Comelec bars gays in House on grounds of ‘immorality’

By Kristine L. Alave
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 04:13:00 11/13/2009

Filed Under: Eleksyon 2010, Inquirer Politics, Elections, Gender Issues, Human Rights, Religion & Belief


MANILA, Philippines — Once more with feeling.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has dismissed a petition of Ang Ladlad, a gay organization seeking congressional representation in the May elections as a party-list group, saying it “tolerates immorality.”

In an eight-page resolution dated Nov. 11, the Comelec’s Second Division said Ang Ladlad’s petition “must fail” despite the group’s fulfillment of poll requirements, because the practice of homosexuality offends morals.

Homosexuality is also against Christian and Muslim faiths, it said.

The Comelec division is headed by Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer, with Commissioners Elias Yusoph and Lucenito Tagle as members.

Citing the teachings of Lehman Strauss, an American Bible teacher, the Comelec said the principles of Ang Ladlad were a threat to young Filipinos.

“Should this commission grant the petition, we will be exposing our youth to an environment that does not conform to the teachings of our faith,” the resolution said.

“As an agency of the government, ours too is the state’s avowed duty under Section 13, Article II of the Constitution, to protect our youth from moral and spiritual degradation,” it added.

A similar petition to participate in the 2007 balloting was also rejected on grounds the group did not have a national presence, a requirement for party-list accreditation.

The resolution released Thursday said the decision was not a condemnation of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. “We cannot compromise the well-being of the greater number of our people, especially the youth,” it said.

‘Intellectually bankrupt’

Ang Ladlad leader Danton Remoto, a professor at Ateneo de Manila University, slammed the ruling for being “intellectually bankrupt.”

“The decision of the very old men showed painfully obsolete ideas about homosexuality,” Remoto said. “This is the 21st century and there should be human rights for all.”

Remoto said his group, which has 22,000 members nationwide, would file a motion for reconsideration. If it is rejected, he said he would go to the Supreme Court.