US gay-marriage ruling lauded by local, foreign celebs

By Alvin I. Dacanay

Several Philippine entertainment personalities, including Tony-winning actress and The Voice of the Philippines coach Lea Salonga, have joined the growing chorus of international celebrities who are elated by the United States Supreme Court’s declaration last Friday that same-sex marriage is constitutional and, therefore, legal in all of that country’s 50 states.

They do so despite the fact that same-sex marriage and divorce is still illegal in the Philippines, whose Roman Catholic population is more than 80 percent. The country is the only one in the world where divorce is not recognized.

In the first of her posts on the social-media site Twitter, Salonga wrote: “What an amazing morning!!! Hurray!!! #LoveWins #IDo #Equality” She later posted: “Settled in my seat on my flight home, and am overcome by and in tears from the news on #MarriageEquality ruling by #SCOTUS [Supreme Court of the United States]. #LoveWins.”

“For far too long, the LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender] community has been considered ‘less than’ and ‘not as equal.’ After today’s historic SCOTUS ruling, NOT ANYMORE!” Salonga’s third tweet read.

For his part, Vice Ganda retweeted US President Barack Obama’s response to the ruling, while Bianca Gonzalez simply tweeted: #OneLove #LoveWins #Equality.”

On Facebook, Eat Bulaga co-host and makeup master Paolo Ballesteros, among others, used an app provided by the social-media site to render their profile pictures in all the colors of the rainbow—a recognized symbol of the LGBT community.

As of early Saturday afternoon, more and more Filipino Facebook users are using the app.

“Happy Pride,” Ballesteros wrote on his Facebook account to accompany a link to an online article about the US Supreme Court’s historic decision.

Meanwhile, award-winning director Jose Javier Reyes wrote these on both his Twitter and Instagram accounts: “Love knows no gender. Love wins.”

Their sentiments are echoed by many foreign celebrities, including those who have come out as gay or heterosexuals who support LGBT rights, on Twitter.

“Finally and at last! The revolution of love has begun!,” Madonna wrote.

“Same-sex marriage is now legal all across the US! Free to love. Free to marry. Free to be equal!” Lady Gaga posted.

“Congratulations, particularly to those who made the case for equality,” Ian McKellen said.

“It’s a new day. Thank you Supreme Court. Thank you Justice Kennedy [who cast the deciding vote that made same-sex marriage constitutional]. Your opinion is profound, in more ways than you may know. #huzzah,” Neil Patrick Harris wrote.

The US is now the 21st country to make same-sex marriage legal nationwide. This means that American married gay couples can now enjoy the same legal rights and benefits as their straight counterparts. With AP