Philippines, LGBT-friendly: Fact or Fallacy?

By Josh Cabal & Roni Cabrito

Salot sa lipunan. Ugat ng kahalayan. Ligaw na kabataan. Kahihiyan sa angkan. These are just some Tagalog derogatory terms used to refer to people whose identities, behaviors, and interests differ from what's considered normal for their biological sex. We are talking about the LGBT people.

In spite of the fact that sex and gender are often used interchangeably, they’re not the same thing. Sex refers to a person's biological characteristics while gender is how you see yourself. If your biological sex does not align with the way you see yourself as, you are classified as transgender. Regardless, these people are human beings born free and bestowed with equality and dignity. Be that as it may, their human rights are still denied. There’s not a hint of doubt that numerous LGBT people are still detested and discriminated against.

In present time, the Philippines has gained recognition for being one of the most "gay-friendly" country in the whole world. But what classifies an LGBT friendly country? If the places, policies, individuals and institutions are cordial to members of the LGBT community and create an environment that is supportive of gay people and their relationships.

In the 1990s, gay activism had been evident in the nation, such as the Metro Manila Pride back in 1994. Up-to-date, they continue to gain support and raise community awareness, which lead to the present Manila Pride 2016, where they had an astounding 5000 active supporters.

Another imperative point is that if we compare the Philippines to other countries, our nation state is more subdued and conceding with their treatment of the LGBT community. Bearing in mind that in a number of countries, LGBT youth and supporters are beaten, tortured, abused, kidnapped, face life-long imprisonment, blinded or stoned to death. There’s even a law against gay people. On the contrary, these types of treatment in disparity with ours are more ruthlessly cruel and dare I say barbaric.

Correspondingly, in accordance with the survey conducted by US-based Pew Research Center, the Philippines had a high percentage score in terms of acceptance of homosexuals. Our score even ranked higher than the USA's where gay marriage is legal.

All the same, there is no denying the fact that to this day, LGBT Filipinos are violated by pervasive acts of bigotry that infringes on their fundamental rights. For the LGBT residing in homophobic countries, they’re living a nightmare. These people have to endure this on a daily basis. And if you think for a moment that this brutality doesn't happen in the Philippines, you are wrong.

According to the Philippine LGBT Hate Crime Watch, there have been already 164 LGBT-related killings in the Philippines from 1996 to June 2012. These victims weren't just killed. They suffered horrible deaths; these poor Filipinos were tortured, suffocated, dismembered, burnt alive, raped, shot or stabbed to death. While it may seem that the Philippines appears to be gay-friendly, the same research center stated that, “65% of Filipinos stated that homosexuality was immoral.”

As a matter of fact, there are no laws against criminalizing homosexual acts, but there are also no laws protecting gay people from prejudice. Even the basic Anti-Discrimination Act remains pending in the Congress.

A point that is often overlooked is that there is an obvious difference between "accept" and "tolerate". There are only stereotypes that LGBT people are expected to fit in, like being effeminate male comedians or lesbian security guards. If gays work in the army or become a part of the basketball varsity team, it would be an entirely different story. "The moment that we step out and demand rights that heterosexuals enjoy, we become a threat because we no longer fit the stereotype," says Ron De Vera of the IDAHO Manila Network.

As has been noted, in our honest opinion, we believe that the title "most LGBT friendly country" should not be taken at face value. How could a country be labeled as the most gay-friendly country in Asia when there are hundreds of LGBT being harassed, abused and killed? How can we when there are politicians who proclaim that gays are worse than animals? If we truly wish to embody and live up to that "name", we still have a long way to go.

They say ignorance is bliss, but if that ignorance comes with a cost, and that cost is life, would you still be able to live your life while staying apathetic to your surroundings? Would you still be able to call yourself human? Instead of avoiding the topic, it is better to educate people and confront it directly to put the matter in perspective. We believe that it is necessary and relevant for all people to recognize and become involved with the existence of LGBT people no matter how small in quantity they are. They are of all races, all ages, all religions; they are children, siblings, partners, teachers, workers, citizens, and whether you know it or accept it, they are family, friends, and neighbors.