LGBT rights in the Philippines
The Philippines is ranked as one of the most gay-friendly nations in Asia. The country ranked as the 10th-most gay-friendly in a 2013 global survey covering 39 countries, in which only 17 had majorities accepting homosexuality. Titled "The Global Divide on Homosexuality", the survey conducted by the Pew Research Center showed that 73% of adult Filipinos agreed with the statement that "homosexuality should be accepted by society", up by nine percentage points from 64% in 2002. The high percentage of LGBT acceptance in the Philippines stem mainly from the historical acceptance and role of LGBT people in indigenous animistic anito religions before the advent of Islam in the late 14th century and Christianity in the early 16th century; as well as growing public awareness on LGBT discrimination. Despite this, LGBT people in the Philippines still experience discrimination and disadvantages in comparison to the heterosexual population.
In the classical era of the islands, prior to Spanish occupation, homosexual individuals usually became babaylan, which are traditionally feminine shamans of the animistic religions. They functioned as healers, mediators, and highly-respected spiritual leaders of the communities on par with the ruling nobility. These shamans, however, were persecuted during the conversion of most Philippine ethnic groups into Christianity and Islam, resulting in the discrimination faced by the LGBT community in the present-day.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people often face disadvantages in getting hired for jobs, acquiring rights for civil marriage, and even in starting up personal businesses. They also have a higher rate of suicide and suicide ideation compared to heterosexuals. According to an international research, 10% of the world's population are theoretically part of the LGBT community, out or not, including as many as 12 million Filipinos who may experience discrimination based on who they are. This has led to the rise of the cause for LGBT rights, defined as the right to equality and non-discrimination. As a member of the United Nations, the Philippines is signatory to various international covenants promoting human rights.
History
Precolonial period
Priestesses, or babaylan, held positions of authority as religious leaders or healers in some precolonial Philippine societies. Cross-dressing or transvestite males sometimes took on the role of the female babaylan.The babaylan, also called katalonan, bayoguin, bayok, agi-ngin, asog, bido and binabae depending on the ethnic group of the region, held important positions in the community. They were the spiritual leaders of the Filipino communities, tasked with responsibilities pertaining to rituals, agriculture, science, medicine, literature and other forms of knowledge that the community needed. In the absence of a datu, the babaylan could take charge of the whole community.
The role of the babaylan was mostly associated with females, but male babaylans also existed. Early historical accounts record the existence of male babaylans who wore female clothes and took the demeanor of a woman. Anatomy was not the only basis for gender. Being male or female was based primarily on occupation, appearance, actions and sexuality. A male babaylan could partake in romantic and sexual relations with other men without being judged by society.
Precolonial society accepted gender-crossing and transvestism as part of their culture. Rituals and trances performed by the babaylan mirrored the reunification of the opposites, the male and female. They believed that by doing this they would be able to exhibit spiritual potency, which would be used for healing spiritual brokenness. Outside this task, male babaylans sometimes indulged in homosexual relations. Additionally, many stories from indigenous oral literature exemplified the representation of LGBT characters through deities and the like.
During the Islamisation of Mindanao, barangays and states influenced by Islam expelled the belief of homosexual acceptance. Nevertheless, states and barangays that were not Islamised continued to practice acceptance on homosexuality and gender-bending cultures and belief systems.
Spanish colonial period
The Spanish conquistadors introduced a predominantly patriarchal culture to the precolonial Philippines. Males were expected to demonstrate masculinity in their society, alluding to the Spanish machismo or a strong sense of being a man. Confession manuals made by the Spanish friars during this period suspected that the natives were guilty of sodomy and homosexual acts. During the 17th–18th century Spanish Inquisition period, Spanish administrators burned people accused of being sodomites to enforce the decree made by Pedro Hurtado Desquibel, President of Audiencia.Datus were appointed as the district officers of the Spaniards while the babaylan were reduced to relieving the worries of the natives. The removal of the datu system of localized governance affected babaylanship. The babaylans eventually disappeared with the colonization of the Spaniards. Issues about sexual orientation and gender identity were not widely discussed after the Spanish colonization.
Throughout the Spanish colonial period, numerous accounts of babaylan who defied Spanish colonial rule were recorded. The most prominent three of which are those of a Hiligaynon babaylan named Tapara, a Cebuano babaylan named Ponciano Elofre, and another Hiligaynon babaylan named Gregorio Lampino. A 1663 account of a fray named Juan Fernandez noted that a male babaylan named Tapara or Tapar from Lambunao, Iloilo led a revolt against the Spanish. Tapara was described as a "mystic who dressed and acted like a female". The late 19th century had two prominent babaylans who led revolutions against Spain. The first is the skirt-wearing and allegedly bisexual Ponciano Elofre. The other male babaylan was Gregorio Lampino.
American colonial period
Four decades of American occupation saw the promulgation and regulation of sexuality through a modernized mass media and a standardized academic learning. Furthered by the growing influence of Western biomedicine, it conceived a specific sexological consciousness in which the "homosexual" was perceived and discriminated as a pathological or sick identity. Filipino homosexuals eventually identified to this oppressive identity and began engaging in projects of inversion, as the disparity of homo and hetero entrenched and became increasingly salient in the people's psychosexual logic.Though American colonialism brought the Western notion of "gay" and all its discontents, it also simultaneously refunctioned to serve liberationist ends. While it stigmatized the local homosexual identity, the same colonialism made available a discussion and thus a discursive position which enabled the homosexualized bakla to speak. It was during the neocolonial period in the 1960s that a conceptual history of Philippine gay culture began to take form, wherein a "subcultural lingo of urban gay men that uses elements from Tagalog, English, Spanish and Japanese, as well as celebrities' names and trademark brands" developed, often referred to as swardspeak, gayspeak or baklese. Gay literature that was Philippine-centric also began to emerge during this period. Further developments in gay literature and academic learning saw the first demonstrations by LGBT political activists, particularly LGBT-specific pride marches.
A known LGBT figure from this era was Crispulo Trinidad Luna, also known as Pulong.
