Ang Ladlad says yes to morality in public life, but not in public policy

MANILA - The gay rights group that, on grounds of immorality, has been disqualified from the party-list exercise warned on Wednesday that the decision of the Commission of Elections (Comelec) has a "larger implication"--that it restricts their sector's "public participation" on the whole.

In a rally outside the Comelec offices in Intramuros, Manila, leaders of Ang Ladlad said that associating homosexuality with immorality, as the poll body did with its resolution, would encourage hatred and discrimination against gays, lesbians, and transgenders.

Carrying streamers that say "I am moral," the group's members trooped to the Comelec to ask the poll body to take back their disqualification.

Ang Ladlad has formed ImmorAlliance, a coalition of groups condemning the decision made by the Comelec.

"The larger implication of the decision is doubly disturbing. If it stays, it can be used as a basis to disqualify any individual lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender candidate or other party-list group that advocates [gay] rights. It sets restriction to public participation," the Ang Ladlad statement said.

'Secular, not religious'

"Hatred and divisive sectarianism are the real threats to our society. We do not contest the importance of morality in public life...We draw the line, however, on the imposition of sectarian biases on public policy," it said.

The group urged Congress to approve the anti-discrimination bill that would penalize discrimination against gays.

In its motion for reconsideration filed November 18, Ang Ladlad explained that the Comelec violated Article 3, Section 5, of the Constitution which states that "no law shall be made respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.

The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination or preference, shall forever be allowed. No religious test shall be required for the exercise of civil or political rights."

The group cited the 2003 Supreme Court ruling on Estrada vs Escritor. The Court explained that the terms "immorality" or "morals" referred to in the law, including those in the Civil Code and the Revised Penal Code, are not of religious nature but of public and secular sort.

In an earlier interview, Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer challenged the critics of the decision to do what they have to do instead of issuing statements and hitting the poll officials personally.

He said that he based morality from religion, because it is what he used in determining right from wrong. (Newsbreak)