The LGBT Community in the Philippines

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transexual community here in the Philippines is transforming. It is transforming in a delicious way, a leap from its past state where most Filipinos frown at the very thought of the community asserting its right to be recognized. Now, that recognition has been achieved. Filipino society is a tolerant one. 


There are still challenges ahead but these can be surmounted with a unified community. What the LGBT leadership should do is go, chance the mindsets of their own members, who I think are still thinking like in the Medieval times. 


For example, I watched a recent episode of Wil Time Big Time. They featured transsexuals and real women. One of the contestants, who really looked like a woman, was asked one question--had he decided to do the most extreme thing? You know what the transgender said? 


No, because he intends to have a family probably ten years from now and he intends to use that tool as a "weapon" to raise a brood.


This confused me. If you are a transsexual, and you profess that you want to be a woman, then, be a woman, right? Are their levels of being gay? Is a gay a gender or just a lifestyle? 


Ladlad should clarify this. When a person thinks of raising a family while she professes to be gay, is she gay or is she not gay? When such thoughts populate the minds of those who profess to be members of the LGBTT community, what now is their definition of gender? I thought the LBGT community is pushing for the recognition of gender? Paki explain nga. I'm totally confused.  

Ang Ladlad: Hate crimes against the LGBT community in the Philippines rises

Do you know that at least 209 gays and lesbians have been killed over the past five years due to their sexuality? And according to a study conducted by Ang Ladlad, there are thousands more unreported because victims are afraid. 


Hate crimes against members of the Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transsexuals Community in the Philippines, should be stopped once and for all, says Ladlad Political adviser Boy Abunda.


" Hate crimes against gays and lesbians should not be tolerated. It should be stopped. And one of the most effective ways of countering such hateful crimes is for people's minds to be changed." says Abunda in a press conference held last Wednesday at the Astoria.


I was one of a few journalists invited by Ang Ladlad, the other one, Inquirer columnist Rina David. I've been supporting Ang Ladlad eversince.

Go, fight for the LGBT rights!

Fact is, the very first people who encouraged the formation of what we call "pink collectives" happens to include me. I am straight. Yet, I share their struggle, simply because I am a human rights advocate.


Hate crimes are usually unreported in such a chaotic country such as the Philippines. For one, gays are discriminated here. When they are beaten to a pulp, those beatings constitute slight physical injuries, but never attributable to gender.


Women and children are being taken cared of by cops. When somebody beats them or kills them, they are charged based on the Revised Penal Code and the special law. Meaning, their crimes are given special focus.


Here, there's no gay or lesbian crime desk. A law is needed to be able to establish one. 


There are so many violations of gays and lesbian rights in the Philippines and they go unnoticed. No one ever did a serious study on hate crimes in the Philippines. What Ang Ladlad did was monumental in the sense that it was the very first study on hate crimes.


Yet, the study have gaps because PNP records show no distinction between genders. The PNP only recognizes two genders. 


If Ladlad wins, surely, the rights of this disfranchised group will be recognized. It is time for us to do just that.

Oddities in Philippine politics: Truth be told

For telling us the unvarnished truth about the real relationship of the Arroyos and the Ampatuans, Lorelie Fajardo, the palace deputy spokesperson, is now being kept in a "freezer", officially off her duties as press undersecretary. The palace punished her for being "inconsistent". Fajardo should have kept telling the people about lores and lies, says Cerge Remonde.

After spending years defending Gloria, justifying her extravagant lifestyle and even working as her go-to man, Mike Defensor is now trying very hard to win the mayoral post in Quezon City. He's now a Nacionalista. And he's pitting Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista against Mayor Sonny Belmonte in the alleged 200 million fund anomaly. Mike, what is 200 million when your boss already stole billions? Why did you keep your mouth shut then?

The Comolect, err, Comelec, just recently disqualified Ang Ladlad as an accredited partylist organization. A few days ago, the Comelec en banc resolved the Motion for Reconsideration by a split vote---the First division going for Ang Ladlad while the second division defended itself. Comelec chairman Jose Melo intervened and voted against Ang Ladlad, siding with the second division's "Holy Men". Unfortunate for Ang Ladlad since their case landed on the laps of those who think "holy" of themselves. Danton, my friend, next time please.

As what the Bible says, " Curse those evil men who think themselves holy."

By the way, Susan "Toots" Ople is making a lot of headway in her bid for the Senate. Thousands are volunteering and helping her in her advocacy for the Filipino worker. She has a Cause--Pursue the Labor Agenda in the Senate. And her Cause is shared by others.