Ladlad Partylist conducted a national convention attended by coordinators and members all over the country to set in motion its preparations for the 2013 midterm elections. The highlights of the convention was the election of a new Board of Trustees and Congressional nominees to represent the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Filipinos in the 16th Philippine Congress next year.
“We are gathered here today to show our love and support for our Ladlad party list,” said Senior Party Adviser, Mr. Boy Abunda. “Today, you are home. We are all home in Ladlad, mula ngayon hanggang 2013 and beyond,” Abunda added.
In Filipino, "ladlad" means to come out and assert one's human rights as equal to all. It means to take one's place in the sun, with dignity intact.
Ladlad’s first nominee in Congress is Ms. Bemz Benedito, a transgender woman. She was also the first nominee in 2010 elections and the chairperson of the organization until last month.
Prof. Danton Remoto, the newly installed chairperson of Ladlad, is the second nominee. Remoto was the Communications Officer of the United Nations Development Program before he joined TV 5 as Head of Research and Desk Manager.
The 3rd nominee is Atty. Germaine Leonin. She is the founding president of Rainbow Rights Project Inc., an organization composed of lawyers.
The fourth Congressional nominee is also a lawyer, Atty. Raymond Alikpala, author of the book God Loves Bakla. Mr. Pidot Villocino, a proud gay man, is the 5th nominee of the party. He hails from Davao City and works for the Integrated Gender and Development Division of Davao City.
The new Board of Trustees of the organization who were elected during the February 18, 2012 convention were Prof. Danton Remoto, Mr. Dexter Macaldo, Rev. Ceejay Agabayani of Metropolitan Community Church-Quezon City, Ms. Ivanka Custodio of Lesbian Activism Project and Ms. Rica Paras and Ms. Santy Layno of the Society of Transsexual Women of the Philippines (STRAP).
Aside from electing Prof. Remoto as its Chairman, the Board of Trustees also appointed a new set of officers. Vice Chairman is Mr. Edmond Osorio; Secretary is Ms. Ivy Krystel Hapitan, and the Treasurer Mr. Raffy Aquino.
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