The President of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, has voiced his support for same-sex marriage for the people of the Philippines. Duterte shared his words during a gathering of LGBT people in Davao City as he announced the plan to create an LGBT commission. Duterte urged the LGBT citizens of the Philippines to nominate their "brightest" and most "honest" citizens for the commission or for those individuals to come forward to join him.

During the speaking engagement, Duterte changed his tune on the topic of same-sex marriage, a topic that he has strictly and publicly opposed in the past.

According to ABC Online, some of his comments for same-sex marriage include:

I said I am for [same-]sex marriage if that is the trend of the modern times. If that will add to your happiness, I am for it. Why impose a morality that is no longer working and almost passed. So I am with you.

Duterte is known for his discriminatory comments and just this year he made a embarrassing statements about prisoners who he felt were "beyond reform" because their time in prison had resulted in them turning gay.

Last year, he insulted an openly gay U.S. ambassador:

Related Post: Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte Insults Openly Gay US Ambassador

He also claims to work toward legislation for same-sex marriage in the Philippines, one of the most accepting LGBT Asian countries that has seen such little legal progress or inclusivity.

Has Duterte honestly changed the way he feels about the LGBT community or this his way of trying to push a different agenda or to build his cabinet? In any case, it looks like this is a step in the right direction for our LGBT pinoy brothers and sisters.