A transgender woman has been elected into the congress in Philippines,
the first time ever a transgender has occupied such a position in the
history of the country.
Liberal Party candidate
Geraldine Roman beat her closest rival in the congressional district of
Bataan, winning 62% of the unofficial vote count with 99% of precincts
reporting.
49 year old Roman, has been living as a woman for the past two decades and has a male partner.
After her victory in Monday’s
election, Roman is being hailed by the lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender (LGBT) community as a source of hope in a country where
Church influence means divorce, abortion and same-sex marriage are
banned.
Philippines, a catholic dominated country, with this
election, have made significant progress in it's LGBT community
awareness, given that not too recently popular boxer Manny Pacquiao made
some homophobic slurs which sparked outrage n the country.
“The
politics of bigotry, hatred and discrimination did not triumph. What
triumphed was the politics of love, acceptance and respect,” Roman said
after her victory for a seat in Congress representing the farming
province of Bataan, just northwest of Manila.
“I’m elated;
very, very happy. I’m also excited to work. I realise that the burden is
bigger because the stereotype of [LGBT] people … is we are frivolous,
that we have nothing substantial to say, so I have to prove them wrong,”
she said.
Source: CNN
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