Gay group to run in 2007 party-list polls

They are coming out of the closet and heading straight into the fray in the Philippine political arena — and they are gay.

"Ang Ladlad" chairman Danton Remoto said Filipino gays and lesbians are going to prove that they are a power to reckon with by participating in the coming May 14, 2007 elections — not just as individual voters but also as a party-list organization.

"We are ready, willing and able to join this (coming) political exercise and show the country how far we have gone ahead to end discrimination and homophobia," Remoto said.

Remoto said Ang Ladlad, the national organization of lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Filipinos, will officially register as a party-list group with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) today.

This marks the first time in Philippine history that a national organization of LGBT Filipinos officially becomes a party-list group to seek representation in the legislature.

According to Remoto, Filipino LGBT account for 10 percent of the country’s total of 43.5 million registered voters, which translate into some 4.35 million potential votes for Ang Ladlad.

Ang Ladlad, Remoto said, has also set up chapters and alliances all over the country to ensure their victory: "We are going to show them the strength of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender vote."

Remoto said Ladlad was formed in September 2003 and they decided to join the fray in the coming elections to reclaim the rights gays and lesbians have lost to homophobia and discrimination that has prevailed for centuries.

Upon getting a seat in Congress Ladlad’s representative will re-file a bill seeking to provide equal opportunities for LGBT Filipinos and push for the repeal of anti-Vagrancy Law that is commonly being used by unscrupulous policemen to extort money from gay men, Remoto said.