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Manila - Boxing star Manny Pacquiao has created a firestorm in his home country after saying people in same-sex relationships "are worse than animals."
Pacquiao, who is running for a Philippine Senate seat, made the remark in a video on local TV5's election site.
"It's common sense. Do you see animals mating with the same sex? Animals are better because they can distinguish male from female," he said.
"If men mate with men and women mate with women they are worse than animals."
Among those expressing opposition to the comments was gay comedian and television host Jose Marie Viceral, known as Vice Ganda.
He tweeted that lesbian, gays, bisexuals and transgenders are humans, not animals. He said they're not saints, but that they'll pray for Pacquiao.
Danton Remoto of the LGBT group Ladlad said Pacquiao's comments showed he had a shallow understanding of issues important to the LGBT community.
