Homosexuality, moral or not?
“Girl, Boy, Bakla, Tomboy,” a famous singsong line from children playing on the streets,
who aren’t aware that this line has mirrored how people are named, classified, and to be
blunt, discriminated by society today.
Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, and Transgenders (LGBT) have become widely popular in the
Philippines in this time. They have become rampant and are constantly increasing in
number due to greater education about sexual orientation and gender identity issues as well
as growing visibility and political activism of the LGBT community. Unions and
federations such as the LGBT community are created to protect the rights of these people,
so as to fortify the identity of each of their members.
This issue on the tolerance of homosexuality has called the attention of a lot of people
because of the immorality it implies. As a Christian country, most of the residents in the
Philippines are not accustomed to this added classification. They believe that God created
only two kinds of human — man and woman, and that people engage in homosexuality
because of bodily pleasures and influence of societal current trends. Although some people
claim that being homosexual is what they are called for, the complete recognition of the
LGBTs in our society are far from being achieved.
As a student who had just taken up a lesson on ethics, what is my take on this issue?
In my own understanding, this issue can be best supported by the Deontological Ethical
Theory of Immanuel Kant. In this theory or philosophy, an act or conduct is considered
good or right, thus justified morally, not by showing that it has good and beneficial
consequences or effects but by virtue of its being an action that emanates from a sense of
duty or moral obligation. The intention of a person, not the consequence or effect of the
action, is the primary motivator of morality.
In the context of Deontological Ethical Theory, one can say that homosexuality is morally
acceptable. Here are the reasons:
Principle of Humanity – One reason that empowered a lot of people to go out of the closet
is self-expression. They want to be respected as a person whose worth is equal to those
who are “normal”, and to be given value. They recognize their capability to determine
their own destiny or end that is why they decide to pursue what they want to do with their
lives. This self-expression would give rise to the dignity that they deserve because if they