During the Japanese occupation of the Philippines, several Filipino LGBT people were forced into sexual slavery as comfort women, including several men. The story of Walterina Markova was told in a 2000 movie entitled Markova: Comfort Gay. He died in 2005 without any compensation from the Japanese Government, like the majority of Filipina comfort women.
Martial law
During the implementation of the Martial law, citizens were silenced by the Government of the Philippines through the military. People, including the LGBT community, did not have a voice during this period, and many were harassed and tortured. At the behest of Imelda Marcos, an anti-gay book was published that clarified the agonistic situation of gay culture at the same time that all other progressive movements in the country were being militaristically silenced. Many homosexuals fled or were forcefully exiled to the United States where some joined movements advocating LGBT rights. The community responded to this through the use of several mediums, such as the 1980s film Manila by Night, which introduces an LGBT character in its plotline. When the regime ended, those exiled returned to the Philippines, introducing new ideas of gay and lesbian conceptions.1960s, 1970s–1980s
Swardspeak, a form a slang used by homosexuals, emerged in the 1960s. This era also saw singer and performer Helen Cruz, a pioneering transgender activist. During the 1970s and 1980s, Filipino concepts of "gay" were greatly influenced by Western notions. According to "Being LGBT in Asia: The Philippines Country Report", LGBT people who were exposed to the Western notion of being "gay" starting to have relationships with other LGBT people, instead of with heterosexual-identifying people. Towards the end of the 1980s, an increase in awareness of LGBT Filipinos occurred. In 1984, a number of gay plays were produced and staged. The plays that were released during the said time tackled the process of "coming out" by gay people.1990s
Based on a report made by USAID, in partnership with UNDP, entitled "Being LGBT in Asia: The Philippines Country Report", the LGBT community during the early 90s wrote several books that raised awareness, such as Ladlad, a 1993 anthology of Philippine gay writing edited by Danton Remoto and J. Neil Garcia, and Margarita Go-Singco Holmes's A Different Love: Being Gay in the Philippines in 1994. This decade also marked the first demonstration of attendance by an organized sector of the country's LGBT community in the participation of a lesbian group called Lesbian Collective, as they joined the International Women's Day march 1992. Another demonstration of attendance was made by ProGay Philippines and MCC Philippines, led by Oscar Atadero and Fr. Richard Mickley respectively, when they organized a Pride march on June 26, 1994, which marked the first Pride-related parade hosted by a country in Asia and the Pacific. Throughout the decade, various LGBT groups were formed such as the Metropolitan Community Churches in 1991, UP Babaylan in 1992 and ProGay Philippines in 1993, and according to the report, the 1990s are the "probable maker of the emergence of the LGBT movement in the Philippines". In 1998, the Akbayan Citizens' Action Party became the first political party to consult the LGBT community and helped with the creation of the first LGBT lobby group, the Lesbian and Gay Legislative Advocacy Network, otherwise known as LAGABLAB, in 1999. LAGABLAB proposed revisions to LGBT rights in 1999 and filed the Anti-Discrimination Bill in 2000.Contemporary (2000s–present)
The LGBT movement has been very active in the new millennium. In the advent of the 2000s, more LGBT organizations were formed to serve specific needs, including sexual health, psychosocial support, representation in sports events, religious and spiritual needs, and political representation. For example, the political party Ang Ladlad was founded by Danton Remoto, a renowned LGBT advocate, in 2003. The community has also shown their advocacies through the 21st LGBT Metro Manila Pride March held in Luneta Park on June 27, 2015, with the theme, "Fight For Love:Iba-Iba. Sama-Sama". This movement aims to remind the nation that the fight for LGBT rights is a fight for human rights. Advocates are calling on the Philippines to recognize the voices of people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. In present time, there remains no umbrella LGBT organization in the Philippines. Therefore, organizations tend to work independently of each other. Due to these divisions, there remains no prioritization of efforts, with organizations focusing on what they consider as important for them.In December 2004, Marawi City banned gays from going out in public wearing female attire, makeup, earrings "or other ornaments to express their inclinations for femininity". The law passed by the Marawi City Council also bans skintight blue jeans, tube tops and other skimpy attire. Additionally, women must not "induce impure thoughts or lustful desires." The Mayor said these moves were part of an Islamic "cleaning and cleansing" drive. People who violate these rules will have paint dumped on their heads by the muttawa, the religious police.
In a United Nations Assembly meeting for the establishment of an UN-backed LGBT Watch Personnel, the Philippine permanent delegate abstained from voting. Islamic nations and some eastern European nations voted against its establishment. Nevertheless, countries from Western Europe and the Americas with the backing of Vietnam, South Korea and Mongolia, voted in favor of its establishment. The LGBT Watch Personnel was established after the majority of nations in the meeting voted in its favor. A few months after the establishment of the expert, an African-led coalition of nations made a move to dislodge the LGBT expert. In November 2016, UN members voted by a majority to retain the UN expert on LGBT issues. However, the representative of the Philippines chose to abstain again, despite outcry of support for the LGBT expert to be retained from various sectors in the country.
In 2016, Geraldine Roman became the first openly transgender woman elected to the Congress of the Philippines. Additionally, several openly LGBT people have been elected to local government positions throughout the Philippines, including as mayors or councillors. In Northern Samar, two of the province's 24 municipalities are run by openly LGBT mayors. The provinces of Albay, Cebu, Leyte, Nueva Vizcaya and Quezon as well as Metro Manila have LGBT elected officials.
In late 2016, the Department of Social Welfare and Development under Secretary Judy Taguiwalo enforced a policy, together with the Depertment of Education, where they allowed students to use uniforms that match their gender identities, effectively accepting students who dress themselves as the opposite gender.
In July 2017, the Department of Education implemented the Gender-Responsive Basic Education Policy, which entails a review of public schools' curriculum to look at all forms of gender stereotypes, including LGBT-based. The policy also mandates the observance of gender and development related events in schools; stating that June be celebrated as Pride Month.
