Gay political party competes in Philippines elections For the first time, Ang Ladlad, or "Out of the Closet," vies for three congressional seats set aside for minority groups. By Nancy-Amelia Collins — Special to GlobalPost Ang Ladlad, the Philippines' gay political party, participated in national elections this week for the first time. They are vying for three congressional seats allotted to minority groups. If they win, first on their agenda is to re-file the anti-discrimination bill. Here, Filipinos display placards that say "Pass the anti-discrimination bill" during a lesbian and gay parade in Manila, Dec. 8, 2007. (Romeo Ranoco/Reuters)Enlarge Photo MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines' gay political party participated in the country's national elections for the first time this week, seeking to raise the profile of gay rights in this predominantly Roman Catholic country. “It's like a national coming out!” said Danton Remoto, founder of Ang Ladl...

Gay political party competes in Philippines elections For the first time, Ang Ladlad, or "Out of the Closet," vies for three congressional seats set aside for minority groups. By Nancy-Amelia Collins — Special to GlobalPost Published: May 11, 2010 06:47 ET Page 2 of 2 Mike Tan, chairman of the University of the Philippines Diliman's anthropology department said that although people in the Philippines are known for their tolerance of gays, tolerance alone is not enough. “On one hand there is this superficial tolerance, but we know there's a lot of repression and discrimination in the work place," said Tan. “It's not enough to have tolerance, you need to have the rights of the LGBT community ensured through formal institutions.” And that's the first thing on Ang Ladlad's agenda if they win. “The first thing we will do is re-file the anti-discrimination bill," said Remoto. “We will join with other progressive groups to get the numbers. This bill is ...

By Bong Austero Manila Standard Today Monday, April 26, 2010 Adding color, in so many ways, to the May 2010 elections is the participation of Ang Ladlad—the political party of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgendered people. Ang Ladlad is vying for a seat in Congress through the party-list system. The journey was long and challenging. We think we are more tolerant and accepting of sexual minorities as supposedly exemplified by the few reported cases of violence directed at lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgendered people. I stress the word “reported” because in reality, there’s a lot of violence directed at members of the community, they have become almost normal and natural. One has to be utterly blind or deaf not to know that most parents, “macho” fathers in particular, or elder male siblings, tend to subject younger members of their families into various forms of physical violence to force them to “straighten up.” There’s also a lot of abuse—ranging from psychological, verbal, ...

Philippine gay party on ballot for the first time By Elizabeth Yuan, CNN May 9, 2010 -- Updated 0152 GMT (0952 HKT) STORY HIGHLIGHTS * Ang Ladlad has five nominees, with the Anti-Discrimination Bill at top of agenda * It would criminalize discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity * Same-sex marriage and gender recognition bill are absent from platform * Supreme Court ruled last month that elections commission must register Ang Ladlad (CNN) -- A gay political party will be on the ballot Monday for the first time in the Philippines, where eight out of 10 households are Roman Catholics. The elections will determine whether Ang Ladlad ("Out of the Closet") -- which represents lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender Filipinos (LGBT) -- will get the maximum three seats allowable for a marginalized or underrepresented party in Congress. "We consider it a milestone in Philippine human rights," said Leila De Lima, head of the Com...

We are in the international press! Next week, one of the world's largest media organizations will interview me on the victory of Ang Ladlad. Not print, but television. Hellow! Philippine Supreme Court allows gay party in polls By OLIVER TEVES Associated Press Writer Posted: 04/08/2010 01:53:12 AM MDT Updated: 04/08/2010 06:49:13 AM MDT The Denver Post MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Supreme Court on Thursday overturned a decision barring a gay rights group from contesting national elections in May and recognized it as a legitimate political party for the first time. Voting 13-2, the court threw out decisions by the Elections Commission denying accreditation to Ang Ladlad (Out of the Closet) on grounds that it tolerates immorality and offends Christians and Muslims. The justices said the party had complied with all legal requirements, and that there is no law against homosexuality. "I felt vindicated," said the group's leader, Danton Remoto, an English professor at ...

