Ang Ladlad, the national organization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender Filipinos filed a petition to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) for accreditation to run as Party-list in the 2010 national elections last August 17.

Ang Ladlad was denied by the COMELEC in the past elections for allegedly not having enough representation all over the country to qualify as a marginalized sector of society.  Let’s hope the COMELEC becomes wiser this time.

Ang Ladlad’s Platforms:
1. Support the Anti-Discrimination Bill that gives LGBT Filipinos equal opportunities in employment and equal treatment in schools, hospitals, restaurants, hotels, entertainment centers, and government offices.
2. Re-filing of the bill to repeal the Anti-Vagrancy Law that some unscrupulous policemen use to extort bribes from gay men without ID cards;
3. Setting up of micro-finance and livelihood projects for poor and handicapped LGBT Filipinos;
4. Setting up of centers for Golden Gays, or old and abandoned LGBTs, as well as young ones driven out of their homes. The centers will also offer legal aid and counseling, as well as information about LGBT issues, HIV-AIDS, and reproductive health. These centers will be set up initially in the key cities/metropolitan areas of the Philippines — Baguio, National Capital Region, Cebu and Davao.

The platforms of Ang Ladlad are like laser beams — clear and focused only in one direction. Ang Ladlad aims to restore the pride and dignity of LGBT Filipinos as well as give lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders a chance to lead kinder and gentler lives.

Ang Ladlad is not fighting for special rights but equal rights for lesbians, gays, bisexuals,
transgenders in the Philippines. Let us end discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity.

The only way to shape history is to make it. Be part of history.

*Baklang AJ is  proud member of ANG LADLAD.

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