RAVES AND WAVES 02

You Wanna Obama?


I must admit, I rooted for Hillary and not for Barack. I thought sexual rights, reproductive rights, LGBT rights and all other rights (considered social evils by conservatives and fundamentalists) had a better chance of being addressed if she got elected into power. Besides, Barack was pretty vague about his stand on LGBT rights.

So, he got elected – and the whole world seemed to be elated with the prospect of an African American with an atypical upbringing leading the world’s self-proclaimed most powerful nation.

Well, he did one very good thing after being elected, that is, immediately and quietly reversing the “global gag rule”. His ruling lifts restrictions on U.S. government funding for groups that promote sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and rights, including abortion counseling and services abroad (though many of these groups do not even focus on abortion services but in preventing unwanted pregnancies and abortions through provision of contraception and other health services).

We hope this will augur in a new era of more sustained programming for SRH services in resource-limited countries such as the Philippines. Although, in our case, it’s not so much a question of resources but political will – especially since the Catholic Church has such a stranglehold on our political leaders – whether they’re in the administration or opposition.

So, to all those Obama-wannabes who have their eye on 2010 – I dare challenge you to include sexual and reproductive health and rights in your political agenda. Otherwise, don’t think that you can even come close to the man.