By PATRICK KING PASCUAL
For most politicians, supporting the cause of LGBT could spell suicide for their political career. “When other politicians learn that you are supporting the ‘third sex’ they will veer away from your projects and bills and not support you with anything, because for them, LGBTs are not a priority in Philippine politics,” one congressman once said.
But three senatorial candidates say the LGBT cause is a human rights issue that should be the concern of each and every human being, regardless of gender.
Independent senatorial candidate Teddy Casino, formerly Bayan Muna Representative, supports the LGBT’s struggle to attain equal rights and treatment. In his privilege speech delivered in Congress last year, he said: “…it is true that many Filipinos do not really want to talk seriously about the (LGBT) issues. Kadalasan, ‘pag tinatanong ko sila kung ano ang tingin nila sa mga bakla o lesbian o transgender, ang madalas na sagot ay ngiti o kaya’y biruan… Kailan pa natin pag-uusapan ito ng matino? LGBTs and the LGBT issues are a twenty-first century reality. Anong gagawin natin sa mga problema nila? Ang isyu ng LGBT ay isang realidad ng ating panahon.”
Akbayan partylist Representative Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel, who had been vocal about her concern for the LGBT community, showed her support by joining LGBTs in their pride marches and gender equality awareness events.
LGBT members value the support of politicians for their cause but they believe they need to have their own partylist to ensure the protection of their rights and ensure their equal treatment in Philippine society.
“The LGBT community cannot forever rely on other sectors fighting for our interests; that is such a patriarchal view,” Raymond Alikpala, Congressional nominee of Ladlad partylist, said. That’s the reason behind the formation of Ladlad partylist.
Ladlad has served as a network of various LGBT organizations since 2003, or in the past 10 years.
“Ladlad’s role in the Filipino LGBT community at this time is unique, and with our impending victory in the May 13, 2013 elections, we hope to expand Ladlad’s role in providing greater support and assistance to LGBT Filipinos nationwide,” Alikpala said. “You can be sure that once Ladlad sits in Congress, the resources that will become available to us will be used to address important problems, i.e. the welfare and betterment of the LGBTs in the grassroots, as well as all other segments of society and other pressing concerns that surround the community.”
For Ladlad, connections and ties with other partylist groups and multisectoral alliances are important.
“It is important to have LGBT representation in Congress— in discussing and articulating related issues— because only LGBTs know the real feeling of being discriminated against and being humiliated because of their sexual orientation and gender identity,” Bemz Benedito, first congressional nominee of Ladlad, said.
For his part, Alikpala assured: “You can expect that Ladlad’s first term in Congress will be focused on uplifting the needs and interests of the LGBT community. But we will of course also speak out for other marginalized sectors and link arms with other persons and groups fighting for the good of the Filipino people.”