Leila de Lima, chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights said reasons cited by the Commission on Elections in denying the application of Ang Ladlad for accreditation as sectoral party illustrates that gays are objects of ridicule, contempt and violence which renders them marginalized.
It’s good that de Lima has taken up the cudgels for Ang Ladlad, a nationwide organization of lesbians, gay, bisexual and transgender persons.
De Lima read to the Comelec commissioners Article 7 of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, to which the Philippines is a signatory, that states, “All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.”
De Lima said there is also Article 26 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which provides that, “All persons are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to the equal protection of the law. In this respect, the law shall prohibit any discrimination and guarantee to all persons equal and effective protection against discrimination on any ground such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.”
De Lima said, “These two instruments are looked upon and provide the principle and standards that must be demonstrated by the Comelec in its mandate under the Constitution, the Omnibus Election Code and the Party List Law. The UDHR and ICCPR also prescribe the normative direction that States must practice in line with the rights laid out in the instruments. The norm of non-discrimination of persons running for elections is at issue in this instance.”
De Lima’s statement was a reaction to the appalling decision of the Comelec’s second division headed by Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer with Elias Yusoph and Lucenito Tagle as members denying the application of Ang Ladlad for accreditation as sectoral representative of the marginalized Filipino lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community to “protect our youth from moral and spiritual degradation.”
Ferrer, Yusoph and Tagle took verses from the Bible and the Koran as basis for their decision that “petitioner tolerates immorality which offends religious beliefs.” They quoted an American bible teacher, who said that that ”older practicing homosexuals are a threat to the youth.”
From what cave did they come from?
The unenlightened trio also said that the Comelec’s Law Department stated that Ang Ladlad “
apparently advocates sexual immorality; consensual partnerships or relationships by gays; ) serve no other purpose but to satisfy the market for violence, lust or pornography; offend any race or religion; tend to abet traffic in and use of prohibited drugs; and are contrary to law, public order, morals and good customs, established policies, lawful orders, decrees and edicts.”
From out of nowhere, they mentioned, “Those who shall sell, give away or exhibit films, prints, engravings, sculpture or literature which are offensive to morals. (As amended by PD Nos. 960 and 969).”
De Lima said, “We do not think that Ang Ladlad seeks accreditation to promote immorality in the country, but to give a voice to a marginalized sector to push for further protection of their rights. It is a fact that gays are often objects of discrimination through ridicule, contempt and various forms of violence. Just as this decision clearly illustrates.”
She further said, ‘Comelec has exhibited, at the very least, a retrogressive not progressive way of thinking. Our views on homosexuality must be in accordance with progressive human rights thought. In an age of growing, rather than receding, tolerance and promotion of human rights, this Decision appears to be a misplaced edifice of arcane views on homosexuality.”
De Lima took issue with the Comelec’s citation of verses from the Bible and Koran as basis for their decision. Ferrer and company quoted Paul’s letter to the Romans (1:26, 27) saying “For this cause God gave them up into vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet”.
From the Koran, the commissioners quoted, “For ye practice your lusts on men in preference to women “ye are indeed a people transgressing beyond bounds.” (7.81). “And we rained down on them a shower (of brimstone): Then see what was the end of those who indulged in sin and crime!” (7:84) “He said: “0 my Lord! Help Thou me against people who do mischief!””(29:30).”10
De Lima said, “There is a clear breach of the secular-religious divide, which is enshrined in our Constitution. Citing both Christian and Islamic doctrines [as the basis to justify the Decision] are certainly beyond the scope of authorities which the Comelec may employ in resolving the petition.”
Moreover, the CHR Chairperson explained that the reference to Art. 201 of the Revised Penal Code as the only statutory ground to support the finding of immorality begs the question – is there in fact a secular, governmental policy against homosexuality?
“And if this test were to be rightfully applied for Ang Ladlad, shouldn’t this be equally applied to each and every candidate running for public office?”
Sige nga, tingnan natin
This blog was down for several hours yesterday. When it came back, it didn’t accept comments. Now, it seems it’s back to normal. I hope and pray this lasts.
Thannk you all for your patience.
Ang galing talaga ni taning mang pilipit ng totoo.
Abomination! Ginawang diyos ng tao ang sarili niya at ginagamit pa kung ano ang meron sa bible para sa kapakanan nila.
The Voice of the People is the Voice of God daw!
Kalokohan! Kailan ba naging banal ang kaisipan ng tao para maging boses ng Diyos ang boses niya? Kailan ba naging kalooban ng tao ang kalooban ng Diyos para sabihing kristiyano din naman kami? Kailan naging kaaya-aya sa mata ng Diyos ang abomination?
Agree ako na dapat i apply ang ginawang panuntunan ng moralidad ng Comelec sa lahat ng political parties at kandidatong tatakbo sa eleksyon.
Mas maigi din na parehong pamantayan ng moralidad ang gamitin sa pagpili ng mga commissioners ng Comelec.
Bibliya uli ang dahilan?
Grabeng mga Comelec komisyon-ers, backward thinking idjits!
