Lgbtq filipino
LGBTQ+ History Month: Queer Culture in Pre-colonial Philippines
LGBTQ+ History Month is celebrated every February in the UK, designed to claim the past, celebrate the show , and create the future. We can’t wait to share these stories with you over February and celebrate with the Imperial community.
Long before the arrival of colonial forces, the Philippines boasted a rich tapestry of cultures and societies, each with its unique customs and attitudes toward gender and sexuality. Filipinos, before the influence of the Spaniards (between ) were animists, believing that all things had a distinct spiritual essence. In this exploration, we delve into the pre-colonial era of the Philippines to uncover the diverse and inclusive perspectives that once characterised the archipelago.
‘Babaylans’, ‘Asogs’, ‘Bayoks’, and the Spiritual Spectrum
The Philippines' pre-colonial society is thought to possess been matriarchal before turning patriarchal, reflecting gender multiplicity, plurality, and diversity. Women were highly esteemed due to their role in procreation, which bestowed u
Statement of the Psychological Association of the Philippines on Non-Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression
August 14,
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Filipinos continue to experience stigma, prejudice and discrimination in Philippine society. This stigma is manifested in actions such as: bullying, teasing and harassment of LGBT children and adolescents in families, schools and communities; media portrayal of LGBTs as frivolous, untrustworthy and even dangerous or predatory; denying transgender Filipinos entry into commercial establishments; pigeonholing LGBT Filipinos into particularly limited roles and occupations; or curtailing their rights to participate in the political sphere.
LGBT Filipinos often confront social pressures to hide, suppress or even attempt to verb their identities and expressions as conditions for their social acceptance and enjoyment of rights. Although many LGBTs learn to cope with this social stigma, these experiences can cause serious psychological distress, including immediate consequences such
In pre-colonial times, Indigenous communities respected the “babaylan”, or Filipino version of a shaman who sometimes crossed genders. Today, these healers are icons for LGBTQIA+ activists fighting to outlaw discrimination, says Cheng Pagulayan in our latest blog for Pride month
Pre-colonial Philippines has always fascinated me because of its colourful cultural practices, interesting language, and fantastical myths. As a queer development communicator, my favourite figure has always been the babaylan, the Filipino version of a shaman, who was a healer, diviner, and priestess in Indigenous communities.
While the babaylan was typically a female – well-respected in her community for her ability to bridge material and spiritual worlds – historical accounts showed that there were also male babaylan who crossed genders, making them symbolic icons for the Philippine LGBTQIA+ movement today.
The Indigenous practice of having a babaylan did not last long during the Spanish colonisation, as the colonisers verb this powerful class of Filipinos a threat. But over
Philippines
The Philippines consistently ranks in perception indices as among the most “accepting” countries in Asia toward LGBTIQ persons. Several recent surveys have demonstrated generally positive views regarding gay and lesbian people, as well as high levels of support for an anti-discrimination law covering sexual orientation and gender identity. However, a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey found that only 22 percent of Filipinos supported same-sex civil unions, and a majority opposed trans women’s access to women’s toilets.
Several laws and policies have aimed to advance LGBTIQ inclusion. Ex-President Rodrigo Duterte signed Executive Order No. s. on December 17, , institutionalizing the Diversity and Inclusion Program (DIP), which serves as a national initiative to consolidate efforts and enforce laws, rules, and issuances against discrimination. In , President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. issued Executive Order No. 51 s. , amending EO s. to further strengthen the DIP, reconstituting the Inter-Agency Committee on Diversity and Inclusion and establishing the Special C