Six months ago, in 21st-century Philippines, Ang Ladlad and I were called "immoral" by the Second Division of the Commission on Elections. Last week, we were called "abnormal' by a Catholic bishop. The second division of the Comelec is composed of Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer, an Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister of the Church in Binmaley, Pangasinan; Commissioner Lucenito Tagle, Director of the Christian Family Movement in Cubao; and Commissioner Elias Yusoph, a Muslim imam. Nothing wrong with that, of course, but these three gentlemen should have inhibited themselves from discussing the merits of Ang Ladlad's accreditation because they would be biased parties in the case at hand. Instead, they rushed headlong into it, with the singleness of purpose of a typhoon bearing down on a small island. During the hearing which I attended with my laywer, Atty. Nick Pichay, I would be asked brilliant questions like this. Commissioner Yusuph: How shall I address you, Miss ...

Attacks against Ang Ladlad is political, not moral March 2nd, 2010 by Patricio Mangubat www.filipinovoices.com A few days ago, ZTE-NBN whistleblower Joey de Venecia III spoke before a huge throng of gays and lesbians. Based on what my friend told me, Joey spoke of the attempts by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to discredit or disallow Ang Ladlad, a partylist organization espousing the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) members. A renewed attempt is underway, purposedly to strike out the name from the list of accredited partylist organizations. And this, says Joey, is nothing more than a direct affront to Philippine democracy. In his speech which was sent to me by email, Joey said that it is the height of irony that we call our society “democratic” when government discriminates against members of the LGBT. Since when, asks Joey de Venecia III, did sexual orientation become a “precondition” for citizenship? Let me quote one part of his press statement ...

REMOTE CONTROL | DANTON REMOTO | 02/03/2010 1:04 AM Views and analysis www.abs-cbnnews.com (This is a shortened version of the 26-page petition filed by Ang Ladlad before the Supreme Court last Dec. 5 to reverse the Comelec ruling. The counsels were Attorneys Nicolas Pichay, Clara Rita Padilla, and Ibarra Gutierrez.) Suddenly, we are back in the Middle Ages! The Comelec Resolution denying accreditation for Ang Ladlad to run under the party-list system is an example of society’s marginalization of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender (LGBT). The Resolution demonizes the LBGT community by accusing us of indulging in imaginary acts of immorality that the Comelec deems as “a threat to the youth.” More importantly, the resolution violates rights guaranteed under the Constitution and laws of universal application. Thus, Ang Ladlad filed a Petition for Certiorari with application for a writ of preliminary mandatory injunction, to the Supreme Court last Dec. 5. We are asking the Supre...

by Joel Zurbano Manila Standard Today January 16, 2010 The Commission on Elections has approved the application of 144 party list groups to join the May elections and vie for 55 seats allotted to them in the House of Representatives. The Comelec en banc led by its chairman Jose Melo accredited Ang Ladlad and 143 other groups or less than half of the 306 groups that wanted to join the polls. To qualify for a congressional seat, a group has to obtain at least two percent of the votes cast in the party-list system. “Included in the list was Ang Ladlad as per the Supreme Court ruling that ordered Comelec to include it in the ballot with pre-printed names of candidates,” said Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal. The Supreme Court ordered the Comelec Tuesday to include in the ballot Ang Ladlad, a pro-gay organization that had been disqualified last year by the second division of the poll body. In its Nov. 11 resolution, the Comelec Second Division headed by Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer ...

Even if this is not yet final, since the Supreme Court will still have to decide, seeing Ang Ladlad in that list already makes us happy -- and gay. Expect Ang Ladlad to win three seats and win by a landslide over its rivals. *** By Vernadette Joven (philstar.com) Updated January 15, 2010 05:43 PM MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) today gave the green light to 144 party-list groups to participate in the May 2010 elections. In issuing Resolution No. 8744, the Comelec en banc allowed 144 out of more that 300 party-list groups that filed their manifestations of intent to participate in the coming polls. Gay group Ang Ladlad was among those given the go signal to run in the polls. The poll body previously allotted 200 party-list organizations but since the approved list was lower than expected, the length of the ballot to be used in the elections may be altered. Meanwhile, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said that although disqualified party-list groups could s...

