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Filipino Solon in Gay Hall of Shame

Posted by AJ in May 19th 2007

“Homophobia endangers basic human rights, and we should all be concerned by it. Governments devalue families when they deny any family recognition. They endanger children when they silence any child.”

- Scott Long, LGBT Rights Program - Human Rights Watch

The Human Rights Watch (HRW), an organization dedicated to protecting human rights of people around the world, has recently released their annual Hall of Shame list. This list marks the commemoration of International Day Against Homophobia.

This year, the HRW lists a Pope, two Presidents, a Deputy Prime Minister, and a Filipino Congressman. Aside from this list, the HRW also pointed areas where advances in human rights for the LGBT community have given reason for hope.

Leaders named to the “Hall of Shame” for their actions in the past year are:

US President George W. Bush: for jeopardizing public health.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: for creating public and private scandals.
Roman Giertych, Polish Minister of Education and Deputy Prime Minister: for endangering children.
Bienvenido Abante, Member of the Philippine House of Representatives and Chair of the House Committee on Civil, Political and Human Rights: for trying to force his sexual orientation on others.

Click here to view “Hall of Shame” list and here to view news article.

So who is this Filipino Congressman? Bienvenido Abante is the Congressman of the 6th District of Manila, who is seeking reelection in this year’s midterm polls. As of midnight of May 16th, in the AMA Quick Count, the bigot is trailing to congressional neophyte Casimiro Sison. Let’s hope Abante loses! Abante has continuously and adamantly fought for the scrapping of the Anti-Discrimination Bill, which would pave the way for what could possibly be the Philippines’ first law protecting the rights of gay men and women in this so-called “free country.”

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