According to the report of the ASEAN SOGIE Caucus released on November 2017 in time for the ASEAN Summit, the Philippines is shifting to "a trend to be more open and accepting of LGBT issues" as seen in the rise of cooperation and acceptance from government officials, especially in municipalities and cities nationwide such as Zamboanga City, Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, Metro Davao, Baguio City, and many more. The report also stated that there have been over 20 local government units that have adopted local ordinances on gender equality, but only two cities – Quezon City and Cebu City – have existing implementing rules and regulations.
On 26 June 2020, police arrested around 20 people during a LGBT Pride march in Manila. People were protesting an anti-terrorism bill that threatens rule of law in the Philippines. The protesters were subsequently charged under the Law on Reporting of Communicable Diseases and the Public Assembly Act, though the protesters were following social distancing protocols.
Legality of same-sex sexual activity
Noncommercial, homosexual relations between two adults in private are not a crime, although sexual conduct or affection that occurs in public may be subject to the "grave scandal" prohibition in Article 200 of the Revised Penal Code, which states:"ARTICLE 200. Grave Scandal. — The penalties of arresto mayor and public censure shall be imposed upon any person who shall offend against decency or good customs by any highly scandalous conduct not expressly falling within any other article of this Code."
In December 2004, Marawi City banned gays from going out in public wearing female attire, makeup, earrings "or other ornaments to express their inclinations for femininity". The law passed by the Marawi City Council also bans skintight blue jeans, tube tops and other skimpy attire. Additionally, women must not "induce impure thoughts or lustful desires." The Mayor said these moves were part of a "cleaning and cleansing" drive. People who violate these rules will have paint dumped on their heads by the muttawa, the religious police. No person or entity has yet to challenge the ordinance in court.
Recognition of same-sex relationships
The Philippines does not offer any legal recognition to same-sex marriage, civil unions or domestic partnership benefits.Civil unions
In October 2016, Speaker of the House of Representatives Pantaleon Alvarez announced that he would file a bill to legalize civil unions for both opposite-sex and same-sex couples. By October 25, 2016, more than 150 lawmakers had signified their support for the bill. Alvarez introduced the bill on October 10, 2017. The bill was also under the wing of representatives Geraldine Roman of Bataan, Gwendolyn Garcia of Cebu, and Raneo Abu of Batangas. In the Senate, conservative senators Tito Sotto, Joel Villanueva, Win Gatchalian, and Manny Pacquiao vowed to block the bill should it ever pass the House of Representatives. On the other hand, it was supported by senators Risa Hontiveros and Grace Poe. Following the adjournment of the 17th Congress and the subsequent 2019 general elections, the civil union bill was reintroduced by Alvarez in May 2019.Marriage
Since 2006, three anti-same sex marriage bills have been introduced to the Senate and Congress. In early 2011, Representative Rene Relampagos of Bohol filed a bill to amend Article 26 of the Philippine Family Code to prohibit "forbidden marriages." Specifically, this sought to bar the Philippines from recognizing same-sex marriages contracted overseas. The bill did not advance.In December 2014, Herminio Coloma Jr, a spokesperson for the Presidential Palace, commented on same-sex marriage, saying; "We must respect the rights of individuals to enter into such partnerships as part of their human rights, but we just need to wait for the proposals in Congress".
Shortly after Ireland legalized same-sex marriage through a popular vote in May 2015, advocates for the legalization of same-sex marriage in the Philippines saw the possibility of legalizing such marriages with a public petition. The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, however, is opposed to the idea despite stating that it supports "equality for all". To the extent of even stating that same-sex marriage and "falling for the same sex is wrong".
The Family Code of the Philippines states in Articles 1, 2 and 147, respectively:
"Marriage is a special contract of permanent union between a man and a woman entered into in accordance with law for the establishment of conjugal and family life. It is the foundation of the family and an inviolable social institution whose nature, consequences, and incidents are governed by law and not subject to stipulation, except that marriage settlements may fix the property relations during the marriage within the limits provided by this Code."
"No marriage shall be valid, unless these essential requisites are present:
Legal Capacity of contracting parties who must be a male and a female; and
Consent freely given in the presence of the solemnizing officer."
On February 18, 2016, during his presidential campaign, Rodrigo Duterte announced that should he win the election he would consider legalizing same-sex marriage if a proposal is presented to him. Duterte won the presidential election. In March 2017, however, Duterte said that he personally opposes same-sex marriage. On December 17, 2017, Duterte changed his position on the issue, expressing his support again. He further guaranteed that, during his term, the rights of LGBT people in the Philippines would be protected and nurtured.
A 2018 survey showed that a minority of Filipinos favor same-sex marriages.
''Falcis III v. Civil Registrar-General''
On June 19, 2018, the Philippine Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a historic case seeking to legalize same-sex marriage in the Philippines. The court dismissed the case for lack of standing in September 2019. The court stated that it could only make a decision if "real adversarial presentations" were shown, noting that the plaintiff could not claim injury since he was not seeking marriage for himself or had presented an actual case. The court, however, added that the 1987 Constitution in "plain text" imposes no restrictions on same-sex marriage.Marriages by the Communist Party of the Philippines
The illegal Communist Party of the Philippines, respectively its armed wing New People's Army, has performed same-sex marriages among their members since 2005 in territories under their control.Discrimination protections
The Magna Carta for Public Social Workers addresses concerns regarding the discrimination of public social workers because of their sexual orientation:"Section 17. Rights of a Public Social Worker. – Public social workers shall have the following rights:
1.) Protection from discrimination on the grounds of sex, sexual orientation, age, political or religious beliefs, civil status, physical characteristics/disability or ethnicity;
2.) Protection from any form of interference, intimidation, harassment, or punishment, to include, but not limited to, arbitrary reassignment or termination of service, in the performance of his/her duties and responsibilities";The Magna Carta for Women also provides an insight regarding the state's duties towards maintaining the rights of women, regardless of their sexual orientation:
"The State affirms women's rights as human rights and shall intensify its efforts to fulfill its duties under international and domestic law to recognize, respect, protect, fulfill, and promote all human rights and fundamental freedoms of women, especially marginalized women, in the economic, social, political, cultural, and other fields without distinction or discrimination on account of class, age, sex, gender, language, ethnicity, religion, ideology, disability, education, and status."
