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).
Marriage for Same-Sex Couples
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Civil Unions
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Joint Adoption
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Second Parent Adoption
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Employment Nondiscrimination Laws
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Broad Protections
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Criminalization of Violence
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Ban of Conversion Therapy
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Local Anti-Discrimination Ordinances
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National Anti-Discrimination Ordinances
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Anti-Bullying Laws*
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*sexual orientation/gender identity included as prohibited grounds for bullying/harassment
Consensual Same-Sex Acts are Legal?
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Gender
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Max Penalty (Yrs in Prison)
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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