Ang Ladlad Leader Bemz Benedito Chairperson Bemz Benedito Founded 21 September 2003 (21 September 2003) Ideology LGBT rights Official colors Pink Website www.angladlad.org Politics of Philippines Political parties Elections Ang Ladlad (English: "Coming out," lit. "The Unfurled") is a Filipino lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) political party. It was founded on 21 September 2003, and is currently chaired by Bemz Benedito, Associate Professor of English at Ateneo de Manila University.1

The organization's thrust is toward human rights, and the organization is fighting for equal rights among all Filipinos, whether they are LGBT or not. The Commission on Elections denied Ang Ladlad's petition to be allowed to run in the 2010 elections, on the grounds of "immorality",2 However, on 12 January 2010, the Supreme Court granted a temporary restraining order, thereby allowing Ang Ladlad to participate in this year's elections.3 In the 2007 elections, Ang Ladlad was previously disqualified for failing to prove they had nationwide membership.4

On 8 April 2010, the Supreme Court allows Ang Ladlad to join the elections. The party received 113,187 votes or 0.37% (excluding votes from Lanao del Sur), below the optional 2% threshold and was not able to win a seat in Congress. Contents 1 Programs and platforms 2 Electoral performance 3 See also 4 References Programs and platforms Ang Ladlad has the following platforms:1 Re-filing of the Anti-Discrimination Bill that gives LGBT Filipinos equal opportunities in employment and equal treatment in schools, hospitals, restaurants, hotels, entertainment centers, and government offices. Re-filing of the bill to repeal the Anti-Vagrancy Law that some unscrupulous policemen use to extort bribes from gay men without ID cards; Setting up of micro-finance and livelihood projects for poor and handicapped LGBT Filipinos; Setting up of centers for Golden Gays, or old and abandoned LGBTs, as well as young ones driven out of their homes. The centers will also offer legal aid and counseling, as well as information about LGBT issues, HIV-AIDS, and reproductive health. These centers will be set up initially in the key cities/metropolitan areas of the Philippines -- Baguio, National Capital Region, Cebu and Davao.

Same-sex marriage is not part of the party's platform.5 Electoral performance Election Votes  % Seats 2010 114,120 0.38% 0 See also LGBT rights in the Philippines References ^ a b "About Ang Ladlad". Ang Ladlad. 2010. http://www.angladlad.org/. Retrieved 18 March 2010.  ^ "CHR backs Ang Ladlad in Comelec row". ABS-CBN News. 15 November 2009. http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/11/15/09/chr-backs-ang-ladlad-comelec-row. Retrieved 10 December 2009.  ^ Romero, Purple (2009-01-12). "Supreme Court issues TRO for Ang Ladlad". ABS-CBNNews.com/Newsbreak. http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/01/12/10/supreme-court-issues-tro-ang-ladlad. Retrieved 2010-01-15.  ^ Aning, Jerome (2007-03-01). "Gay party-list group Ladlad out of the race". Philippine Daily Inquirer. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20070301-52263/Gay_party-list_group_Ladlad_out_of_the_race. Retrieved 2010-01-18.  ^ Jorge Cariño (9 December 2009). "Church not anti-gay, says priest". ABS-CBN News. http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/lifestyle/12/08/09/church-not-anti-gay-says-priest. Retrieved 10 December 2009.