In 2001, an anti-discrimination bill banning discrimination based on sexual orientation was unanimously approved by the House but it was stalled in the Senate, and ultimately died.
The only bill directly concerning discrimination against the LGBT community in the Philippines is the Anti-Discrimination Bill, also known as the SOGIE Equality Bill. This bill seeks that all persons regardless of sex, sexual orientation or gender identity be treated the same as everyone else, wherein conditions do not differ in the privileges granted and the liabilities enforced. The bill was introduced by Hon. Kaka J. Bag-ao, the District Representative of the Dinagat Islands, on July 1, 2013. A huge bloc of lawmakers, collectively called the Equality Champs of Congress, have been pushing for the full passage of the Anti-Discrimination Bill for 18 years. More than 130 lawmakers backed its complete passage and legislation in the first month of its reintroduction to Congress in 2016 alone.
, March 2018
On September 20, 2017, the bill passed its third reading in the House of Representatives, in a unanimous 198–0 vote, under the wing of representatives Kaka Bag-ao, Teddy Baguilat, Tom Villarin, Christopher de Venecia, Geraldine Roman, Arlene Brosas, Carlos Zarate, and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez after 17 years of languishing in Congress. After passage in the House, the bill had to be voted on in the Senate. Conservative senators Tito Sotto, Manny Pacquiao, and Joel Villanueva told media that they would block the bill at its current state, while Win Gatchalian, Dick Gordon, Migz Zubiri, Cynthia Villar, Ping Lacson, Gregorio Honasan, Alan Peter Cayetano, Chiz Escudero, Ralph Recto and Koko Pimentel expressed support only if modifications to the bill were passed. Senator Risa Hontiveros, the principal author and backer of the bill, championed the bill's passage in the Senate. The bill was also backed by senators Nancy Binay, Franklin Drilon, Bam Aquino, Loren Legarda, JV Ejercito, Kiko Pangilinan, Grace Poe, Antonio Trillanes, Sonny Angara, and Leila de Lima. In January 2018, the bill finally reached the period of amendments after the period of interpolations was deemed finished. It took almost a year before it reached the period of amendments due to conservative senators who vowed to block the bill until the very end. In February and March 2018, senators Sotto, Pacquiao and Villanueva renewed their call against the passage of the bill in any of its possible forms. In June 2019, with the end of the session of the 17th Congress, the bill officially died, as the Senate had failed to tackle it in that session. The bill has become one of the slowest-moving bills in the country's history. The passed house version of the bill would have penalised discrimination with a fine of not less than ₱100,000 but not more than ₱500,000, or imprisonment of between one and six years, depending on the court's decision. Senator Risa Hontiveros expressed confidence that the bill would pass the next Congress, and commented on the bill's wider acceptance among policy makers and the public.
In early July 2019, Senator Sonny Angara introduced a new proposal to Congress. "Any form of discrimination threatens social stability and economic progress in the Philippines, making it imperative that discrimination—or any act that establishes, promotes and perpetuates standing inequalities and disregards the right to 'equality of treatment' afforded by the 1987 Constitution—be reduced", Angara argued. The measure would prohibit unfair discrimination based on, among other categories, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. In September 2019, President Duterte expressed in-principle support for the bill, though stated that he personally preferred a general anti-discrimination law.
Local government ordinances
Seven provinces prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. These are Albay, Agusan del Norte, Batangas, Cavite, the Dinagat Islands, Ilocos Sur, and Iloilo. The province of Cavite previously prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation only, but enacted gender identity protections in 2018.Various cities, barangays and municipalities throughout the Philippines also have non-discrimination ordinances. The cities and towns of Angeles, Antipolo, Bacolod, Baguio, Batangas, Butuan, Candon, Cebu, Davao, General Santos, Ilagan, Iloilo, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Mandaue, Marikina, Orani, Poro, Puerto Princesa, Quezon, San Juan, Taguig, and Vigan ban sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination. 3 barangays also have such ordinances, as does the municipality of San Julian in Eastern Samar.
The city of Dagupan enacted an anti-discrimination ordinance in 2010, which includes sexual orientation as a protected characteristic. The anti-discrimination ordinance does not explicitly mention gender identity. However, the terms "sex", "gender" and "other status" could be interpreted as covering it. In 2003, Quezon City approved an ordinance banning discrimination against "homosexuals". In 2014, it amended that ordinance and banned discrimination against anyone on the basis of both sexual orientation and gender identity.
Anti-bullying laws
Sexual orientation and gender identity are included as prohibited grounds of bullying in the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Anti-Bullying Law, approved by Congress in 2013.Living conditions
Religion
Several religious beliefs exists within the country, including Roman Catholicism, the Aglipayan Church, Anitism and Islam, among many others. These different faiths have their own views and opinions towards the topic of homosexuality.Roman Catholicism
The Philippines is a predominantly Catholic country with approximately 82.9% of the population claiming to be Roman Catholics. The Roman Catholic Church has been one of the most active religious organizations in the country in opposition to the LGBT community. The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines firmly states that marriage should only exist between a man and a woman. They have also called on individuals and politicians to actively oppose same-sex marriage, arguing that individuals should refuse to take part in ceremonies celebrating same-sex relationships and politicians should resist legalizing marriages of same-sex couples. They also stated that "A homosexual union is not and can never be a marriage as properly understood and so-called." However, they also said that "being a homosexual is not a sin. It is a state of a person." The Catholic Church welcomes members of the LGBT community, yet, as stated, gay people should be "welcomed with respect and sensitivity."Metropolitan Community Church
The Metropolitan Community Church, a protestant church in Quezon City, Makati, and Baguio, has been celebrating weddings between same-sex couples since the 1960s. The church considers itself a non-denominational Christian church which performs same-sex weddings for couples "regardless of their religious beliefs." The church leadership has said that "weddings are an inherent right of people who love each other." The first same-sex marriage that was performed by the church was in 1969 between two lesbians. The time of the wedding was symbolic as it was the year when the globally-historic Stonewall riots took place, sparking the beginning of the LGBT rights movement.The executive director of the non-governmental organization EnGendeRights has said that while the same-sex marriages performed by the MCC are not recognized civilly or legally, they are considered valid under the MCC's religious customs.
