Marawi bans gays, skimpy attire
By Lino De La Cruz
The Philippine Star 12/04/2004


MARAWI CITY – This Islamic city has banned overt homosexuals as well as skintight jeans, tube blouses exposing a woman’s midriff and other skimpy attire from public places.

Far from heralding a return to the middle ages, a new slew of ordinances is actually part of the ongoing "cleaning and cleansing" program to improve Marawi City’s image, said Mayor Omar Solitario Ali.

There was a clamor from both the public at large and government authorities for an image makeover, including taking cross-dressers back into the closet, according to the mayor.

"Since Marawi City is the only Islamic city in the country and a part of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), we have to comply with the culture, religion and tradition of the Muslims but without going against the country’s Constitution," Ali said.

There is a beautification drive as well with the ongoing cleanup of garbage in the surroundings, demolition of illegal structures which are in violation of city ordinances, and the "cleansing" of bad influences in the community.

The Marawi City council recently passed and approved at least 15 measures specifying the strict dress code for Muslim women, which includes the compulsory wearing of headscarf or "kumbong," and the prohibition of wearing skintight denim or non-denim pants and other skimpy attire, so as "not to induce impure thoughts or lustful desires," the mayor said.

"Gays or ‘badings’ must not go out in public in female dresses, colorful make-up, earrings or other ornaments to express their inclinations for femininity" but they can do so within the confines of their homes, Ali added.

Violations of the dress code or open display of gays will be punished with the pouring of paint on the head by the "muttawa" or religious police.

Also included in the proscribed list are computer and video games which keep students and other children away from schools, and video karakoe or "sing-along" bars near schools and mosques.

Liquor of any kind may be allowed for personal use only but sale in public is totally prohibited, as are all forms of gambling. Only stores inside military camps are allowed to sell alcoholic beverages.

Ali said that the campaign against illegal drugs, especially "shabu," continues. "We want to erase the impression that ‘shabu’ is being sold by sidewalk vendors openly in this city," he said. "That is not true."

Enforcement of the ordinances will be supported by the five pillars of the justice system — the police, prosecutors, judges, jail management and the community, the mayor said.

Additional support is being provided by the military and the local government.

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This is funny. I wonder if it will really work.

I do not know? Maybe??????

They should ban gays nationwide , but keep the skimpy attire ./ JKidding

There will be a revolution.............

this is taliban, religion and politics shouldn't mix

Not all gays are nasty naman eh. Meron yung cool at kahit hindi niya kaaway, basta may inaway na friend niya, siya yung makikipag-away sa kaaway nunf friend niya. Pero meron yung gays na magrabe pa sa mga Prost.

oh it will.. majority are Muslims. after all, it's part of their tradition. but i bet they can't do that to a place full of different people of different faiths.