Fridae

A transgender politician in Phillippine's Bataan province is looking likely to win a seat in the nation's lower house despite the country's conservative attitude influenced by the powerful Catholic Church.

If elected, she will become the first openly LGBT politician at a national level.

Roman is expected to win Bataan largely due to her family's political influence. She will be taking over from her mother who has served the maximum three terms (nine years).

In a recent interview on the campaign trail she appeared fearless in the face of the abuse and mockery she has encountered.

"My life has not been a secret. I grew up here. People know me. [Gender] only becomes an issue when you try to keep it a secret. It's nothing bad. I never hurt anyone in the process. I'm so happy so why should I be ashamed?" She said.

Roman also shared hopes that winning on Monday will help in the fight for gender equality.

"That somebody of my condition is going to enter Congress for the first time is a statement that even transgender people can serve our country and should not be discriminated against," she said.

She also declared an intention to campaign to make changing gender legal in the country and to back an anti-discrimination bill that has been shelved for 16 years. "I am living proof that such a law will allow transgender people to pursue happiness and become productive citizens," she said.

Roman underwent gender realignment surgery and officially changed her name in the 1990s. She has said she grew up being teased by classmates but her late father, a powerful politician, taught her to be confident.

She faces many hurdles in her battle for LGBT equality. A law was passed in 2001 making it impossible for transgender Filipinos to change their name and sex and in 2010, the election commission also barred the Ang Ladlad party, which represents the LGBT community, from contesting the polls, accusing it of "immorality which offends religious beliefs".