Philippine Independent Church
The Philippine Independent Church has had a history of violence against members of the LGBT community. However, in the early 21st century, the church position changed dramatically to an extent where the church leadership apologized through an official statement to the LGBT community. The church recognized that it has "shown indifference, and LGBT people feel less human, discriminated against and stigmatized". The statement – dubbed "Our Common Humanity, Our Shared Dignity" – stresses the church's position that it "must openly embrace God's people of all sexes, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions".The apology statement's groundwork first came up in 2014, when a gay man articulated during the church plenary his query about the church's plans for sexual minorities. This led to discussions among the newly elected set of national youth officers, led by an openly gay president and a lesbian executive vice president, which would later be succeeded by another openly gay president. The church position on LGBT persons was officially adopted by the entire church in February 2017.
Iglesia ni Cristo
The Iglesia ni Cristo adheres to the teachings of the Bible and they denounce those who practice homosexual acts, as they are seen as immoral and wicked. The organization has been called by international human rights organizations as one of the most homophobic religious sects operating in the Philippines. These acts include having sexual affairs and relations with partners of the same sex, cross-dressing, and same-sex marriage. Furthermore, men are not allowed to have long hair, for it is seen as a symbol of femininity and should be exclusive to women only. LGBT people born into INC families reportedly suffer the greatest as their existence is branded explicitly as wicked by their own family and the pastor of their locality. Numerous cases also exist where INC members who chose to leave the faith faced massive backlash from family members, pastors, and other INC members locally and abroad, making it hard for INC members to get away from the church. Hate crimes and forced conversion therapy committed by family members towards INC LGBT teenagers have also surfaced and are backed by the Templo Sentral, the central establishment of the INC church. The INC has been widely known to the Filipino LGBT community as the most dangerous and discriminating religion for LGBT Filipinos. The church believes that no matter what a person does, good or bad, if the person is homosexual, he or she will still burn in hell.United Methodist Church
The position of the United Methodist Church towards LGBT-inclusiveness is divided worldwide. In developed nations, members of the church tend to be more in favor of LGBT rights, whereas members in developing nations tend to oppose. In 2019, during a worldwide church meeting, held in the United States, Filipino delegates voted in favor of a strengthened ban on LGBT members. The agenda was approved with 438 voting in favor and 384 voting against.Islam
For Muslim communities in the Philippines, dealing with homosexuality or transgender issues is a matter of sin and heresy. The city of Marawi, which has declared itself as an "Islamic City", has passed an ordinance that allows discrimination against LGBT citizens. The ordinance has yet to be challenged in court. Mohagher Iqbal, a senior MILF leader once said that "e have no policy to kill gays and lesbians, but we discourage homosexuality". The statement came after reports that LGBT people are fleeing Marawi and a surge of reported derision and abuse at home and discrimination at school had steadily increased.Anitism
Indigenous belief systems and religions in the country, collectively known as Anitism, regard homosexual acts as part of nature, and thus, acceptable, and to some extent, even sacred. Local men dressed up in women’s apparel and acting like women were called, among other things, babaylan, bayoguin, bayok, agi-ngin, asog, bido and binabae. Some of these feminized men worked as spiritual leaders or shamans. They were respected leaders and figures of authority: religious functionaries and shamans. However, due to the influential spread of Islam in the south and Christianity in the entire country, such indigenous belief systems were subjugated. Concepts of homosexuality, bisexuality, and hermaphrodites are known in the epics and indigenous stories in Anitism. Around 2% of the population continue to practice the religion.Media
Recognized as an important venue for the promotion of issues related to the LGBT community by participants in national dialogue facilitated by the UNDP, the media acknowledges the negative impact of religion concerning the treatment of such issues, where it provides a blanket context that society views homosexuality as negative.In May 2004, producers of several television programs received a memorandum from the chair of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, which warned against positive depictions of lesbian relationships; it was stated in the memo that "lesbian and homosexual relationships are an abnormality/aberration on prime-time TV programs gives the impression that the network is encouraging homosexual relationships."
The lack of sexual orientation and gender identity awareness is emphasized in other circumstances; transphobia is ubiquitous with media practitioners who do not address transgender people in accordance with how they self-identify. At the 2013 Cinemalaya indie awards, transgender actress Mimi Juareza won under the Best Actor category, and in reports, she was referred to repeatedly using the male pronoun. In 2014, the death of Jennifer Laude and the investigation conducted was highly publicized, with practitioners referring to her as Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude.
Participants in the UNDP-facilitated national dialogue stated that content emphasized a general lack of understanding for sexual orientation and gender identity, such that LGBT stereotypes dominate; there are many gay men hosting programs at radio stations and television networks, but they are limited to covering entertainment shows. There is an apparent lack of representation for lesbians and transgender people. Given their platform, some media personalities have publicly shared their anti-LGBT sentiments; in 2009 newspaper columnist Ramon Tulfo wrote that LGBT people "should not also go around town proclaiming their preferences as if it was a badge of honor."
Beyond mainstream media, which already has a niche for the sector, the Internet has provided LGBT people ways to tell their stories outside the realm of film, television, print, and radio. There are blogs kept, opportunities to connect with others, publications with LGBT sections and a web-based magazine, Outrage, catering to the community.
