Ang Ladlad partylist was denied to run as such because of immorality. The Commission on Elections allowed plunderers, corrupt individuals and liars to run.  Now where is justice there? Where is democracy? Why not let the people decide?

Even Jesus does not discriminate.

Below is a repost from a fellow LGBT advocate, Anne Lim of Galang:

As we were savoring the last few hours of the work-free holiday season (in typical NGO fashion, i tuned out of work mode after december 19th as best as i could), lala and i saw this poster (see photos) in at least 2 street posts in katipunan avenue corner santolan. this poster was definitely a rude welcome to 2010. nothing jerks one from vacation mode as quickly as a poster that has the words “lesbian”, “gay”, “satan”, and “hell” all in one sentence and all within a stone’s throw away from the house i grew up in. like the haters during the pride march, this poster must energize us and remind us that we have our work cut out for us in the months to come. bigotry and religious fundamentalisms were alive and kicking even during the season of giving. to fellow believers in and advocates of human rights, let us stay focused and relentless in working for LGBT rights. the haters are getting bolder and ever closer to home.

Whenever I have the time, I watch Pinoy Big Brother Double Up because of Rica Paras. It’s like whenever I watch PBB, I feel a certain connection with her because she’s one one us (LGBT) and it just felt so good to see someone like her in Philippine mass media. I always became curious on how her housemates will treat her when they knew that she’s a transgender. It’s a given, probably, because of the kind of society we have right now.

I don’t believe that there are issues of her being incapable of working in a team. In fact, she has shown her leadership in some of the tasks and putting her in a bad light because she is a transgender is very wrong.

This reality show is somehow a mirror of Filipino culture and now you see right before your eyes on how one treats a transgender individual. It’s frustrating to know that this kind of behavior is being inculcated more in Philippine television. I hope Big Brother will intervene and teach the housemates who only proliferate transphobia. Just like what Big Brother did with the husband and wife couple there ( I forgot their names ) when someone pretended to be the husband of this girl. This task was to teach the real husband that having an affair outside marriage is heartbreaking especially when you see your wife in the arms of another man.

Below is the official statement of the Society of Transsexual Women of the Philippines (STRAP) where Rica Paras is a part of.

Official Statement of the Society of Transsexual Women of the Philippines (STRAP) on the recent happenings inside the Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) House involving Rica Paras.

“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”
–Anonymous

She-man. Mumu. Half-half. Samson and Delilah. These are just a few of the derogatory comments heard recently from PBB Double Up Housemates Rob Stumvol, Patrick Villanueva, Hermes Bautista, Mariel Sorino, Yuri Okawa and most especially Rocky Salumbides in referring to Rica Paras. We, her sisters in STRAP, join the rest of the world’s loyal audiences who watch PBB Double Up diligently in expressing our dismay, disappointment and disbelief in this blatant show of anti-transgender prejudice or transphobia. STRAP condemns to the highest degree this senseless bigotry and calls on Big Brother to intervene and put a stop to the hate happening right under his watchful eye.

Ever since Rica entered the PBB House, she has always carried herself well. She has never been a burden to her housemates but instead has proven to be an asset to them with her leadership skills, quick thinking and positive attitude. She has helped in household chores, shared her talents selflessly, related wholeheartedly with her housemates, and always contributed to the completion of tasks in the best way she could. The whole world knows that Rica has been nothing but a consistent team player, a shoulder to cry on, a loyal friend and a loving and reliable sister to all of her housemates.

We are therefore calling on all the housemates to STOP BASHING RICA for she has done nobody any harm. STOP DISREPECTING RICA for she has only treated all of them with grace and care. STOP DISPARAGING RICA for she is simply being herself. The asinine machismo being directed at her is the same kind of misogyny that leads to violence against women. The narrow-mindedness being displayed by some of the PBB Double Up housemates is the same kind of bias that leads to abuse, insensitivity and cruelty towards others. This is totally unacceptable behavior and must be stopped at all costs.

This has to stop if we believe in the equality of all persons. This has to stop if we want to create a world where the uniqueness of all is valued. This has to stop if we want to create a better world where kindness, compassion and respect reign, a world that upholds the inherent dignity of all. STOP TRANSPHOBIA SA BAHAY NI KUYA!

