Ang Ladlad party-list
29 Nov 2009 
8
• 1839 views, 3 today
Possibly unprecedented in Philippine politics, the Second Division of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has opened a can of worms when it junked last 11 November the petition of Filipino LGBT organization Ang Ladlad in its bid to field congressional candidates for the 2010 general elections under the party-list system. The accreditation rejection, as promulgated by Comelec Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer, was based on grounds that the Ang Ladlad group “tolerates immorality, which offends religious beliefs.”
This statement, issued irresponsibly by no less than a government institution, “smacks of prejudice and discrimination,” according to Danton Remoto of Ang Ladlad, which has up to the 1st of December to achieve party-list status.
If Ang Ladlad is not awarded party-list status in time for the 2010 polls, the present administration will have earned yet another dirty feather in its hat. This group, representing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Filipinos nationwide, was denied accreditation for the 2007 elections as well.
In my opinion, Comelec’s ruling against Ang Ladlad was not lawful, and I have two reasons why. According to the party-list system, marginalized and underrepresented sectors of society must be given equal opportunities to be represented in government. The assertion by Ferrer, along with co-commissioners Lucenito Tagle and Elias Yusoph, that gay people are an immoral group is nothing but a clear indication of their personal discrimination against the LGBT community. Government, by its very reason for being, must not be allowed to discriminate against any sector of society.
The “3 Stooges” — as Ferrer & co. have been nicknamed — also claim that LGBT Filipinos are already “over-represented” in Congress. Are jibes such as that really necessary?
Gay people (as well as bisexuals and transgenders) are already oppressed enough as it is. Ang Ladlad’s purpose is to provide representation to this marginalized sector and, hopefully, become its voice and champion.
Second reason: the Church and the State are supposed to be two separate and distinct entities, and this fact is stated clearly in the Constitution. Ferrer’s statement that the concerned LGBT group is immoral in the religious context is a blatant violation of the Law of the Land, and should be a strong ground for his and his colleagues’ impeachment.
The deadline for party-list accreditation is 1 December 2009. Let’s see if Comelec, specifically the Second Division, will rise above their prejudice and, this time, adhere to their mandated responsibility to protect equality and freedom.
Here are related blog posts and news articles:
- Joker comes to defense of Ang Ladlad
- Poll exec: To be moral is not old-fashioned
- Militants back Ang Ladlad bid
- HR watchdog to Comelec: Reverse Ang Ladlad ruling
- Duterte defends Ang Ladlad
- Why Ang Ladlad should thank the Comelec
- The Party-List System in the Philippines
No related posts.
Author Info
[...] urges the poll body officials not to discriminate against the LGBT sector The assertion by Ferrer, along with co-commissioners Lucenito Tagle and [...]
[...] urges the poll body officials not to discriminate against the LGBT sector The assertion by Ferrer, along with co-commissioners Lucenito Tagle and [...]
Let ang LADLAD be part of partylist… and let the voters decide… from BABAE KA Partlist
I’m afraid it’s too late already. Comelec has already made its decision and it’s already past the deadline for registering party lists.
I would like to support Ladlad partylist. Is there a Paranaque chapter? How do I get in touch with them?
We support “Ang LADLAD” party list for humanity reasons against 3rd sex. From: Federation of Lesbian and Gays (FLAG) Bacoor, Cavite chapter -Brgy.Captain, Norman Lacson of zapote 5 Bacoor, Cavite.
we, the UNITED TANAWAN GAY ASSOCIATION, INC. in Tanauan City, Batangas will support and campaign for LADLAD Partylist! to eradicate discrimination and typecasting.
dapat di talaga payagan..kasi nga they will be leaders and that we need some good examples..