Views
Ryan Thoreson in his article "Capably Queer: Exploring the Intersections of Queerness and Poverty in the Urban Philippines" did a research on the LGBT community in the Philippines and how it copes with living in the country. He interviewed a total of 80 LGBT informants in order to gather the data. Based on his survey about employment and from what he gathered, he claimed that under a half of the respondents were employed and weekly income mean was only 1514.28 pesos per week. The survey also stated that "less than one-third have stable income and very few enjoyed any kind of benefits", and 75% of its respondents said that they would like to do more wage-earning work.As for its empowerment section, the survey stated that when the respondents were asked to tell their primary contribution to the household, 45% of them named household chores as their primary contribution, 30% stated giving money or paying the bills, 17.5% provided labor and money, and 7.5% said that they were not expected to contribute anything. As for their privacy, 75% of the respondents said that they had enough privacy and personal space.
In terms of safety and security, Thoreson's journal also provides statistical data in terms of the LGBT community's involvement in crimes as victims. According to the survey he made, 55% of his respondents were harassed on the street, 31.2% were robbed, 25% had been physically assaulted, 6.25% had been sexually assaulted, 5% had survived a murder attempt, and 5% had been blackmailed by the police.
Economy
The LGBT community, although a minority in the economic sphere, still plays an integral role in the growth and maintenance of the economy. LGBT individuals face challenges in employment both on an individual level and as members of a community that is subject to discrimination and abuse. This can be compounded by the weak social status and position of the individuals involved.A USAID study conducted in 2014, entitled "The Relationship between LGBT Inclusion and Economic Development: An Analysis of Emerging Economies", has shown that countries which have adopted anti-LGBT economic laws have lower GDPs compared to those who do not discriminate against employers/employees based on their sexual orientation. The link between discrimination and the economy is direct, since the discrimination experienced by members of the LGBT community turn them into disadvantaged workers, which can be bad for business. Disadvantaged workers usually practice absenteeism, low productivity, inadequate training and high turnover, which make for higher labor costs and lower profits. According to the USAID study, LGBT people in their sample countries are limited in their freedoms in ways that also create economic harms. This coincides with Emmanuel David's article, Transgender Worker and Queer Value at Global Call Centers in the Philippines, in which he states that "trans- and gender-variant people have always sought paid employment, and they have routinely performed unpaid labor and emotional work". In his article, he focuses on how in the Philippines there is a growing market of trans women looking for employment so they have tried creating their own space as "purple collar" but still face discrimination.
On the other hand, studies have shown that the integration of the LGBT community into the economic system yields a higher income for the country. In a recent USAID study, it is said that a wide range of scholarly theories from economics, political science, sociology, psychology, public health and other social sciences support the idea that full rights and inclusion of LGBT people are associated with higher levels of economic development and well-being for the country. Also, the acceptance of LGBT people within the office environment can lead to higher income for the company since the people do not feel as disadvantaged and as discriminated as before. Another thing is that a better environment for LGBT individuals can be an attractive bargaining chip for countries seeking multinational investments and even tourists, since a conservative climate that keeps LGBT people in the closet and policymakers from recognizing the human rights of LGBT people will hold their economy back from its full potential. Naturally, passing a non-discrimination law will not immediately lead to a sudden boost in the country's economy, although less discrimination should eventually lead to more output.
Politics
Marginalized sectors in society recognised in the national electoral law include categories such as elderly, peasants, labour, youth etc. Under the Philippine Constitution, some 20% of seats in the House of Representatives are reserved. In 1995 and 1997, unsuccessful efforts were made to reform the law so as to include LGBT people. A proponent of this reform was Senate President Pro Tempore Blas Ople who said, "In view of the obvious dislike of the... administration for gay people, it is obvious that the president will not lift a finger to help them gain a sectoral seat."The Communist Party of the Philippines integrated LGBT rights into its party platform in 1992, becoming the first Philippine political party to do so. The Akbayan Citizens' Action Party was another early party to advocate for LGBT rights in 1998.
Philippine political parties are typically very cautious about supporting gay rights, as most fall along the social conservative political spectrum. A major political opponent of LGBT rights legislation has been Congressman Bienvenido Abante of the ruling conservative Lakas-CMD party.
The administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was called "not just gender insensitive, but gender-dead" by Akbayan Party representative Risa Hontiveros. Rep. Hontiveros also said that the absence of any policy protecting the rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender betrays the Government’s homophobia: "this homophobic government treats LGBTs as second-class citizens."
On November 11, 2009, the Philippine Commission on Elections denied the Filipino LGBT political party Ang Ladlad's petition to be allowed to run in the May 2010 elections, on the grounds of "immorality". In the 2007 elections, Ang Ladlad was previously disqualified for failing to prove they had nationwide membership.
On April 8, 2010, the Supreme Court of the Philippines reversed the ruling of COMELEC and allowed Ang Ladlad, a progressive political party with a primary agenda of combating discrimination and harassment on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, to join the May 2010 elections. The Ang Ladlad ran in 2010 and 2013 but were disqualified to run in 2016 due to inability to get the minimum number of votes in the past two elections.
On June 17, 2011, the Philippines abstained from signing the United Nations declaration on sexual orientation and gender identity, which condemns violence, harassment, discrimination, exclusion, stigmatization and prejudice based on sexual orientation and gender identity. However, on September 26, 2014, the country gave a landmark yes vote on a follow-up resolution by the UN Human Rights Council to fight violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
In May 2019, President Rodrigo Duterte joked that he used to be gay until he met his ex-wife, Elizabeth Zimmerman. The President claimed someone told him the way Antonio Trillanes—a critic of the Duterte administration—walked suggested he was a homosexual, saying "I said: "Are you sure?" They said: "You ask any gay person who sees Trillanes move, they'll say he's gay." No wonder. Good thing Trillanes and I are similar. But I cured myself. When I began a relationship with Zimmerman, I said, this is it. I became a man again." He subsequently added "Duterte is gay. So I am gay, I don't care if I'm gay or not". Duterte has often used terms such as "bakla" or "bayot," slang words for "gay", as insults to his political opponents. During his presidential campaign, Duterte expressed liberal views on homosexuality, saying the Bible should have recognized gays. But as president, Duterte has been inconsistent on his views on same-sex marriage; in March 2017, claiming that marriage was only for a man and woman, but by the end of the year supporting a change in law to allow same-sex marriage. In January 2019, Duterte attacked the country's Catholic bishops and claimed most of them were gay after the church criticised his war on drugs, saying "Only I can say bishops are sons of bitches, damn you … Most of them are gay. They should come out in the open, cancel celibacy and allow them to have boyfriends".
