Gays go to SC

A gay rights group, felt aggrieved by a Commission on Elections (Comelec) decision denying its accreditation to participate in the upcoming party-list elections, has decided to bring its case to the Supreme Court.

The party-list group Ang Ladlad petitioned Monday the High Court to reverse the Comelec’s November 2009 decision disqualifying it from participating in the May polls on grounds of immorality.

In its petition for certiorari, the group accused the poll body of grave abuse of discretion and violation of the Constitution and international laws.

Ang Ladlad took exception to the Comelec’s declaration that it is advocating “sexual immorality” and “immoral doctrines”.

Last November, the poll body rejected the petition for registration of Ang Ladlad as a sectoral party representing the Filipino lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

The Comelec decision drew flak from the LGBT community and some members of Congress.

Militant lawmakers like Reps. Liza Maza of Gabriela and Raymond Palatino of Kabataan Party-list said barring Ang Ladlad from seeking congressional representation on grounds that it tolerates immorality was an outright discrimination.

Even Muslim lawmaker, Rep. Mujiv Hataman of party-list Anak Mindanao, sympathized with Ang Ladlad, noting that the Comelec has no power or authority to judge the morality of any individual or group in a political exercise.

“We sympathize with Ang Ladlad’s disqualification as party-list. We believe that it is not within Comelec’s or any government institution’s mandate to judge the morality of any person or group,” Hataman said.

Maza said the Comelec decision was a “clear violation of the right of persons, especially from the marginalized sectors, to be involved in the political process”.

“It is reflective of the prevailing culture where homophobia and discrimination prevails,” she added.

Palatino said the youth sector was saddened by the Comelec’s decision on the petition for registration of Ang Ladlad.  “It is unfortunate that discrimination against the LGBT community is reflected in offices such as the Comelec, an agency that is expected to know what the meaning of democracy is,” he said.