- Reposted from Sass Sasot

Despite the foregoing, however, this Petition is dismissible on moral grounds. Petitioner defines the Filipino Lesbian, Gay, Biseual and Transgender (LGBT) community, thus:

“xxx a marginalized and under-represented sector that is particularly disadvantaged because of their sexual orientation and gender identity.”

and proceeded to define sexual orientation as that which:

“xxx refer to a person’s capacity for profound emotional, affectional and sexual attraction to, and intimate and sexual relations with, individuals of a different gender, of the same gender or more than one gender.”.

This definition of the LGBT sector makes it crystal clear that petitioner tolerates immorality which offends religious beliefs.

And they used passages from the bible and Koran…

Now where is the separation of the church and the state??

I am furious on how COMELEC argued its way to reject Ang Ladlad from running as a party-list in Congress. COMELEC should’ve used the arguments using the Philippine Constitution. Our constitution is not the bible. Isn’t this an insult to our constitution? These COMELEC Commissioners, Nicodemo Ferrer, Lucienito Tagle, and Elias Yousoph exercised blatant bigotry and homophobic behaviour.

If you’re reading this and judging what my religious beliefs are, I’m sorry but this issue does not have anything to do with my religious beliefs. I would understand if they used logical arguments based on the constitution but using statements from the bible and koran?? Oh come on. The last time I checked, we are living in the 21st century not Medieval times. I remember during a debate class back in high school to never use religion in arguing, especially in debate, because there will never be a resolution of point of views.

I am waiting for the time when these Medieval thinkers in public service will retire and be replaced by progressive thinkers.

We, the LGBTs, need representation in Congress because we cannot expect other party-lists will help us. We appreciate the help of other party-lists such as Akbayan and Gabriela but they also have other agendas to do. If we have our own, it clearly represents the needs purely of the Filipino LGBTs.

You can view the Resolution of COMELEC released last November 11th here.

Here are some blogposts/articles written about this matter:

Rainbow Rights
Jonas Bagas
Risa Hontiveros

Anyway, I’ll leave you with a satirical note here posted by one of our sisters from STRAP, Sass Sasot:

My dear Commission on Elections (COMELEC) of the Philippines,

I wish to congratulate you for doing such an act of pure love and piousness when you upheld God’s Law in your decision regarding the petition of Ang Ladlad LGBT Political Party. Invoking Romans 1:26-27 was a brilliant idea! I feel so blessed that you guys are doing the job that the Constitution of the Philippines mandated you to do. And I feel so relieved that you guys are there to save my soul from being infected by the presence of a lesbian,gay, bisexual, and transgender political party in the 2010 elections.

I try to share the wisdom of your decision with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind him that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate.

I’m really convinced that you are very right. You know, just like you, I take the Bible seriously in a very literal way because the Bible is the word of God and God is definitely very clear in whatever He’s saying. However, I do need some advice from you regarding some God’s command in the Bible. I will deeply appreciate if you tell me how to best follow them:

a) When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odour for the Lord (Lev. 1:9). The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odour is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

b) I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exo. 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her? How much did you sell your daughters for? I’m really, really curious.

c) I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness (Lev. 15:19-24). The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense. Do you allow your female staff in COMELEC to work during their menstrual period?

d) Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this doesn’t apply to us, that only Chinese people can have us as slaves and not the other way around. Can you clarify? Why can’t I have a Chinese for a slave?

e) I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exo. 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself? Oh, am I allowed to kill President Arroyo when she works during the Sabbath? And, YES, am I allowed to kill you if I caught you working during the Sabbath?

f) A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination (Lev. 11:10), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don’t agree. Can you settle this? I know a lot of our political candidates eat selfish! O No! Please the 2010 Elections can’t be infested by them!

g) Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. A lot of political candidates are wearing glasses, a lot of our former Presidents wore glasses. Are they immoral too?

h) Most of our male political candidates get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev.19:27. Can we tolerate such immorality among our political candidates?

i) I know a political candidate who has a farm. I think he violates Lev. 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? (Lev.24:10-16) Couldn’t we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev.20:14)

j) A lot of Filipinas work as domestic helpers in other countries. A lot of them are beaten by their employers. Should I condemn their employers or should we just allow them to be beaten up as long as they can get up after a day or two as what Exo. 21:20-21 wants us to do: “If a man beats his male or female slave with a rod and the slave dies as a direct result, he must be punished, but he is not to be punished if the slave gets up after a day or two, since the slave is his property.”

k) Erap Estrada seems intent to run again as President. I just wonder whether you’ll approve his candidacy, specially that he is a well-known adulterer. The Bible say the punishment is death, why is he still alive? Is there something fishy going on?

l) Deut. 23:20 said that we shall not demand interest from our countrymen on a loan of money. Are our banks immoral? How should they be punished?

