Religious leader backs Trump two-gender policy; LGBT group urges pushback
Metro Manila, Philippines — A Philippine religious leader and lawmaker has expressed support for US President Donald Trump’s policy recognizing only two genders, calling it a restoration of God's principles and values in American society.
In a statement on Tuesday, Jan. 21, CIBAC party-list Rep. Eddie Villanueva, who also leads the Jesus is Lord Church, lauded Trump’s gender policy.
“It is, indeed, refreshing and inspiring to see a leader, who acknowledges God’s sovereignty, occupying the most powerful position in America, if not in the world. We have nothing for President Trump but wholehearted prayers that God would grant him wisdom, strength, and guidance as he embarks on this significant role. He carries the responsibility not only to the American people to make America great again but also to the global community to uphold values rooted in God’s Word,” Villanueva said.
He added that Trump’s announcement would “put an end to woke policies that promote multi-gender and gender diversity ideologies.”
“President Trump’s policy of recognizing male and female as the only genders will re-establish order in American society and families, which have been confused and destroyed by woke ideologies. It will save the lives of many young people who are being deceived into ‘transitioning’ to opposite genders through the lies being peddled in schools and in the media,” said the lawmaker.
Villanueva also expressed hope that the Trump administration would further strengthen the long-standing friendship between the US and the Philippines with shared values on democracy, human rights, and moral integrity.
At his inaugural address on Jan. 20, Trump said his administration will only recognize two genders, male and female.
LGBT pushback
On the other hand, Bahaghari chairperson Reyna Valmores Salinas sharply criticized Trump’s comments, comparing these to Nazi-era rhetoric where marginalized groups were used as scapegoats for political gain.
“Like (Adolf) Hitler before him who declared the Jewish people an enemy, Donald Trump is creating another artificial bogeyman to distract from the fact that his policies are nothing more than laws in favor of American capitalists, at the expense of American workers and all working people around the globe chafing under US imperialism.
“To conceal the roots of the exploitation faced by ordinary citizens, populists like Trump divide us and make enemies out of each other: first immigrants, and now the LGBTQIA+ community. History has taught us to resist such tactics,” Salinas said in a statement.
“We urge the American public to be critical. You have infinitely more in common with your neighboring LGBTQIA+ workers than you do a strongman like Trump who rakes billions from the exploitation of people’s labor.
“Awaken to the reality that persons of diverse genders are not the enemy; we are allies. Exploitative bureaucrat capitalists like Trump are the enemy," the advocate added.
Given close ties between the Philippines and the US, Salinas expressed concern that anti-LGBTQIA+ and -equality sentiments could be emboldened as a result of Trump’s statements.
"Filipinos, as well as all equality- and peace-loving citizens of the world, must push back to preserve the victories we have made towards gender equality. Let us be brave enough to speak out and push back against the imperialist US government policies," Salinas said.
