Gays Welcome In Philippine Military, So Long As They “Behave Themselves”

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is encouraging members of the country’s LGBT community to volunteer for service, as long as they promise to “behave properly.”

Rouelle Umali, Getty Images

The AFP announced the new inclusive policy this week as part of its effort to enlist 10,000 recruits by the end of the year. In addition to welcoming out soldiers, sailors and marines into the fold, the military has also promised to protect them from discrimination.

This protection, however, is contingent upon the entrants carrying themselves with “dignity.”

“The AFP is not going to discriminate against [LGBT soldiers]—they are free to apply and enlist in the Armed Forces,” AFP chief of public affairs Colonel Edgard Arevalo said.

“But we have one recommendation,” he continued. “The moment they apply and get accepted into the Armed Forces of the Philippines, we [will remind] them that they need to act and behave with dignity and with proper care,” adding, “this is a noble profession.”

He went on to stress the importance of good conduct and repeated that while the military was ready to welcome LGBT recruits, they would need to be disciplined and behave properly, all without specifying what exactly he meant by “properly.”

Getty Images

The move comes just months after Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte landed in hot water for derogatorily calling the U.S. ambassador to the island nation “gay.”

Hopefully, increased inclusivity in the AFP will lead to more tolerance throughout the country.

h/t: Next Shark