SAME-SEX
COUPLES (SAME-SEX PARENTING), CHILDREN RAISED BY SINGLE LGBT PARENTS, AND CHILDREN
RAISED BY AN OPPOSITE-SEX COUPLE WHERE AT LEAST ONE PARTNER IS LGBT.
 LGBT PEOPLE BECOME PARENTS IN A VARIETY OF WAYS, INCLUDING ADOPTION, FOSTER
PARENTING, DONOR INSEMINATION, SURROGACY, AND FROM PREVIOUS HETEROSEXUAL
RELATIONSHIPS. WE'VE MADE GREAT PROGRESS IN PROTECTING THE RELATIONSHIPS OF LGBT
PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN. UNFORTUNATELY, THERE’S STILL A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE.
 RIGHTS
MAIN ARTICLE: LGBT RIGHTS IN THE PHILIPPINES
ALTHOUGH LEGISLATION SUPPORTING SAME-SEX MARRIAGE IN THE PHILIPPINES HAS BEEN
PROPOSED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PHILIPPINE LEGISLATURE, NONE HAS BEEN
PASSED. THE PHILIPPINE COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS (COMELEC) DISQUALIFIED THE FILIPINO
LGBT POLITICAL PARTY LADLAD FROM FRONTING A CANDIDATE IN THE 2007 GENERAL ELECTION,
CONCLUDING THAT THE PARTY DID NOT HAVE A NATIONWIDE MEMBERSHIP. COMELEC AGAIN
REFUSED LADLAD'S PETITION TO CONTEST THE 2010 ELECTIONS ON THE GROUNDS OF
"IMMORALITY". HOWEVER, ON APRIL 8, 2010, THE SUPREME COURT OF THE
PHILIPPINES OVERTURNED COMELEC'S DECISION AND ALLOWED LADLAD TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
MAY 2010 ELECTIONS.
THE PHILIPPINES HAS BEEN RANKED ONE OF THE MOST GAY-FRIENDLY NATIONS IN THE WORLD
AND IS THE MOST GAY-FRIENDLY IN ASIA. IN A SURVEY OF 39 COUNTRIES (ONLY 17 OF WHICH
HAD A MAJORITY ACCEPTING HOMOSEXUALITY), THE PHILIPPINES WERE THE 10TH MOST GAY-
FRIENDLY. THE SURVEY, "THE GLOBAL DIVIDE ON HOMOSEXUALITY" CONDUCTED BY THE US-
BASED PEW RESEARCH CENTER, SHOWED THAT 73 PERCENT OF ADULT FILIPINOS AGREED THAT
"HOMOSEXUALITY SHOULD BE ACCEPTED BY SOCIETY" (UP FROM 64 PERCENT IN 2002).
 LGBT RIGHTS BILL (SOGIE BILL)
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES APPROVED ON THE LGBT RIGHTS ON SEPTEMBER 20, 2017. THE LAWMAKERS
HAD VOTED 198-0 IN THE APPROVAL OF HOUSE BILL 4982, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE SEXUAL ORIENTATION
AND GENDER IDENTITY AND EXPRESSION EQUALITY (SOGIE) BILL. THOSE WHO VIOLATE THIS BILL ARE
REQUIRED TO PAY A PENALTY OF ₱100,000 TO ₱500,000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR ONE TO SIX YEARS. THIS
BILL PROHIBITS AND PENALIZES ANY DISCRIMINATORY ACTS AGAINST LESBIANS, GAYS, BISEXUALS, AND
TRANSGENDER PEOPLE.
THE SOGIE BILL PENALIZES THE FOLLOWING ACTS:
GENDER PROFILING
DENYING OR REVOKING A PROFESSIONAL OR OTHER SIMILAR KIND OF LICENSE, CLEARANCE, EXCEPT
MARRIAGE LICENSE, ISSUED BY THE GOVERNMENT
DENYING ACCESS TO PUBLIC SERVICE, INCLUDING MILITARY SERVICE INCLUDING SOGIE AS CRITERIA FOR
HUMAN RESOURCE ACTION
REFUSING ADMISSION OR EXPELLING A PERSON FROM ANY EDUCATIONAL OR TRAINING INSTITUTION
DENYING A PERSON ACCESS TO PUBLIC OR PRIVATE MEDICAL AND OTHER HEALTH SERVICES OPEN TO
GENERAL PUBLIC
 LGBT PARENTING
• AMONG SAME-SEX MARRIAGE ANOTHER ISSUE IS PARENTING. SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE INDICATES THAT PARENTS' FINANCIAL,
PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL WELL-BEING IS ENHANCED BY MARRIAGE AND THAT CHILDREN BENEFIT FROM BEING
RAISED BY TWO PARENTS WITHIN A LEGALLY RECOGNIZED UNION (EITHER A MIXED-SEX OR SAME-SEX UNION). AS A RESULT,
PROFESSIONAL SCIENTIFIC ASSOCIATIONS HAVE ARGUED FOR SAME-SEX MARRIAGE TO BE LEGALLY RECOGNIZED AS IT WILL