Siguro ay bato pa ang gamit ng mga commissioners sa pagsindi ng apoy.
Ferrer, Yusoph and Tagle took verses from the Bible and the Koran as basis for their decision that “petitioner tolerates immorality which offends religious beliefs.” They quoted an American bible teacher, who said that that ”older practicing homosexuals are a threat to the youth.”
What gives them the right to even utter such stupidities? How dare them quote verses from the Bible! Who are they to believe that they are better than any other human being just because they think they are “straight”?
Homosexuals are not a threat to the youth… it is the likes of these old corrupt bigots who are a threat to the youth!
It is the likes of these old corrupt farts who, with their hypocritical beliefs and pseudo godliness, are keeping this country forever morally bankrupt and insane, not homosexuals.
The lives of these Comelec perverts should be investigated and their fowl odour exposed. They have no right to condemn a group of people who have a different sexual preference from them.
Even if gays are ‘over-represented’ in the Congress as Commissioner Ferrer claims, they never defended LGBT rights lest passed the much-awaited Anti-Discrimination Bill. Commissioner Ferrer and his Jurassic cohorts shouldn’t impose morality as an issue in accepting representation of the marginalized sectors in society in Congress. What is moral is not always lawful and cannot be taken part by part. Homosexuality cannot represent everything that is immoral in society. What homosexuals do in their personal lives is merely an extension of themselves but under the law in a democratic and civilized society, homosexuals are still civilized people with the right to suffrage and deserve equal treatment in their civil rights, employment, marriage, adoption and others. Commissioner Ferrer should be reminded of the many discrimination cases and in extreme cases, death against LGBT just because of their sexual orientation. His reasoning seems to affirm such discrimination is lawful. He also mentioned that imposing the will of the LGBT to the majority will make them mainstream. Doing so, he supposes, will encourage more members and it will lead to the corruption of the youth. Commissioner Ferrer should be reminded again that most of the members of Ang Ladlad are young people who are now liberated and accepted themselves as members of LGBT. The corruption of the youth should not be blamed on the LGBT movement but to the proliferation and accessibility of the media reaching out to the youth. In sum, the interpretation of the law beckons not an invocation of the Heavens but an objective eye since the law is made from human hands. If the law needs to be written, it should be done in the legislative arm of the government which the LGBT seeks representation. God did not write the law nor inspired it.
Ms. Ellen, I am sure by now alam mo na ang mga pahayag nina Ferrer ng Comelec at ni Nograles. Ito yung sa sinabi ni Ferrer na hindi na kailangan ng party list na Ladlad at marami namang bakla at tomboy sa kongreso at senado.
Gusto ko sanang gumawa ng listahan ng bakla at tomboy sa Congress kaya lang baka bawal sa blog mo.
Comelec’s Commisioner Ferrer exposes further his deviant views:
God help this country with officials like Ferrer.
Malaya’s editorial: Disenfrancising homosexuals
http://www.malaya.com.ph/11162009/edit.html
Naku, kung hindi ko mahambalos ng dos por dos ang mga Comelec commissioners na ito!
Oblak, ang mga gays sa Tongress ay ayaw pahalata kaya wala silang maitutulong at hindi sila representatives of the ‘real’ gays/lesbians. These closet queens/kings Ferrer referred to are either scared or hypocrites and serving only themselves, ayaw mag-Ladlad.
Ferrer making a joke of the gays/lesbians’ presence in sectors of the society showed his discriminatory attitudes towards them. We don’t need close-minded officials like Ferrer if we want to rise above the stone-age mentality which the Comelec officials want to impress upon us.
It is this decision which is an abomination. The “findings of fact” were made without the benefit of a hearing.
What is indicated in the application? Nothing but names, dates, addresses, etc. From this info., the Comelec makes findings that are the hallmark of xenophobia. True, there are gays who watch and distribute porn. But name me a heterosexual COMELEC official who has not seen Hayden Kho’s film. To state, however, that all gays are immoral because some are, is to say that all blacks are this and that, because some are, or that all Germans are Nazis because some still cry seig heil.
The decision is not based on evidence, and founded on speculation. This is better practised in the College of Philoshophy, in an elective subject called speculative thought; or in the Math Department, in the field of Statistics and Probability. But a quasi-judicial body decides based on facts, introduced in evidence, not on the gut feel of the commissioners.
Going to the merits of the “moral” concerns, the quote on abomination is from a Pharisee, Paul of Tarsus, in modern-day Turkey. Between the exhortation of a man who never met Jesus, and Jesus’ commandment that “Whatever you do to the least of my brethren, you do unto me…, which do you think should Christians observe?
Sino nga ba sa Kongreso ang kulay berde ang dugo? Ang alam ko lang yung babaeng naka-Rolls Royce. Saka yung ahit ang kilay pero mukhang lalaki naman.
So very quiet naman sa Senado.
Paano nalaman ni Ferrer yun? Kafatid/member din ba siya ng pederasyon? Kundi ay rumor-mongering pa ha?
Tongue, you mean Rep. Annie Susano? I think she is running for QC mayor.