by Rex Wockner
International News Briefs
The Philippines Commission on Elections on Dec. 17 upheld its earlier decision to block the LGBT group Ang Ladlad from registering as a political party and fielding a candidate for Congress in the May national election.
The vote by the full commission to uphold the decision by a smaller group of commissioners was 4-3.
It is "crystal clear," the commission said, "that (Ang Ladlad) tolerates immorality which offends religious beliefs."
"Should this Commission grant the petition, we will be exposing our youth to an environment that does not conform to the teachings of our faith," the ruling stated.
According to ABS-CBN News, the ruling also quoted the Bible and the Koran as calling homosexuality "unseemly" and "transgressive."
Ang Ladlad said it will appeal the rejection to the nation's Supreme Court.
