Philippine Gay Group Denied Party Status

The Philippines' commission on elections took a final vote Thursday that rejected the LGBT group Ang Ladlad's petition to register as a political party in the 2010 elections.

Ang Ladlad, led by Danton Remoto (pictured), had appealed an earlier ruling from the commission that turned down its application on "moral grounds" and quoted passages from the Bible and the Koran, according to ABS-CBN News.

On Thursday commission chairman Jose Melo issued the tie-breaking vote against the appeal from Ang Ladlad.

According to ABS-CBN News, the decision from the commission is final. Ang Ladlad may appeal the case only to the supreme court.