LGBT rights at school campuses
University of Santo Tomas
In the 1960s, the first LGBT organization, Tigresa Royal, at the University of Santo Tomas was established. However, the organization dissipated during the martial law era. The organization was never recognized by the university. In 2013, HUE, a new LGBT organization at the university, was formally established. The organization was established by Majann Lazo, the student council president of the Faculty of Arts and Letters, and Noelle Capili, a member of Mediatrix, a university-wide organization for art enthusiasts. Similarly to Tigresa Royal, the university denied HUE recognition as a university organization.On July 1, 2015, the university ordered numerous organizations to "take down" all rainbow-themed profile pictures of its members on social media after the legalization of same-sex marriage in the United States. The order was defied by numerous students of the university, marking the beginning of the "UST Rainbow Protest". In July 2016, various student organizations supported the filing of the SOGIE Equality Bill in the Senate and the House of Representatives.
In March 2018, during the passage of the SOGIE Equality Bill in the Philippine House of Representatives, numerous UST student organizations, including the first intersectional feminist organization in the school, UST Hiraya, backed the bill's passage.
On June 21, 2018, statements against the UST LGBT community were circulated on Twitter and Facebook. The statements originally came from the school regent. The tweet noted that the school "understands" LGBT rights, but tasked all presidents of all student organizations at the university to "take down" pro-LGBT statements, especially if those statements involved the words "LGBT" and "Pride Month". The statements garnered massive backlash against the university on social media, with almost 4,000 disapprovals and around 1,100 retweets in less than two days. The order of the school regent was also defied by numerous UST organizations, in continuation of the "UST Rainbow Protest".
In July 2018, the university and its Roman Catholic priests banned all forms of cross-dressing on campus. It also stated that students who are in same-sex relationships shall face "non-readmission, exclusion or expulsion". On August 7, 2018, in defiance, the university's Central Student Council launched a collective statement with fellow student councils from Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde, Miriam College, St. Scholastica's College, Manila and San Beda University, calling on the Senate of the Philippines to enact the SOGIE Equality Bill into law. The move marked the first ever inter-school Catholic-based LGBT support system in Philippine history.
Ateneo University campuses
The Jesuit-run Ateneo de Manila University and its branches throughout the country have been viewed as pro-LGBT since the middle of the 20th century. The university supports the SOGIE Equality Bill, the advancement of the Metro Manila Pride March, sex reassignment surgery, and same-sex marriage. The university also has inclusive gender restrooms, a move spearheaded by its Davao campus, which has the largest population of Muslim students. The same campus also held the first pride march in the Davao region.University of the Philippines campuses
All campuses of the University of the Philippines support the SOGIE Equality Bill, same-sex marriage, sex reassignment surgery, and other progressive LGBT issues. The Diliman, Quezon City campus is home to UP Babaylan, the largest network of LGBT student organizations in the country. Pride marches are also common activities in the other campuses, including the Baguio, Pampanga, Olongapo, Los Baños, Manila, Iloilo, Davao City, Tacloban and Cebu City campuses.University of San Carlos
The Cebu-based University of San Carlos is viewed as LGBT-tolerant. The university has approved various LGBT-related speaking events at the campus. However, the university is far from being LGBT inclusive as it still implements a "no crossdressing policy" which is routinely used to discriminate against transgender students. Transgender women are forced to cut their hair, wear men's uniform, barred from wearing make-up, and are barred from using the women's comfort rooms and dressing rooms. Transgender men are forced to wear women's uniform, barred from sporting male haircuts and barred from using the men's comfort rooms and dressing rooms.University of Mindanao
The campuses of the University of Mindanao outside the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao are seen as "LGBT-friendly", however, the campuses in the ARMM have past cases involving persecution of members of the LGBT community, especially in Marawi, the only city in the Philippines which has an intentional anti-LGBT ordinance. No person has yet to challenge the ordinance in court. In 2012, leaflets and radio broadcasts from unidentified sources were released at the Marawi campus, saying that all LGBT people should move away from the city, if not, all of them will be murdered through "wajib", or a so-called "Muslim obligation". Reports have found that many LGBT students and former students at the university have experienced a variety of harassment and even some near-death experiences. Additionally, many LGBT alumni at the university have been gunned down in the city. One account states that within 4 years, 8 of the closest LGBT friends of a Marawi transwoman were gunned down in the city.De La Salle University
Campuses of De La Salle University have been viewed as pro-LGBT. The student government of the university has hosted numerous pro-LGBT events including "G for SOGIE" in 2018. In 2011, the Queer Archers' Alliance was conceptualized and established at the university. The university has supported the SOGIE Equality Bill, sex reassignment surgery, greater awareness of HIV/AIDS, and other progressive legislation, although some of the university's older employees have contrasting views.Universidad de Zamboanga
The Universidad de Zamboanga is viewed by many of its students as "pro-LGBT", although cases of hate crimes have surfaced as well.Saint Louis University
The Baguio-based Saint Louis University is viewed as an "LGBT-friendly" university in the Cordilleras. It supports the SOGIE Equality Bill and it has its own gender-neutral restroom policy.Lyceum of the Philippines University
The Lyceum of the Philippines University is viewed as "pro-LGBT" and has active student organizations focused on equality, including LPU Kasarian, which successfully lobbied for the university to establish a gender-neutral restroom policy in 2017.Xavier University
The Jesuit-run Xavier University is viewed as "pro-LGBT". The university supports the SOGIE Equality Bill and sex reassignment surgery.Polytechnic University of the Philippines
The Polytechnic University of the Philippines is highly viewed as "pro-LGBT". In March 2018, the university itself advocated for LGBT rights, in cooperation with numerous student organizations, including its own LGBT student organization, PUP Kasarianlan. In June 2018, the university had its first ever transgender valedictorian, Ianne Gamboa.Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
