INDEPENDENT senatorial aspirant Heidi Mendoza yesterday posted an apology to members of the LGBT+ community who aired their disappointment regarding her stand not to support same-sex marriage.
Caught in an intense online debate raging in the past three days between those who said they are withdrawing their support and those who said they will continue to back her campaign, Mendoza acknowledged that she has made remarks that have caused pain to queers and is sorry for them.
“It is clear to me that I have made statements that have hurt or dismayed you. To say that it was not my intention is not enough because the words caused pain. For that, I offer my sincere apology and my full attention,” the former Commission on Audit commissioner said.
The online reaction from the community stemmed from Mendoza’s reply to a single-issue vote during the multi-sectoral “People’s Forum 2025” held at the San Sebastian School in Nueva Ecija which she attended with fellow senatorial bets Luke Espiritu and Sonny Matula.
She raised the “No” placard when asked if she supports same-sex marriage. Espiritu voted “Yes” and Matula was neutral.
Once clips of the vote spread, several of her supporters from the LGBT+ community declared that they are withdrawing support as they noted that she has also submitted a conditional “No” to the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression (SOGIE) bill if she wins a seat in the Senate.
Mendoza said it would have been easy to just vote “Yes” to avoid controversy and the risk of alienating some of her most active supporters but she cannot lie to them.
Despite the withdrawal of support she expressed her gratitude to the LGBT+ members who were among the first to volunteer in organizing Heidi Mendoza chapters in various provinces and regions.
“I will always be in debt to you for the courage you have shown, your principled stand for your right, and your insistence to be heard even if in going so, you got hurt, abandoned, or silenced. I will not pretend to have all the answers or to change overnight. But here is what I know with certainty: Public office is not about enforcing personal beliefs. It is about upholding the rights, dignity, and safety of all Filipinos,” she said.
Stopping short of recalling her opposition, Mendoza instead made a commitment that she will not be an obstacle for the same-sex marriage bill if she gets elected in Congress.
“I know that for many of you, my stance on marriage feels like a contradiction to the principle of equal rights. And I understand why. That is why I am making this clear commitment: I will not stand in the way of same-sex unions becoming law,” she vowed.