Gays pursue party-list fight in Supreme Court abs-cbnNEWS.com | 01/04/2010 10:26 PM MANILA, Philippines - Gay party-list group Ang Ladlad is still intent on asking the Supreme Court (SC) to review the case for their party-list accreditation. On Monday, Ang Ladlad was set to file a petition for certiorari, essentially asking the SC to review the decision of the Commission Elections (Comelec) to reject Ang Ladlad's petition for party-list accreditation last year. Ang Ladlad claims to represent gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender (LGBT) communities in the Philippines. In their petition for certiorari, a copy of which was sent to abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak, Ang Ladlad said the resolutions "demonize the LGBT community by accusing them of indulging in imaginary acts of immorality that the Comelec deem as a 'threat to the youth.'" In the same document, the group said the Comelec's presiding Commissioner said at a press briefing that "there is no dist...

By Lilita Balane, Newsbreak | 12/17/2009 5:00 PM Newsbreak www.abs-cbnnews.com Gay community is not special, and therefore not marginalized, says poll chief The election chief broke the tie in the poll body's vote on Thursday to deny with finality a gay group's bid to participate in the party-list election in 2010. The first division of the Commission on Elections (Comelec)--composed of Commissioners Gregorio Larrazabal, Rene Sarmiento, and Armando Velasco--voted to grant Ang Ladlad’s appeal to get accredited. The second division--composed of Commissioners Nicodemo Ferrer, Lucenito Tagle, and Elias Yusoph--maintained their earlier ruling disqualifying the group. Chair Jose Melo sided with the second division to junk Ang Ladlad’s appeal. Melo countered Ang Ladlad’s argument that the November 12 ruling of poll body applied religious beliefs instead of using public or secular morals in deciding the gay group's application for accreditation. Melo said that what the secon...

abs-cbnNEWS.com | 12/09/2009 12:24 AM MANILA, Philippines - Gay party list group Ang Ladlad has seemingly found an ally in the Church. Father Melvin Castro of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said in a statement on Monday that homosexulity "does not equate with immorality", contrary to a Commission on Elections (Comelec) decision saying that gays are immoral. And Ladlad claims to represent gays, lesbians, and transgender communities in the Philippines. The Comelec refused to accredit the Ang Ladlad as a party list since the group reportedly promotes immorality and gays are threats to the youth. Castro's seeming defense of gays ends there, however, since he opposed same-sex marriage in a statement dated December 7. He added that the Church's stance against same-sex marriage is not "a hate position" or "anti-gay." "The Church is only trying to defend marriage as an exclusive union between a man and a woman. Same-sex...

Gays, lesbians to hold ‘Pride March’ in Manila By Abigail Kwok INQUIRER.net First Posted 19:04:00 12/04/2009 Filed Under: Gender Issues, Human Rights, Eleksyon 2010, Inquirer Politics MANILA, Philippines—Members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community are set to hold a colorful parade Saturday to promote equal rights for all genders in the Philippines. The march is also meant to protest the Commission on Election’s decision rejecting the party-list bid of gay and lesbian group “Ang Ladlad”. This year’s theme, “We Dare. We Care,” signifies the LGBT community’s proactive stance in addressing the human rights issues confronting the sector, according to Great Ancheta, head coordinator of Task Force Pride (TFP) Philippines 2009. “We shall no longer be complacent. We dare to remind the Philippine government and the rest of society that we have an obligation under international human rights law to promote and protect the rights and well-being of all people, including L...

