Equality Philippines

You only have one life to live, wouldn't you want to spend it the way you've always pictured it in your head? Ever since moving to Manila on the last week of November, I had always set my mind to be working at a well known call center company in Makati and earn what I needed to suffice my plans of studying at a beauty school in Makati as well. I've strived hard during the interview, showed my best, and presented myself in a way where I'd exude the personality of someone who can make big changes. Luckily enough, not only did I get the job, but during the three levels of training, I made it through with flying colors as I was one of the top trainees in my wave. So there I was, minutes from hitting the production floor. My nerves were getting the best of me, my anxiety was consuming all the energy I had, but somehow I had to toughen up. This was what I've always fought for, and this simply wasn't the time to give up. My team was one of a kind. All sorts of personal...

More videos will be posted as soon as possible. Please enjoy the Opening Video from this year's Miss Gay of the Universe: held 2 January 2010, San Nicolas, I.N. Rainbow Bloggers Philippines own Yffar was an honored judge this year.

Boom! Ilang oras na lang at 2010 na! Sana sa bagong taong darating ay magkakaroon na tayo ng isang tunay na KALAYAAN! Isang kalayaang pumili ng mga tamang ihahalal sa gobyerno! Isang kalayaan na siyang magsasawata ng korupsyon sa bawat sangay ng ating pamahalaan! Isang kalayaang susupil sa mga taong patuloy na gumagawa ng karahasan! Isang kalayaan na siyang aagapay tungo sa ating tagumpay! Isang kalayaan na magkakalas ng posas sa kamay ng kahirapan! Isang kalayaan na may lakas para harangan ang mga anay ng ating Inang Bayan! Isang kalayaan tungo sa isang pantay na karapatang mamuhay ng tunay na malaya! Isang kalayaan na siyang magbibigkis ng bawat isang Pilipino tungo sa isang mapayapa, masagana at maunlad na Pilipinas! Manigong Bagong Taon!

May this season bring us all joy, love and peace!!!

On Monday afternoon, 14 December 2009, I along with three other STRAP members went to the House of Representatives (see pic above). The Lower House was in joint session with the Senate that day to deliberate on the President's Martial Law declaration in Maguindanao following the now infamous massacre there orchestrated by the powerful Ampatuan clan, said to be very close to the President. The Maguindanao massacre where almost 60 people were murdered in broad daylight including women, journalists and innocent passerby, is now being touted as the defining moment of the morally bankrupt rule of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA). It trumps the other scandals that rocked her administration including the corruption allegations regarding the building of the Macapagal highway , named after her father, the Hello Garci scandal , the ZTE scandal and so many others. While we have rallied against GMA, it was not because of her that we were in Congress last Monday. We were there to have a brief a...

“Opposing grave human rights violations on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity” ECOSOC Chamber, United Nations Headquarters, New York Thursday, December 10th 2009 at 1.15 p.m. – 2.45 p.m Let me begin by expressing my warmest gratitude to the Permanent Missions to the United Nations of Argentina, Brazil, Croatia, France, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden, and to the coalition of non-government organizations defending the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. Thank you for making this event possible and for giving us this opportunity to contribute our voices to this ongoing conversation for change. Our esteemed participants, beautiful beings, and profound expressions of this Universe, a warm, vibrant, and dignified afternoon to each and every one of you! Burned at stake. Strangled and hanged. Raped and shot and stabbed to death. Throats slashed. Left to bleed to death. These are just some of the ways transgender people were killed in different parts o...

This afternoon, Inquirer.net published this article which totally shook me: Solon seeks to criminalize same sex union By Lira Dalangin-Fernandez INQUIRER.net First Posted 12:35:00 12/08/2009 Filed Under: Laws , Congress , Politics , Gender Issues MANILA, Philippines--Describing it as “highly immoral, scandalous and detestable,” a lawmaker on Monday called for the criminalization of gay marriage . In proposing House Bill 6919, Manila Representative Bienvenido Abante Jr. said same sex union “would snap the remaining strand of our moral values.” Abante, a pastor and chairman of the public information committee, said there is no specific provision yet in the Revised Penal Code penalizing persons who enter in same sex marriage or those who solemnize the marriage. “While there is no documented same sex marriage yet in our country, the absence of clear legislation serves as an invitation to same sex marriage,” he said. ...

Miss Gay of the Universe 2010 pageant to be held 2 January 2010 at 8PM in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte. FE Marcos Mini Cultural & Sports Complex (aka the Plaza). Miss Gay of the Universe 2010 will be held in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte this year on 2 January 2010 at 8 PM at the F.E. Marcos Mini Cultural & Sports Complex (aka the Plaza). Here is a clip of last year's Miss Gay of the Universe: Last year, it was well attended -- the audience had over 4,000 people from around the Ilocos region. It was an entertaining and enjoyable event. It was professional. It began on time and ended on time. The judges were impartial and objective and the best, competitive candidate won. The cash prizes were substantial. The final question was: "Krinitiko si Santo Papa sa pagsasabing mga bakla ay danger sa lupa katulad ng global warming. Naniniwala ka ba o hindi?" (in response to this story ) The answers were thoughtful and entertaining and a timely discussion on matters important to gay...

