Filipino Male "Bride" Humiliated

(Cebu City, Philippines) A male Filipino who expresses himself as a female, Lou Vincent Suarez, met a 50-year-old American man over the Internet and a relationship developed resulting in marriage. Judge Rosabella Tormis of the Municipal Trial Courts in Cities performed the ceremony based on a birth certificate Suarez submitted which said he was "female."

The American man, upon discovering that Suarez was not a female, filed for an annulment of the marriage. Suarez decided to fight the case. However,

Supreme Court Administrator Justice Jose Perez said Suarez’s marriage to the American was void because the law does not allow union between two people of the same gender.

Under the Family Code, no marriage shall be valid unless the contracting parties are a male and a female. The absence of this requirement makes the marriage invalid from the beginning.

Suarez’ American partner returned to the United States shortly after their wedding on June 27, 2006. The American, through his lawyer in the Philippines, filed for annulment last June 6, saying he did not know that Suarez was a man until their wedding night.

Suarez feels cheated and doesn't know where to turn for help. He claims the American knew he was a man all along. Regarding his birth certificate indicating that he was female, Suarez says it was a typo.

Now, the only method he has to get information on his dilemma is by Googling his name.