BUT, we have to accept the reality that labelling is needed to understand the world. In socialization of a child, for example, the parent has to define the difference between a man and a woman.

That is why some organizations / associations , especially known in the social science field, has to create statements to lessen the stigma hoping these will be “normalized” in society. The Psychological Association of the Philippines, reiterates that homosexuality is not a disease or an illness. The American Psychiatric Association and the others have already removed homosexuality in the list of their mental illnesses since the 1970′s.

Social Sciences arose because we want to understand our own behavior and the world we live in. Some say that in every generation, there is an accepted paradigm which becomes the “normal” belief. Like during the time of Michaelangelo, his works and philosophies were probably laughed at because he is not thinking within the current paradigm he was in. I guess that in every paradigm, there is someone leading or maneuvering how people think. This could be institutions in society that holds great power, i.e. media, religion, etc.

Anyway, enough with thinking too deep… I appreciate the support that PAP gave to the Philippine LGBT community. I believe that this will help us send the message to people who bullies and teases young kids who were perceived to be homosexuals. For the parents of our generation, I hope that this will help in socializing children in Philippine society.

Statement of the Psychological Association of the Philippines on Non-Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression

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 change 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 as fear, sadness, alienation, anger and internalized stigma (Hatzenbuehler, 2009; Meyer, 2003). This anti-LGBT prejudice and discrimination tend to be based on a rhetoric of moral condemnation and are fueled by ignorance or unfounded beliefs associating these gender expressions and sexual orientations with psychopathology or maladjustment.

However, decades of scientific research have led mental health professional organizations worldwide to conclude that lesbian, gay and bisexual orientations are normal variants of human sexuality.  These include: the American Psychiatric Association in 1973, the American Psychological Association in 1975, British Psychological Society, the Colombian Society of Psychology, Psychological Society of South Africa, the Australian Psychological Society, and the International Network on Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Concerns and Transgender Issues in Psychology, among others.

The Psychological Association of the Philippines (PAP) aligns itself with the global initiatives to remove the stigma of mental illness that has long been associated with diverse sexualities and to promote the wellbeing of LGBT people. Moreover, the PAP Code of Ethics (2010) is clear in its stance against discrimination. Filipino psychologists are called upon to recognize the unique worth and inherent dignity of all human beings; and to respect the diversity among persons and peoples (Principle I, a and b).  This means that Filipino psychologists should not discriminate against or demean persons based on actual or perceived differences in characteristics including gender identity and sexual orientation (Ethical Standard III-A and C; V-B.8).

In order to eliminate stigma, prejudice, discrimination and violence against LGBT, the PAP resolves to support efforts to:

•    oppose  all public and private discrimination on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity and expression;

•     repeal discriminatory laws and policies, and support the passage of legislation at the local and national levels that protect the rights and promote the welfare of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities and expressions;

•     eliminate all forms of prejudice and discrimination against LGBTs in teaching, research, psychological interventions, assessment and other psychological programs;

•    encourage psychological research that addresses the needs and concerns of LGBT Filipinos and their families and communities;

•     disseminate and apply accurate and evidence-based information about sexual orientation and gender identity and expression to design interventions that foster mental health and wellbeing of LGBT Filipinos.

References

American Psychiatric Association. (1973). Position statement on homosexuality and civil rights. American Journal of Psychiatry, 131; 497.

Anton, B.S. (2009). Proceedings of the American Psychological Association for the legislative year 2008: Minutes of the annual meeting of the Council of Representatives, February 22-24, 2008, Washington, DC, and August 13 and 17, 2008, Boston, MA, and minutes of the February, June, August, and December 2008 meetings of the Board of Directors. American Psychologist, 64; 372-453.

Conger, J.J. (1975). Proceedings of the American Psychological Association, Incorporated, for the year 1974: Minutes of the annual meeting of the Council of Representatives. American Psychologist, 30; 620-651.

Hatzenbuehler, M. L. (2009). How does sexual minority stigma “get under the skin”? A psychological mediation framework. Psychological Bulletin, 135; 707-730.

