Politician who said gays ‘worse than animals’ claims ‘cross dressing’ causes crime
Politician and champion boxer Manny Pacquiao has claimed “cross dressing” causes crime.
The Senator made the comments during a session of the senate on Monday.
He cited the case of Jennifer Laude, a trans woman who was killed by 19-year-old Joseph Pemberton, who had been unaware that Laude was transgender.
Her killer had not realised she was transgender on meeting her, something that came to be a major factor in the case.
Now Senator Pacquiao claims her “cross dressing” caused her to be killed.
He also claimed that trans people using the bathroom appropriate to their gender identity was dangerous.
He made the comments during a debate on a bill to tackle sexual harassment towards women.
“Even in the Bible, we read that the woman should wear women’s [clothing]; and the man, for men’s wear,” Pacquiao said.
“That’s what I believe.”
The boxer turned politician previously expressed “regrets” after saying gay people are “worse than animals”.
He told TMZ: “I am not changing my position for what the bible says. But my mistake is just comparing them to animals. I am just human. Nobody is perfect.”
Pacquiao ducked a fight with former world champion Shane Mosley earlier this year who said he would challenge Pacquiao to a fight and would champion gay rights.
“I’ve made a commitment to my family that I’m going to retire after this,” said Pacquiao on retiring earlier this year after a fight with Timothy Bradley.
Eight-time world boxing champion Pacquiao sparked criticism across the world in February, after describing gay couples as “worse than animals”.
“It’s common sense,” he said. “Will you see any animals where male is to male and female is to female? The animals are better.
“They know how to distinguish male from female.
“If we approve male on male, female on female then man is worse than animals.”
Pacquiao has previously said that he was not bothered about backlash to his anti-gay views – despite losing millions in sponsorship after being dropped by Nike, which described his views as “abhorrent”.
Pacquiao was also banned from an LA shopping centre over the comments, and claimed he was attacked outside a restaurant by an assailant who called him a homophobe.
