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Man vows to pursue gay rights in parliament

A gay university professor vowed yesterday to fight for the rights of homosexuals in Congress as he staked his bid for a seat in the House of Representatives, elections to which are due on May 14.

  • By Barbara Mae Dacanay, Bureau Chief
  • Published: 00:00 April 1, 2007
  • Gulf News

Manila: A gay university professor vowed yesterday to fight for the rights of homosexuals in Congress as he staked his bid for a seat in the House of Representatives, elections to which are due on May 14.

Danton Remoto and his supporters tied pink ribbons to trees and lamp posts at the Memorial Circle Park in suburban Quezon City, formally launching his "pink ribbon campaign".

Unabashed promise

"If elected, I will be the first openly gay lawmaker in Asia," said Remoto, adding that not all elected male politicians in the Philippines were straight.

His party, Ladlad (coming out in the open), has chosen pink as a colour because it "stands for liberation (of homosexuals and lesbians)."

"In Nazi Germany (in the 50s), pink was a symbol of protest because gays were sent to the gas chamber just because they were homosexuals," Remoto said explaining his campaign colours.

Planning ahead, Remoto teased supporters and said he would launch posters showing himself off in pink regalia and with colourful butterflies on his head.

He did not say if he would be shown in the nude in the poster when he hinted at a more provocative campaign strategy.

Earlier, Remoto and his supporters tied pink ribbons along Katipunan Avenue, at the back of the University of the Philippines, and in front of the Ateneo de Manila University, where he is an English professor.

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