Elections in the Phillipines on Monday will determine whether Ang Ladlad, which represents LGBT Filipinos, will get the three seats in Congress allowable for "a marginalized or underrepresented party". Ang Ladlad has been fighting to be represented, and had been denied a few times. The Commission on Human Rights of the Phillipines sided with them when the fight to stand for elections reached the Supreme Court. The Commission cited the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, helping the party get its name on the ballot. They were accredited just April 8, giving them only about a month to campaign.
First on Ang Ladlad's agenda is support for the Anti-Discrimination Bill, that would criminalize discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. This bill has been filed several times in the Phillipines Congress, but to no avail. Other items on their platform include "support for LGBT-related and LGBT-friendly businesses; setting up microfinance projects for poor and disabled LGBT Filipinos; setting up centers that could provide legal aid and counseling services for poor and aging LGBT Fillipinos; and support for the repeal of the Anti-Vagrancy law, a tool that Ang Ladlad says has been exploited to extort members of the LGBT community".
The party has experienced challenges from the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Phillipines, and 8 out of 10 households in the Phillipines are Roman Catholic. The party estimates 25,000 members, and, as they are the only known gay political party in the world, they are making strides in a sort of new frontier. Senator Chiz Escuadero says, "Whether they win or lose, what's important is, they're on the ballot, and people are given the chance to vote for them and other parties."
Submitted by: Katie Kregor
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