BE BENEFICIAL TO THE CHILDREN OF SAME-SEX COUPLES.
• SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH HAS BEEN GENERALLY CONSISTENT IN SHOWING THAT LESBIAN AND GAY PARENTS ARE AS FIT AND
CAPABLE AS 11 EVERYBODY HAS THE RIGHT TO GET OUT OF THE CLOSET HETEROSEXUAL PARENTS, AND THEIR CHILDREN ARE
AS PSYCHOLOGICALLY HEALTHY AND WELL-ADJUSTED AS CHILDREN REARED BY HETEROSEXUAL PARENTS.
• ACCORDING TO SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE REVIEWS, THERE IS NO EVIDENCE TO THE CONTRARY. MOST SAME-SEX-MARRIAGE
STATES ALLOW THE JOINT ADOPTION OF CHILDREN BY SAME-SEX COUPLES. (PORTUGAL IS A LONG-STANDING EXCEPTION.)
IN ADDITION, SEVERAL STATES WHICH DO NOT HAVE MARRIAGE EQUALITY NONETHELESS PERMIT JOINT ADOPTION BY
UNMARRIED SAME-SEX COUPLES: THE UNITED KINGDOM, WESTERN AUSTRALIA, NEW SOUTH WALES, AND TASMANIA WITHIN
AUSTRALIA, COAHUILLA AND CHIHUAHUA IN MEXICO, A NUMBER OF US STATES (COLORADO, INDIANA, NEVADA, OREGON),
AND IN AT LEAST A FEW CASES, ISRAEL. SEVERAL ADDITIONAL STATES ALLOW SECOND-PARENT ('STEP-CHILD' OR 'STEP-
PARENT') ADOPTION BY UNMARRIED SAME-SEX COUPLES. GAY COUPLES CAN NOW ADOPT CHILDREN IN CERTAIN
COUNTRIES OR MAY BECOME PREGNANT IF THEY CAN AND OF COURSE THEY CAN GROW .
• SO FAR THERE ARE NO STUDIES WHICH PROVE THAT THE SEXUAL ORIENTATION OF THE PARENTS , AND THIS DETERMINES
WHO WILL GET THEIR CHILDREN . THE BIG QUESTION THAT ARISES IS THAT WHILE ADULTS ARE CLEARLY UNDER FREE CHOICE ,
NOT THE CASE OF COURSE THE SAME FOR CHILDREN , WHICH IN FACT ... CANNOT CHOOSE THEIR PARENTS !
• THE CHILDREN THEMSELVES , ALTHOUGH THEY MAY HAVE EARLY FAMILIAR WITH THE IDEA
OF "TWO MOMS " OR "TWO DADS " FACE GREAT DIFFICULTIES WHEN THEY BEGIN TO
SOCIALIZE AND PARTICULARLY AT SCHOOL . THERE ARE CONFRONTED FIRST WITH THE
DIVERSITY OF THEIR OWN FAMILY , IN RELATION TO FAMILIES OF THE VAST MAJORITY OF
THEIR PEERS . SO IF FINALLY CREATED A PROBLEM FOR THE FAMILIES OF GAY PARENTS ARE
IN POOR PSYCHOLOGICAL PREPARATION AND SUPPORT OF THEIR CHILDREN IN ORDER
TO SUCCESSFULLY COPE WITH AND MANAGE THE DIVERSITY IN THEIR FAMILY
CIRCUMSTANCES, AGAINST OTHER CHILDREN .
• THE PSYCHOLOGICAL PREPARATION SHOULD BEGIN VERY EARLY , ESPECIALLY WITH THE
GUILT OF THEIR OWN HOMOSEXUAL PARENTS DUE TO THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND
THEN THE COUNSELING WILL HAVE TO DO WITH THEIR CHILDREN .
 LGBT RIGHTS ARE AN ISSUE OF CONCERN FOR MANY
AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE SO IN THE FUTURE. THE
CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS OPPOSITION TO GAY
RIGHTS PRESENT BARRIERS TO EQUALITY FOR THE
LEGAL PROFESSION. LAWYERS MUST NOT ONLY
LITIGATE AGAINST HOMOPHOBIC LEGISLATION, BUT
ALSO CONFRONT OPPOSITION FROM THE PUBLIC.
ALTHOUGH THE FUTURE OF LGBT RIGHTS
THROUGHOUT THE WORLD IS UNCLEAR, LEGAL
PROFESSIONALS WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE ON
BEHALF OF THOSE DESIRING EQUALITY. LEGAL
PROFESSIONALS MUST ALSO BEGIN TO THINK OUTSIDE
THEIR TRADITIONAL ROLE AS A LITIGATOR AND MOVE
TOWARDS BEING AN ADVOCATE AND EDUCATOR. THE
FIGHT FOR GAY RIGHTS SHOULD BE TAKEN OUTSIDE
THE COURTROOM. IN ORDER TO PROGRESS INTO
MORE EQUAL SOCIETY, LEGAL PROFESSIONALS IN
LEBANON AND ABROAD WILL CONTINUE TO RAISE
AWARENESS ABOUT THE NECESSITY FOR EQUAL
HUMAN RIGHTS FOR EVERYONE, REGARDLESS OF
SEXUALITY OR GENDER STATUS.
 LGBT PARENTING ISSUE’S

• EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION

• HEALTH CARE

• VIOLENCE

• SEXUAL ORIENTATION