Homosexuality in the Philippines

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In the Philippines, the term gay has been used loosely to include homosexuals, bisexuals, transsexuals, crossdressers, and effeminate men. Filipino gays are mostly stereotyped as effeminate, crossdressers, hairdressers, camp and ridiculed. Bakla or Bading, a derogatory Filipino word for gay, is commonly used; tomboy has a similar function, and refers to lesbians, usually of the butch and masculine type. For Filipino gays, the Tagalog phrase "paglaladlad ng kapa" (literally means "unfurling the cape") refers to the coming-out process. Although gays and lesbians are generally tolerated within Philippine society, there are still widespread cases of discrimination.

The Filipino gays find the backward economy a cramp to their style. Many of them are unable to leave home and even among those who can, many usually feel they have to support their extended families. In turn, parents who beat up their gay kids later on grudgingly tolerate the grown-up breadwinner who can pay the bills. It's a paradox with two realities, making it hard for observers to really pinpoint if Filipino society really accepts or still rejects having gays in the family. [1]

Gays in the Philippines fall into two categories:

1. Effeminate gays or Effems- These include effeminate men, crossdressers and transsexuals, who may use make-up and dress in women's clothes. They tend to be concentrated in certain professions such as working in beauty parlors (thus the term parlorista) and in the fashion and showbiz industry as directors, writers, comedians and talk show hosts. Some work as entertainers, and a growing number work in Japan as female impersonators. Many of these gays tend to prefer heterosexual men as sexual partners. The motivation for these heterosexual men having relations with these gays is usually financial and there is little emotional involvement in the relationship. Effeminate gays are referred to colloquially as "pa-girl", “malambot”, or "Boyet", which is a commonly used nickname for effeminate gays, while heterosexual men who are in relationship with gays are often referred to as "papa/fafa".

2. Straight-acting gays or Discreet - This population is found more in urban areas. These men are not effeminate and will not use make-up or cross-dress. They are found outside of the stereotyped gay professions. Sexual preferences vary with some willing to have sex with other Straight-acting gays while others will prefer straight men. Many also self-identify as bisexual, even if they only have sex with men, bisexual having been redefined locally to mean straight-acting. Those who belong in this group often discriminate against the effeminate gays accusing them of propagating negative stereotypes of the "screaming faggot." Straight-acting gays are called “pa-mhin” or “paminta” in Manila and “maya” in Visayas and Mindanao.

Contents

[edit] Society

[edit] Gay Lingo

Swardspeak is a vernacular language derived from Englog and is used by gay Filipinos. It uses elements from Tagalog, English, and Spanish, giving them new meanings in the context of this unique language. A unique trait of swardspeak is that it immediately identifies the speaker as homosexual, making it easy for people of that orientation to signal to each other in a place where such tendencies are not easy to display (ie in the Philippines). This creates an exclusive world among its speakers and helps them to resist cultural assimilation.

By using swardspeak, Filipino gay men are able to resist the dominant culture of their area and create a space of their own. The language is constantly changing, with old phrases becoming obsolete and new phrases frequently entering everyday usage, reflecting changes in their culture and also maintaining exclusivity. The dynamic nature of the language refuses to cement itself in single culture and allows for more freedom in expression among its speakers. Words and phrases can be created out of reaction to popular trends and create alternatives to a strictly defined lifestyle. By these characteristics, swardspeak creates a dissident group without any ties to geographical, linguistic, or cultural restrictions, allowing its speakers to shape the language as appropriate to the times. In this way, the language is "mobile", and is simultaneously part of a larger community but also open to more specific or local meanings.

Examples with Tagalog and English definitions:

Swardspeak Tagalog English
andalu pera money
anik ano what
antiobiotic antipatika bitch
award pinagalitan scolded
balaj balahura shameless
carry sige alright
chaka pangit ugly
charing nagbibiro lang just kidding
chanda romero tiyan tummy
chika tsismis gossip/small talk
chiminey cricket chimay maid
chuva chismis gossip
clasmarurut kaklase classmate
cynthia luster hindi kilala unknown
crayola iyak cry
dakota malaki huge
emote mag-inarte overreact
espluk magpaliwanag explain
fez mukha face
freestyle hina umintindi dumb
gelli de belen magselos get jealous
imbey imbyerna freak out
in fairness pampalubag loob to console
in fairview pampalubag loob to console
jolina magdangal nahuli caught in the act
jubis taba fat
jutay maliit small
kangkang pagtatalik sex
kaplang mali mistake
karir seryosohin to take seriously
lafang kain eat
lapel malakas ang boses loud voice
liberty libre freeload
lupita kashiwahara malupit cruel
lucresia kasilag baliw crazy
mahalia jackson mahal expensive
morayta mura cheap
mudra ina mother
okray laitin to trash someone
pagoda cold wave lotion pagod tired
papable masarap boyfriend material
plangak tumpak precisely
purita kalaw walang pera broke
rica peralejo mayaman rich
tarush taray bitchy
sininguelas sino who
thundercats matanda old people
tommy lee jones gutom hungry
warla away altercation
wiz wala nothing

[edit] Gay Village

Manila's Malate District, is known as the "gay district". It is here where the Gay Pride Parade is held every July.

[edit] Filipino GLBT Organizations

ProGay
gay rights organization (Metro Manila)

UP Babaylan

UP Babaylan is the only active LGBT organization of the University of the Philippines
LAGABLAB
the Lesbian and Gay Legislative Advocacy Network
Can’t Live in the Closet
lesbian activist group (Metro Manila)
IWAG
gay social support group (Davao City)
GAHUM
gay support and advocacy (Cebu City)
STRAP
Society of Transsexual WOMEN of the Philippines(Metro Manila)
Order of St. Aelred
spiritual gay center (Metro Manila)
Metropolitan Community Church Philippines
a positive ministry for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities in the Phils., a local church of UFMCC; the first pro-glbt church in the world, the first church to hold same sex holy unions in the Philippines

[edit] List of Famous LGBT people in the Philippines

Hair stylists/make up artists
Ricky Reyes (Philantropist), Jun Encarnacion, Fanny Serrano, Bambi Fuentes, James Cooper
Directors
Jose Javier Reyes, Lino Brocka, Joel Lamangan, Mel Chionglo, Soxy Topacio, Brillante "Dante" Mendoza, Ishmael Bernal, Elwood Perez, Cloyd Robinson, Maryo J. de los Reyes
Actors/Comedians
Allan K., Rustom Padilla, Robby Tarroza, Ogie Diaz, Diego, Chokoleit, Teri Onor, Ate Gay, Renee "Ate Glow" Reyes, Manny Castañeda, Terry (Yes yes show), John Lapus, Jovit Moya, Joed Serrano,
TV/Radio Hosts
Boy Abunda, Arnell Ignacio, IC Mendoza, Tita Swarding, Eagle Riggs, Jobert Sucaldito, Lhar Santiago, Giovanni Calvo, German Moreno
Singers and Musicians
Aiza Seguerra, Anton Diva, Michael Cruz, Paula "Pow" Chavez
Fashion Designers
Renee Salud, Pitoy Moreno, Eddie Badeo, Inno Sotto, Ben Farrales, Rajo Laurel
Journalists/Writers;
Ricky Lo, Alfie Lorenzo, Rey Pumaloy, Danton Remoto, Ricky Lee, J. Neil García
Others
Walterina Markova (Comfort Gay), Justo Justo (Former Pasay City Councillor), Ruvic Rea (first Transsexual elected official Tayabas, Quezon), Tim Yap, Alfonso Villacorta Alvarez (Cebu Disc Jockey).

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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