Rodrigo Duterte, The President Of The Philippines, Declares: ‘I Want Homosexual Marriage For The Philippines. I Even Once Desired To Be A Homosexual And I Did Not Know If I Was A Guy Or A Girl.’

Duterte made the remarks at an LGBT gathering at Azuela Cove in Davao City on Sunday.

“I said I am for (same) sex marriage if that is the trend of the modern times,” he said. “If that will add to your happiness, I am for it.”

Duterte said he was against gender discrimination, and that he had two gay brothers-in-law. The president also voiced his support for having gay members in his cabinet, adding that he was open to allowing same-sex marriage, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reports.

“Why impose a morality that is no longer working and almost passé. It’s leftover rice,” he said, in a likely reference to the Catholic Church’s stance on the issue. “So I am with you.”

The controversial leader’s statements may cause uproar in the largely Catholic country, however. Duterte is at odds with the Catholic Church on a number of issues, including his support for artificial birth control and the reinstatement of death penalty.

“I want gay marriage. The problem is we have to change the law, but we can change the law,” he said, referring to the country’s Family Code, which says marriage is between a man and a woman. Duterte even said he once considered being bisexual, so he could “have fun both ways, but that did not happen.”

He also told the crowd, “When I was in high school, I did not know if I wanted to be a girl or a boy.”