Below is a news article that appeared on Inquirer.net on the day before the March. Enjoy! Gays, lesbians to hold ‘Pride March’ in Manila Friday, 04 December 2009 11:59 Abigail Kwok/Inquirer.net MANILA - Members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community are set to hold a colorful parade Saturday to promote equal rights for all genders in the Philippines. The march is also meant to protest the Commission on Election’s decision rejecting the party-list bid of gay and lesbian group “Ang Ladlad”. This year’s theme, “We Dare. We Care,” signifies the LGBT community’s proactive stance in addressing the human rights issues confronting the sector, according to Great Ancheta, head coordinator of Task Force Pride (TFP) Philippines 2009. “We shall no longer be complacent. We dare to remind the Philippine government and the rest of society that we have an obligation under international human rights law to promote and protect the rights and well-being of all people, including L...

ATENEO de Manila University Professor and gay rights activist Danton Remoto filed his certificate of candidacy (CoC) yesterday, December 1, 2009 as senator at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in Manila. “I filed my candidacy because we need to inaugurate a new moon in Philippine politics. Kailangan natin ‘yung hindi trapo at hindi dinastiyang politika,” He enthused. Remoto who is the chairman of Ang Ladlad, the national organization of Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Filipinos also filed the groups manifestation of intent to participate in 2010 polls. Ang Ladlad was denied Party-list accreditation by the 2nd division on the grounds that gays are immoral which creates major outcry from the LGBT community in the Philippines and abroad. Remoto is running as an independent candidate but he is open to alliances by any of the political parties which will not ignore the more than four million LGBT voters in the country. “I’m running to win but I’m still open to coali...

...before Pride (see poster below)! See you there!

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 (Ghost). 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 condem...

I think the picture says it all ...

Dear all, Tomorrow is a chance for all of us to come together in a show of force and unity. Tomorrow is the planned protest against the COMELEC decision on TLBG people, that the COMELEC accuses of deceit, immorality and corrupting minors. It is time to stand up and reclaim our dignity. Let us not permit the COMELEC to spread lies, trample on our rights and persecute us. If you believe in TLBG equality and empowerment (protected no less by the Philippine Constitution), join the rally (see the poster below). Immorally yours, PinayTG

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As citizen and Senator of the Republic, I question the recent rejection of Ang Ladlad Party to be a duly registered sectoral party by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) because of allegations of ‘immorality.’ The Comelec invoked passages from the Holy Bible and the sacred Qu’ran to justify their decision on Ang Ladlad’s petition for party registration. The Republic of the Philippines is a secular state, and as such, we must ensure the clear separation of church and state in our civil and political affairs, as enshrined in the Philippine Constitution, Article II, Section 6. Invoking justifications from sacred texts should not stand in the way of our secular and liberal democratic principles and the rights for political representation of all well-meaning Filipino citizens. Every Filipino, regardless of sexual orientation, can exercise the fundamental right to be represented in the country’s political affairs, including the right to run for public office as political parties and indivi...

"The doctrine of the separation of the Church and State was not enunciated by a king or a president, or by a pope or a bishop, but by our Lord Jesus Himself. While our Lord was still in this world, there were those who wanted to show Him up as a false prophet, so they went to Him and asked whether they should pay the taxes demanded by the Roman government or not. Thereupon Jesus asked them to and Him a coin; upon receiving it, He asked them whose face was it that appeared on the coinl and they answered it was Caesar's. Jesus then said: "Render unto Caeser what is Caesar's and unto God what is God's." [Matt 22:15-22, Mark 12:13-17; Luke 20:20-26] (President Manuel L. Quezon at the Luneta, Manila 17 July 1938) For even more analysis of this issue, visit Sampaloc Toc's Render onto Comelec blog .

Rainbow Rights Project, Rainbow Radio Pilipinas and Task Force Pride bring you RRRomance! The Rainbow Radio Pilipinas Launch Nov. 20, Friday, 8pm BED Bar Malate with performances by: Pow Chavez Kooky Tuason SPIT Alden Copuyoc + other surprise guests and performers Prizes and Surprises await the luck Rainbow Radio Romancers! No entrance fee before midnight (Just buy you first drink to gain entrance) For more info, visit: www.rainbowrightsproject.org Supported by: BED Bar Malate Lunduyan ng Sining Vitalstrats Creative Solutions

Appreciating the wisdom of the Commission on Elections regarding the accreditation of Ang Ladlad LGBT Political Party List 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 lesiban,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 kno...

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has just denied the petition for accreditation of Ang Ladlad Partylist to be able to take part in the 2010 elections and represent Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Filipinos in Congress. The COMELEC, in its 7-page decision, claims that Ang Ladlad advocates sexual immorality and thus the COMELEC is protecting the youth from “moral and spiritual degradation” by denying Ang Ladlad’s petition. In light of this COMELEC decision, Ang Ladlad is calling all its members, allies, friends and supporters to a general assembly on 14 November 2009, Saturday, 9am-12nn at the Seminar Room 108 of the University Hotel, UP Diliman . For directions, call the University Hotel at landline 926.1975/926.1953 or mobile 0920.471.0111. It’s time to get up and stand up for our rights!