Fall from grace: Philippines’ Pacquiao faces vote boycott for anti-gay comments (Reuters)

By Manolo Serapio Jr and Karen Lema MANILA (Reuters) – Gay and lesbian groups have called on voters in the Philippines to boycott boxing icon Manny Pacquiao as he bids for a Senate seat, after he described gays as “worse than animals”. An online petition is also underway asking global sportswear company Nike Inc to drop Pacquiao as an endorser. Pacquiao, revered in the Philippines for winning world boxing titles in eight different weight classes during his 20-year career, suddenly fell from grace after a 30-second interview on local television about same-sex marriage, which he opposes.