Professional Boxer Manny Pacquiao Draws Flak For Calling Gay People ‘Worse Than Animals’
Filipino world champion boxer Manny Pacquiao has been receiving an amount of backlash on social media and from the members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community after his remarks regarding same-sex marriage.
In an interview with a local TV station, the boxing superstar and Senatorial candidate expressed his stand against same-sex marriage.
"It's common sense," Pacquiao said, The Guardian noted. "Do you see animals mating with the same sex? Animals are better because they can distinguish male from female. If men mate with men and women mate with women they are worse than animals."
His remarks irked not only local celebrities, but also American blogger and TV personality Perez Hilton who said Pacquiao's comments were "horrific and damaging."
"What?! Why do people have to compare homosexuality to animals?! WHY??" He wrote on his blog.
"Look, if your religious beliefs prevent you from accepting same-sex marriage, that's on you. That's YOUR idea of propriety. But there's absolutely no call to demonize and denigrate gay people by comparing them to animals just because their love is something YOU'RE unable to accept," the blogger added.
Filipino comedian Vice Ganda and singer Aiza Seguerra have also aired their rage against Pacquiao's remarks, as noted by The Guardian.
The iconic comedian and host Vice Ganda went on to tweet and clarify that the LGBT is a community comprised of humans and not of animals.
The LGBT is a group of people. We are humans. But not animals. Though we're no saints we will pray for Manny Pacquiao.
— jose marie viceral (@vicegandako) February 16, 2016
Moreover, it was further noted that the comedian also started the hashtag #PrayForMannyPacquiao on the social media platform.
Meanwhile, the source also reported that acclaimed singer and song-writer Aiza Seguerra called the Filipino boxer "ignorant, bigoted hyprocrite."
The singer went on, "You might have done our country proud but with your statement, you just showed the whole country why we shouldn't vote for you."
On the other hand, chairman of a local LGBT group, Danton Remoto, commented that Pacquiao's remarks simply showed his flimsy understanding of sexual orientation and gender identity, ESPN noted.
"He is running for a national position and he should be a senator of everybody, not just over-the-hill boxers and straight people," said Remoto Ladlad chairman.
"Otherwise, they would be left behind in the Dark Ages, when the cavemen ruled and the numbskulls roamed the earth."
On Tuesday night, the Filipino boxer apologized for hurting people with his remarks.
A video posted by Manny Pacquiao (@mannypacquiao) on Feb 16, 2016 at 2:35am PST
"I'm sorry for hurting people by comparing homosexuals to animals," Pacquiao captioned his video on Instagram. "Please forgive me for those I've hurt. I still stand on my belief that I'm against same sex marriage because of what the Bible says, but I'm not condemning LGBT. I love you all with the love of the Lord. God Bless you all and I'm praying for you."
