Meet the 'Pink Pope'.

(From Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Byline: Rina Jimenez-David

HE is known as the "Pink Pope."

In preparation for the visit to Brazil some years back of Kursad Kahramanoglu, one of two co-secretaries general (the other is Ana Leah Sarabia, a Filipina) of the International Lesbian and Gay Association (Ilga), an organizer tried to hype public interest in the events by "anointing" Kursad with the provocative title. By the time Kursad landed in Brazil, the title had obviously had the desired effect. He was met by a mob of media people ("I felt like I was a superstar!" he exclaims), and he was thence and forevermore known as "The Pink Pope."

Confessing that he hadn't known before his arrival about being dubbed the "Pink Pope," Kursad reflects that had he known about it, he would have tried harder to live up to the title. "I would have kissed the ground or something!"

Kursad flew into the country to help oversee preparations for the 22nd Ilga World Conference scheduled to be held in Manila in November. "I came to see for myself if we are brave enough to hold the conference in the Philippines," Kursad quips. Seriously, he says he is still nursing some doubts about the safety aspect, especially since his first day in the country was marked by the mutiny in Makati. "I am seeking a meeting with the President," he says, mainly to get some assurance that the conference delegates, about 200 from all over the world and perhaps a similar number locally, will be safe and protected from harassment.

But if it pushes through, says Kursad, the Manila conference in November will have "a historical mission," and that mission is to "open Asia" to the concept of "LGBT (lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and trans-gender) rights as human rights."