by Shaun Knittel - SGN Staff Writer

A Gay political party appeared on a ballot for the first time in the Philippines - or anywhere else, for that matter - where 8 out of 10 households are Roman Catholic.

The elections were held to determine whether Ang Ladlad (Tagalong for "out of the closet"), a political party representing LGBT Filipinos, would get the maximum three seats allowable for a marginalized or underrepresented party in Congress.

"We consider it a milestone in Philippine human rights. They are really always victims of discrimination, exclusion and even violence," said Leila De Lima, head of the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines.

According to De Lima, the Commission, citing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, sided with Ang Ladlad when its fight for elections reached the Supreme Court.

Ang Ladlad has a five-plank agenda. The political party supports the nation's Anti-Discrimination Bill (which would criminalize discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity), supports LGBT-related and LGBT-friendly businesses, supports setting up microfinance projects for poor and disabled LGBT Filipinos and centers to provide legal aid and counseling services for poor and aging LGBT Filipinos, and supports the repeal of the Anti-Vagrancy law - a tool that Ang Ladlad says has been exploited to extort members of the LGBT community.

Absent from their list is same-sex marriage, which Ang Ladlad officials say they will focus on later because "We're going to lose on this one so we are going to focus on human rights first."

The significance of Ang Ladlad can be seen around the world, as they are the world's only known Gay political party. There have been other attempts, but ultimately, nothing has ever materialized.

Sam Cook, communications and research director of the New York-based International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, told CNN he was not aware of any other organization like Ang Ladlad.

In addition, the Washington-based Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund and Leadership Institute, which supports LGBT candidates to all levels of office, said there has not been an equivalent in the U.S.

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