International Network for Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Concerns and Transgender Issues in Psychology (2001). Sexual orientation and mental health: Toward global perspectives on practice and policy. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/pi/lgbt/resources/international-meeting.pdf

Meyer, I. H. (2003).Prejudice, social stress, and mental health in lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations: Conceptual issues and research evidence. Psychological Bulletin, 129; 674-697.

Psychological Association of the Philippines Scientific and Professional Ethics Committee. (2010). Code of Ethics for Philippine Psychologists. Philippine Journal of Psychology, 43; 195-217.

from the website of Psychological Association of the Philippines http://www.pap.org.ph/

Aside from the speech delivered by the Ambassador, we were made to watch the speeches of President Barrack Obama and US State Sec. Hillary Clinton (of course, they couldn’t grace the event ) showing their support for the It Gets Better Project for LGBT Youth (and perceived as gay or lesbian). Even though we live in a different nation, I believe that we have common struggles and one of which is bullying. This suddenly made me think of my adolescent years.

We’ve heard of stories on young gay boys or are perceived to be gay being bullied in all-male schools. We’ve even heard some schools (usually Catholic all-male schools) giving “pink slips” to students who are perceived to be gay – a “sanction” given to those who do not behave like masculine boys. I studied in a Catholic school for girls and during my stay there, I didn’t hear any type of slip pertaining to sanctioning girls behaving like boys. My hypothesis, and I think others as well, is the traditional machismo culture still prevails in some all-male schools.

Quoting President Obama’s speech:

You are not alone.  You didn’t do anything wrong.  You didn’t do anything to deserve being bullied.  And there is a whole world waiting for you, filled with possibilities. There are people out there who love you and care about you just the way you are. And so, if you ever feel like because of bullying, because of what people are saying, that you’re getting down on yourself, you’ve got to make sure to reach out to people you trust. Whether it’s your parents, teachers, folks that you know care about you just the way you are. You’ve got to reach out to them,  don’t feel like you’re in this by yourself.

(You can view the entire transcript here)

The keywords are YOU ARE NOT ALONE and REACH OUT.

The family should be the first people who the youth should reach out. What if parents are not open about homosexuality, which is very common in Philippine society? Now this is where problem starts. No need to worry LGBT youth, there are support groups in the Philippines where you can find PLUs (People Like Us). We can’t get absolute acceptance from everybody but at least let someone help you make it better. Remember kids, appreciate simple things. It will help you feel better.

Atty. Christine Sun

In another news, I am glad that the Philippine US Embassy is shedding some light on what the US does in terms of LGBT issues. Weeks before the reception, they brought in Atty. Christine Sun, a gay rights lawyer from ACLU. She had a separate round-table discussions with the media and LGBT groups here in Manila and in other parts of the Philippines. It was enlightening to speak with Christine on the present and past cases she worked on and at the same time we gave her a picture on the situation of the LGBTs here in the Philippines and of course the Anti-Discrimination Bill, Reproductive Health Bill and many others.

Lastly, some photo ops during the LGBT reception

With Boy Abunda

With US Ambassador Harry Thomas

I stumbled upon this article from GMA News Tv about having additional public toilets exclusively for the use of LGBTs. Leo Martinez’s party list group, Alyansa ng Media at Showbiz Inc, pushes that gays and lesbians should have their own toilets with labels “gay male” and “gay female” on it because they experience discrimination whenever they use the usual male and female toilets.

Yes, I agree that discrimination happens whenever a member of the LGBT go inside the usual male and female toilets because of the physical manifestation that they don’t belong there BUT I don’t think that having “gay toilets”, as their group wants to call it, is the solution to eradicate discrimation. I believe that having one only creates separatism to the heterosexual world. The LGBT right that I pursue is the one that will make us LGBTs live harmoniously with the dominant heterosexual world. We need to let heterosexuals not see us as individuals that need special treatments such as this but we want to live in a world wherein gender and sexuality will not matter. We wanted to live in a world wherein our own strengths and capacities will be recognized not because we are LGBTs but because we are human.

It is the mindset of the people that we need to change and not by adding “gay toilets”. Building physical structures won’t change anything. There will still be homophobia. There  will be discrimination.

Thanks Mr. Martinez and to the people involved with Alyansa ng Media at Showbiz for thinking about LGBT rights. We need to attack the root of the problem and not be contented in solving the problem from the surface.

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