{"id":190460,"date":"2016-02-16T17:14:33","date_gmt":"2016-02-16T17:14:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/4cd.e16.myftpupload.com\/?p=190460"},"modified":"2016-02-16T17:14:33","modified_gmt":"2016-02-16T17:14:33","slug":"pacquiao-stokes-controversy-by-calling-gays-worse-than-animals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2016\/02\/pacquiao-stokes-controversy-by-calling-gays-worse-than-animals\/","title":{"rendered":"Pacquiao stokes controversy by calling gays \u2018worse than animals\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The eight-times world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao has provoked a storm of controversy in his home country after saying people in same-sex relationships \u201care worse than animals\u201d.<\/p>\n

Pacquiao, 37, who is running for a seat in the Philippines senate in May\u2019s elections as a conservative Christian, made the remark in a video posted on local TV5\u2019s election site.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s common sense,\u201d he said. \u201cDo 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

The country\u2019s most popular gay comedian, Vice Ganda, posted#PrayForMannyPacquiao to his 6.7m followers on Twitter as he hit back at the boxer, adding: \u201cSome people think they can judge people like God just because they\u2019ve attended a prayer meeting and read the bible. The senate needs experts on politics and law, not blind prophets.\u201d<\/p>\n

The singer Aiza Seguerra, who recently married her actress-girlfriend, called on voters to boycott Pacquiao, who is also preparing for his last fight in April, calling him an \u201cignorant, bigoted hypocrite\u201d. Seguerra added: \u201cYou might have done our country proud but with your statement, you just showed the whole country why we shouldn\u2019t vote for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pacquiao, beaten by Floyd Mayweather in May last year, currently represents the province of Sarangani in the House of Representatives, though is often absent. In one of his few speeches, Pacquiao quoted heavily from the bible as he attempted to stop a proposed law, since passed, giving free condoms to the poor.<\/p>\n

Responding to the controversy via Instagram, Pacquiao initially posted an image of himself with his wife, quoting the bible and writing: \u201cI rather obey the Lord\u2019s command than obeying the desire of the flesh. I\u2019m not condemning anyone, but I\u2019m just telling the truth of what the bible says.\u201d<\/p>\n

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I rather obey the Lord’s command than obeying the desires of the flesh. Im not condemning anyone, but I’m just telling the truth of what the Bible says. The truth from the Bible is what changed me from my old ways. 1 Corinthians 6:9 “[9] Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men.” God Bless everyone i love you all. @johnnybantilan @david.sisson @jinkeepacquiao<\/a><\/p>\n

A photo posted by Manny Pacquiao (@mannypacquiao) on