Philippines

Demographics

Estimated Total Population:

106.6 million

World Bank, 2018

Estimated SGM Population:

N/A

N/A

Estimated Total SGM Adult Population:

N/A

N/A

Estimated % of SGM Adults (18+):

N/A

N/A

The Philippines has been regarded as one of the friendliest countries in Asia for sexual and gender minorities (SGM). Despite a degree of public acceptance towards people who identify as LGBTQ+, this community still faces discrimination, stigma, biases, and police scrutiny, even though same-sex consensual acts are not illegal in the country. Data estimating the SGM population in the Philippines does not exist, but in a 2016 survey, over 61% of Filipino respondents reported personally knowing someone who identifies as lesbian, gay, or bisexual (Staistica, 2016). In the same survey, only 25% of respondents supported legalizing same-sex marriage in the Philippines (Statistica, 2016).

Philippines' Laws and Policies from ILGA World Report (2019)

RECOGNITION
Marriage for Same-Sex Couples
No
Civil Unions
No
Joint Adoption
No
Second Parent Adoption
No
PROTECTION
Employment Nondiscrimination Laws
No
Broad Protections
No
Criminalization of Violence
No
Ban of Conversion Therapy
No
Local Anti-Discrimination Ordinances
Yes
National Anti-Discrimination Ordinances
No
Anti-Bullying Laws*
Yes

*sexual orientation/gender identity included as prohibited grounds for bullying/harassment

CRIMINALIZATION
Consensual Same-Sex Acts are Legal?
Yes
Gender
Does Not Apply
Max Penalty (Yrs in Prison)
Does Not Apply

Selected Published Studies, Reports, and Other Documents

Published Studies:

Bautista, A. D., Pacayra, E. E., Sunico-Quesada, C. R., Reyes, M. E. S., & Davis, R. D. (2017). The Fizzling Effect: A Phenomenological Study on Suicidality Among Filipino Lesbian Women and Gay Men. Psychological Studies, 62(3), 334–343. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12646-017-0411-0

Reyes, Marc Eric & Davis, R.D. & Abella, N.M.A.C. & Vera, R.V.C. & Go, B.K.V. & Abello, R.M.R. & Morales, K.A.C.. (2018). Mental health status and attitudes toward aging of lesbian and gay Filipino older adults. North American Journal of Psychology. 20. 211-222.

Tang, X., & Poudel, A. N. (2018). Exploring challenges and problems faced by LGBT students in Philippines: A qualitative study. Journal of Public Health Policy and Planning, 2(3). https://www.alliedacademies.org/abstract/exploring-challenges-and-problems-faced-by-lgbt-students-in-philippines-a-qualitative-study-10855.html

Reports:

Promoting and Protecting Human Rights: Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Sex Characteristics | Asia Pacific Forum. (n.d.). Retrieved May 31, 2020, from https://www.asiapacificforum.net/resources/manual-sogi-and-sex-charactersitics/

UNDP, USAID (2014). Being LGBT in Asia: The Philippines Country Report. Bangkok.(2016). Addressing Police Abuse Toward LGBTI People in the Philippines[Text]. OutRight Action International. https://outrightinternational.org/content/addressing-police-abuse-toward-lgbti-people-philippines

UNDP, Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines (2018). Legal Gender Recognition in the Philippines: A Legal and Policy Review.

Articles:

David, E., & Cruz, C.J.P. (2018). Deaf Turns, Beki Turns, Transformations: Toward New Forms of Deaf Queer Sociality.Feminist Formations30(1), 91-116. doi:10.1353/ff.2018.0005.

David, J. (2019). Di/Visibility: Marks of bisexuality in philippine cinema. Journal of Bisexuality, 19(3), 440-454. doi:10.1080/15299716.2019.1656474

Ong, J. C. (2017). Queer cosmopolitanism in the disaster zone: ‘My Grindr became the United Nations’ -Jonathan Corpus Ong, 2017. International Communication Gazette. https://journals-sagepub-com.proxy.lib.duke.edu/doi/10.1177/1748048517727177