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Transgender politician Geraldine Roman poised for historic win in Catholic Philippines
Philippine legislator candidate Geraldine Roman delivering a speech as she campaigns in Orani, Bataan on April 30, 2016.PHOTO: AFP
PUBLISHED4 HOURS AGO
ORANI, Philippines (AFP) - Geraldine Roman blows kisses to curious crowds and serenades them with a love song as she proudly campaigns to be the first transgender lawmaker in the mainly Catholic Philippines.
The 49-year-old member of a powerful political family has a strong chance to win a seat in the nation's lower house in Monday's elections, in what would be a remarkable breakthrough for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.
Conservative church dogma is a dominant force in Philippine politics: divorce, abortion and same-sex marriage are illegal, while there are no openly gay politicians at the national level and an LGBT party has long struggled for influence.
Roman has been mocked and abused on the campaign trail in recent weeks but, after living as a woman for more than two decades, she refuses to be cowed.
http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/transgender-politician-geraldine-roman-poised-for-historic-win-in-catholic-philippines