Poll exec: To be moral is not old-fashioned Written by Reynaldo Santos Jr. Newsbreak Magazine www.newsbreak.com.ph Monday, 16 November 2009 Gays are already ‘over-represented’ in the House The Commission on Elections (Comelec) stands firm on its decision to deny a gay organization accreditation for the party list, even after the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) sided with the incensed members of the “third sex.” In response to the CHR’s comment that the poll body’s ruling on Ang Ladlad (literally, The Coming Out) “smacks of prejudice and discrimination,” Comelec commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer said there was nothing “retrogressive” in it. Ferrer, along with commissioners Lucenito Tagle and Elias Yusoph, on grounds the group “tolerates immorality,” last week rejected Ang Ladlad’s petition to participate in the party-list elections and be hopefully represented in the lower chamber of Congress. In its petition for accreditation, the group claims to represent lesbians, gays, bisexuals, ...

Joker comes to defense of Ang Ladlad By Aurea Calica (The Philippine Star) Updated November 15, 2009 12:00 AM MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Joker Arroyo came to the defense of Ang Ladlad, a gay organization whose petition for party-list status was junked by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on grounds of “immorality.” Arroyo joined several organizations, including militant groups, in asking the Comelec to reconsider its decision. “The Comelec’s 2nd Division acted out of bounds when it denied accreditation to Ang Ladlad’s bid to participate in the party-list elections on grounds of ‘immorality’ and for ‘being inimical to the interest of the youth,’” Arroyo said. “The resolution reveals a deeply-entrenched prejudice against lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgenders (LGBTs), the constituency of Ang Ladlad. So what if they are LGBTs? Precisely because of that, as a group which has been oppressed and marginalized in all spheres of their lives, they should be allowed to exercise their basic r...

Remnants of the Dark Ages Ellen Tordesillas Ang Pahayagang Malaya November 16, 2009 ‘Is there in fact a secular, governmental policy against homosexuality?’ Leila de Lima, chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights said reasons cited by the Commission on Elections in denying the application of Ang Ladlad for accreditation as sectoral party illustrates that gays are objects of ridicule, contempt and violence which renders them marginalized. It’s good that De Lima took up the cudgels for Ang Ladlad, a nationwide organization of lesbians, gay, bisexual and transgender persons. De Lima read to the Comelec commissioners Article 7 of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, to which the Philippines is a signatory, that states: "All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination....

Dear Editor: Is there anyway to impeach the following Comelec Comisssioners: Nicodemo T. Ferrer, Lucinito N. Tagle and Elias R. Yusoph? They must be impeached because they have openly decided to turn the country into a religious state instead of a secular one. I am referring of course to their decision to outlaw Ladlad on the basis of upholding religious beliefs. They quote the Bible and the Koran forgetting that they should consult the Philippine Constitution instead. Only in the Philippines would we have high government officials who state that obedience to religious beliefs trumps other more cogent legal provisions as a basis for policy. If stupidity were a basis for impeachment, the proceedings would be quite short. Their display of ignorance of current scientific knowledge on sexuality is quite appalling. They should have taken the simple expedient of asking any psychiatrist or psychologist who upholds the standards of organizations like the World Health Organization or the Americ...

Disenfranchising homosexuals Editorial Ang Pahayagang Malaya November 16, 2009 ‘Homosexuality is now a contagious moral and spiritual disease from which our youth need to be quarantined?’ The Commission on Elections decision last Friday denying accreditation to the Ang Ladlad is the very proof that gays and lesbians are so marginalized they need to be represented in Congress. They are discriminated against on the basis of their sexual preferences. They are powerless against the dominant culture that classifies them as aberrations of nature. They are victims of beliefs that treat them as moral misfits. The Neanderthals in the Comelec, in effect, disenfranchised a class of citizens on the basis of a set of prejudices. The grounds cited by the Comelec second division are laughable. "Should this Commission grant the petition, we will be exposing our youth to an environment that does not conform to our faith," it said. It then gratuitously added that homosexuality is against Chris...