The COMELEC are homophobic, bigoted theocrats. Yes, this is a generalization, but they deserve it. Because this is what they did to the LGBT community when they rejected Ang Ladlad’s party-list application.

The COMELEC are homophobes. By rejecting Ang Ladlad’s application — and through their reasons for the rejection — they said that all lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgenders are not only immoral, but a threat to society.

The COMELEC are religious bigots. They are intolerant to the beliefs of others, incapable of allowing any truth other than their own. Yet they force others to take as truth their own traditions and doctrines.

The COMELEC are theocrats. They have forgotten the Constitution of all Filipinos and replaced it with the Canon law followed by some Christians and the Sharia laws followed by some Muslims.

But enough with the generalizations. I can only stomach stooping to their level for so long. These are the individuals responsible for the ruling:

1. Nicodemo Ferrer, Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister, Our Lady of the Purification Parish, Binmaley, Pangasinan
2. Lucenito Tagle, Past president of Christ the King Parish Pastoral Council in Greenmeadows, Quezon City
3. Elias Yusoph, an Imam or Muslim leader who has been linked to former commissioner Virgilio Garcillano

The first three are the co-signatories of the ruling, but the next three, if they have simply allowed the ruling to be released, are just as guilty:

1. Jose A.R. Melo
2. Armando C. Velasco
3. Rene V. Sarmiento

As chairman, Jose A.R. Melo is responsible for all the rulings released by the six-man commission. I don’t know about Armando Velasco, but if they did know about the ruling signed by the other three, then I’m most disappointed in Rene V. Sarmiento. If he knew about the ruling and allowed it, then he doesn’t deserve to be called a human rights lawyer, let alone a constitutionalist.

In any case, the religious biases of three (or six) individuals should not be imposed on the millions who have their own beliefs, not to mention their own equal, unalienable human rights.

I don’t want to spend any more time talking about why COMELEC’s ruling is an atrocity. This is no longer the time for talk. It’s time to take action.

If you support Ang Ladlad, the LGBT movement, and the Human Rights movement, if you want to protect the freedom and equality granted by our secular Constitution, then join us tomorrow.

From members of Ang Ladlad:

From Ang Ladlad members: ANG LADLAD, our LGBT partlylist, was NOT accredited by COMELEC on two grounds: IMMORALITY DOCTRINE and as a THREAT TO THE YOUTH. We are planning to have massive protest actions regarding this discriminatory Comelec decision and treatment against LGBTs. PLEASE join i…n solidarity with us. ATTEND the LGBT MEETING on SAT., Nov. 14 9am-12nn, University Hotel, UP Diliman, QC. Please forward to other groups and individuals.

See you all tomorrow. I’m sure you agree this is a worthy cause. Unless you’re a homophobic, bigoted theocrat.

*

While you’re waiting for tomorrow, please consider reading the following:

1. Comelec bars gays in House on grounds of immorality (PDI)
2. Hontiveros condemns poll body’s homophobia, says it violated the constitution (Risa Hontiveros)
3. Bigotry in Our Ballots (Fullman)
4. Newfound Church of Comelec (Filipino Freethinkers)
5. Congratulations COMELEC: But eating shellfish is also an abomination… (Rainbow Bloggers)
6. On Comelec and Ang Ladlad (Manila Gay Guy)

Fatal error: Call to undefined function p75HasVideo() in /homepages/39/d169067170/htdocs/voices/wp-content/themes/NewFV/single-default.php on line 57