I know you guys have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help. I still have many questions but that’s all for now. Thank you again for reminding us that God’s word is eternal and unchanging.

Faithfully yours,
Juan de la Cruz

Their no-cross dressing policy is obviously discriminating the LGBT community. I understand that the bar has dress code rules. Cross dressing is far cry from the specific dress code rules. They can say they can’t allow this kind of clothing etc.

Aruba lets women who wear clothes that have very low necklines (almost revealing their boobs), thong slip-ons (which are technically slippers but with heels) and men who wear tight jeans almost bulging their balls. Why do they let them enter the premises? Because they wore gender-matched clothing not because of their strict dress code policy.

It is really time for the Anti-Discrimination Bill to be passed because we need to be protected from these kinds of discriminatory practices. We are not asking to have special rights, we just want to be treated as an ordinary citizen who has the capacity to spend a peso. We are not asking for same-sex marriages by pushing the Anti-Discrimination Law. A lot of law-makers make hasty generalizations that all the LGBT in the Philippines will be asking for same-sex marriages. YOU ARE DEFINITELY WRONG. I personally believe that this won’t happen in the near future. With how Filipinos treat the LGBT? Nahh, no way. Well, I respect the people who want that but I think that the most immediate thing to do is to pass the Anti Discrimination Bill. Yes, we already have the UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS but in our context here in the Philippines, it seems that we need a separate law that will protect specifically the LGBTs because a lot of people violate the prior.

I just hope that they will be taught a lesson. Boycott Aruba Bar!

Click here to read BB Gandanghari’s blog about it.

My partner and I were given VIP tickets by someone from San Miguel Beer the night before the Lovapalooza (Valentine’s Party Friday night in Ortigas). Since Pupil, one of my favorite bands will be performing, my partner and I decided to attend the event even though we will be coming from Taytay, Rizal in the afternoon and number 2, there will be lots of people there. It’s free anyway, so we went for it.

We came from Taytay to attend a press event for the opening of an events place there. Most of our time was spent travelling. Imagine, we left Sta. Mesa at 11:30 am, arrived there at 2:00 pm then stayed there for about an hour, left Taytay at 3:00 pm. Since we were given gift baskets by the organizer of the event, we decided to bring it home to Sta. Mesa first because it will be such a hassle bringing those big baskets to SM Mall of Asia. So we left Sta. Mesa at 6:45 pm and arrived at MOA around 7:30 pm. We can hear Bamboo performing so we decided to eat inside the concert venue itself since there will be food booths there for sure. Since we already have the VIP tickets, we headed straight to the entrance. The entrances are divided into 2: for couples and for singles. Since we are really a couple, we lined up at the couples entrance. WE WERE DENIED OF ENTRY BECAUSE ACCORDING TO THE LADY GUARD, WE ARE NOT A COUPLE. I asked why and she said that “DAPAT BABAE AT LALAKE” (Couple should be man and woman). WOW! This is outright DISCRIMINATION. Because she denied us on entering the couples area premises, we entered at the singles entrance. I observed that the gay/lesbian couples are in the singles area. It’s like, WHAT the F*CK??!!! Also, the decent food booths were are the couples area and Mcdo was the only thing in the Singles area. We are already hungry and would want something like TGI Fridays or something like that. Only heterosexual couples were allowed to go in and out of the couples area toward the singles area but not vice versa. If a same sex couple decides to buy something from the other side, one of them would have to go there alone. We were so upset so we decided to ditch the event and go to UCC which was at the second floor of the mall. It has a better view because it has a video wall, we were seated comfortably and most of all NO ONE WAS DISCRIMINATING US.

It’s very clear that the organizers of this “exclusively heterosexual” event is explicitly denying OUR EXISTENCE as human beings who like “THEM” express romantic love to one another. I hope that they change this kind of practice because they are only spreading homophobia, bigotry and most of all IGNORANCE. Sometimes you can’t blame some LGBTs for being heterophobic as well because of this kind of discrimination. They should learn some basic MANNERS. LEARN TO RESPECT SO THAT YOU WILL ALSO BE RESPECTED.