In September 2013, after a year of fighting for recognition, the University of Manila officially recognized its first and only LGBT student organization, later leading to the first ever pride march at the campus. The recognition of the organization was spearheaded by a coalition of student organizations at the university, ranging from feminist organizations, fraternities, sororities, art organizations, literary organizations, business organizations, and many others.Eastern Samar State University
In May 2017, the Eastern Samar State University unanimously ruled that gender-neutral restrooms would be implemented as a way to commit to gender equality, becoming the first school in Samar to do so.Bicol University
In 2013, Bicol University's first LGBT organization, BU MAGENTA, was officially formed and recognized. The organization was backed by numerous faculties of the university. The organization had grown to become the largest LGBT student organization in the Bicol Region by 2018.Central Luzon State University
The Central Luzon State University is viewed as "LGBT-friendly". The university recognized its first LGBT student organization on the very first year it was established. Additionally, it allows students to cross-dress. The university also holds its own gay pageant, where the winner is given the title "Mushroom Fairy". The pageant is notably attended by more spectators than the university's Mr. and Ms. pageants.Bulacan State University
The Bulacan State University is home to BulSu Bahaghari, an LGBT student organization and the first established in the province of Bulacan.Silliman University
The Silliman University is viewed as "pro-LGBT". The university has its own LGBT section in its university library, and the library itself organizes LGBT panel activities. It has also recognized many literary works and authors who have advocated for gender equality in the Philippines.Far Eastern University
The Far Eastern University is viewed as "pro-LGBT". The university allows transgender students to wear clothes reflecting their gender identity on the campus. The university also accredited Sexuality and Gender Alliance, a student-led university-wide organization that fights against any form of abuse or discrimination.Leyte Normal University
The Leyte Normal University is viewed as the most "gender-insensitive" public university in the Visayas. In January 2019, the school got called out after it used images of male make-up artists, which they described as "improper grooming for men". The banners targeted male students who wear make-up. The school did not receive permission from the owners of the pictures before using them. It afterwards apologized to the artists involved, however, reiterated that they did nothing wrong as the banners were allegedly used as an "effort to discipline", causing further backlash from several student organizations. Despite being a public school, it still uses "outdated" gender attire, which students must wear, in contrast to the majority of public schools in the country.Community
The LGBT community did not begin to organize on behalf of its human rights until the 1990s. Poverty and the political situation in the Philippines, especially the dictatorship, may have made it difficult for the LGBT community to organize. One of the first openly gay people of significance was the filmmaker Lino Brocka.The first LGBT pride parade in Asia and also the Philippines was co-led by ProGay Philippines and the Metropolitan Community Church Philippines on June 26, 1994 at the Quezon Memorial Circle. It was organized just a few years after students organized the UP Babaylan group. The pride event was attended by hundreds, and the march coincided with march against the Government's VAT or the value added tax.
Since the 1990s, LGBT people have become more organized and visible, both politically and socially. There are large annual LGBT pride festivals, and several LGBT organizations which focus on the concerns of university students, women and transgender people. There is a vibrant gay scene in the Philippines with several bars, clubs and saunas in Manila as well as various gay rights organizations.
- UP Babaylan, founded in 1992, remains the oldest and largest LGBT student organization in the Philippines.
- Progay-Philippines, founded in 1993, which led the first Gay March in Asia in 1994.
- LAGABLAB, the Lesbian and Gay Legislative Advocacy Network, established in 1999.
- STRAP, a Manila-based support group for transgender women, established in 2002.
- Philippine Network of Metropolitan Community Church, a network of LGBT-affirming churches that reclaims spaces for sexuality and spirituality. The first MCC was established in 1991. Member churches are MCC Quezon City, MCC Metro Baguio, MCC Makati, and MCC Marikina.
- PinoyFTM, a nationwide organization of Filipino transgender men, established in July 2011.
- Task Force Pride, a network of LGBT organizations that is the official organizing network for the annual pride march, founded in 1999.
Military service
Public opinion
In 2013, a Pew Research Center poll showed that 73% of adult Filipinos agreed with the statement that "homosexuality should be accepted by society," up by nine percentage points from 64% in 2002.In May 2015, PlanetRomeo, an LGBT social network, published its first Gay Happiness Index. Gay men from over 120 countries were asked about how they feel about society’s view on homosexuality, how do they experience the way they are treated by other people and how satisfied are they with their lives. The Philippines was ranked 41st with a GHI score of 50.
An opinion poll carried out by the Laylo Research Strategies in 2015 found that 70% of Filipinos strongly disagreed with same-sex marriage, 14% somewhat disagreed, 12% somewhat agreed and 4% strongly agreed. In generalization, the 2015 poll indicated that 84% were against same-sex marriage and 16% were in favor.
According to a 2017 poll carried out by ILGA, 63% of Filipinos agreed that gay, lesbian and bisexual people should enjoy the same rights as straight people, while 20% disagreed. Additionally, 63% agreed that they should be protected from workplace discrimination. 27% of Filipinos, however, said that people who are in same-sex relationships should be charged as criminals, while a plurality of 49% disagreed. As for transgender people, 72% agreed that they should have the same rights, 72% believed they should be protected from employment discrimination and 61% believed they should be allowed to change their legal gender.
A Social Weather Stations survey, conducted between March 23 and 27, 2018, found that 22% of Filipinos supported same-sex civil unions, 61% were against and 16% were undecided.
According to a 2019 SWS poll, 55% of Filipinos supported an anti-discrimination law covering sexual orientation and gender identity, 27% "strongly agreed" and 28% "somewhat agreed". Conversely, 16% "strongly disagreed" and 10% "somewhat disagreed", with the rest being undecided. A separate question concerning transgender people showed that 64% of Filipinos opposed allowing trans women to use women's toilets. Opposition was higher among Mindanao residents, Muslims and those 55 and above. Nevertheless, a majority stated that they do not perceive transgender identity as a mental disorder or a religious sin.