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Manny Pacquiao Apologizes For Saying Gays Are ‘Worse Than Animals’

By Tara Dodrill
Published on: 05:02 PST, Feb 16, 2016

Manny Pacquiao apologized for saying gays are “worse than animals.” The boxing great was detailing why he is against same-sex marriage when he made the controversial remarks. Although Pacquiao tweeted an apology, he is standing by his beliefs about gay marriage.

“Have you seen any animal having male-to-male or female-to-female relations? If you have male-to-male or female-to-female (relationships), then people are worse than animals,” Manny Pacquiao said. “It’s just common sense.”

The LGBT community and some Filipino celebrities criticized the boxing stars remarks, which have now gone viral. Gay comedian host and television star Jose Marie Viceral, known to fans as Vice Ganda, was one of the Filipino celebrities who took great offense at the Manny Pacquiao’s comments.

Vice Ganda posted on Twitter that in contrary to what the boxer may believe, gay, transgenders, and bisexuals are not animals but human beings. Viceral also said that he will pray for Manny Pacquiao after noting all gays are not saints.

When posting a photo of Pope Francis, Vice Ganda tweeted, “If a person is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who are to judge?”

Danton Remoto, the chair of Ladlad, an LGBT organization, said the boxer’s comments about gays demonstrate a narrow understanding of gender identity and sexual orientation issues. The gay leader added that the senatorial candidate should “bone up” on gay issues for the new century.

Pacquiao is currently a member of the House of Representatives in the Philippines and is running for a seat in the Senate, CBS News reports.

Manny Pacquiao said that he was not out to condemn anyone but was just explaining a biblical belief. Pacquiao said he would rather obey the will of God instead of surrendering to the “desires of the flesh.”

“I’m sorry for hurting people by comparing homosexuals to animals. Please forgive me for those I’ve hurt,” the boxer said in an apology posted on social media.

“He is running for a national position and he should be a senator of everybody, not just over-the-hill boxers and straight people,” Remoto said. “Otherwise, they would be left behind in the Dark Ages, when the cavemen ruled and the numbskulls roamed the earth.”

Aiza Seguerra, a Filipino child star during the 1980s who is now a singer, also shared her thoughts about Pacquiaoi’s gay slur. Seguerra is now in a same-sex relationship with another actress, Fox News reports.

“You might’ve done our country proud but with your statement, you just showed the whole country why we shouldn’t vote for you,” Seguerra said. “And yes, I think you are an ignorant, bigoted hypocrite.”

One of the most accomplished boxers in the world may be on the fast track to reach the presidency in the Philippines. Although he has been chastised for absences from Congress, he is still reportedly a voter favorite predicted to win the Senate seat.

He has won eight division championships and said he will retire from boxing after an April 9 bout in Las Vegas. Pacquiao has a guaranteed $20 million purse for the final ring appearance.

What do you think about Manny Pacquaio saying that gays are “worse than animals”? Will expressing his religious beliefs and free speech in such a manner hurt his political career or put a stain on his boxing record?

[Photo by Seth Wenig, File/AP]

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