Is the Philippines really gayfriendly?

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BUENA BERNAL

POSTED ON 06/14/2013 1:56 AM | UPDATED 06/16/2013 2:33 PM

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BUENA BERNAL

Last Saturday, June 8, the Inquirer published an article tagging the Philippines as
among [the] most gay-friendly in the world based on a global survey by the Pew
Research Center.
"The Philippines has earned its ranking as one of few gay-friendly countries in the
world," the article's lead read.
The Pew Research Center survey was released on June 4 and showed 73% of the 804
Filipino respondents are of the opinion that homosexuality should be accepted by
society. 26% felt otherwise, and 1% refused to answer.

I posit that gay-friendly in this case, is a misnomer. Even conceding the best-case
scenario that our nation is indeed gay-friendly, I would argue that this friendship is
superficial.
Not the actual situation
Survey respondents were answering a basic question: Should society accept
homosexuality?
They were not asked about their subjective assessment of current conditions but rather
about their subjective view on what the ideal condition must be. It was a measure of
social inclination more than a caricature of the actual situation.
For instance, people who believe that "homosexuality SHOULD BE accepted by
society" may not necessarily agree that "homosexuality IS accepted by society."
The distinction is important. "Should" implies a prescription, while "is" implies a
description.
A quick scan of the Pew Research Center's website shows that the June 4 report is part
of an umbrella project called "Global Attitudes Project."
Unfortunately, certain civil rights currently denied to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,
Transgender (LGBT) individuals in the country cannot be granted on the basis of "social
attitudes" but through legislation.
Social will vs political will
Globally, the survey found out that the centrality of religion in people's lives is a negative
correlate of homosexual acceptance (see graph below). The more important religion is
for the country, the less tolerance it exhibited.
Interestingly, the Philippines runs against the global trend. Acting as the strongest
outlier in the sampled regions, our country registered an above 50% tolerance rate
despite a high level of religiosity.

Screengrab from www.pewglobal.org

Being the world's statistical anomaly may lead others to think we have "empowered"
LGBTs. However, the survey points to an utterly deplorable discrepancy between the
will of the people and the policies instituted by government.
There is already social will to accept homosexuality as a valid lifestyle choice. However,
there remains a legal vacuum in the protection of LGBTs against hate-motivated
violence and discrimination.
The Anti-Racial, Ethnic and Anti-Religious Discrimination Act of 2011 is yet to pass.
While its passage is long overdue, some legislators want to strike down the provisions
in the bill meant for LGBTs.
According to data collated by the Philippine LGBT Hate Crime Watch, there have been
around 164 cases of murdered LGBTs in the country from 1996 to June 2012.
(READ: LGBTs push for end to hate crimes)

Because of the lack of investigative and identification mechanisms by the government,

LGBT rights advocates depend solely on independent reports which are but a glimpse
of the real situation of gender-related hate crime incidence in the country.
Ron De Vera of the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia
(IDAHO) Manila Network previously explained that it is the fear of the unknown and
ignorance on the science behind LGBT that leads to prejudice, which breeds hate and
violence.
In addition, other countries surveyed in the July 4 report include conservative Islamic
states that practice the Shariah law. As we don't systematically prosecute gays on the
basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, we are definitely high above the
tolerance scale compared to these countries. Although there are graver practices
elsewhere in the world, not beheading someone is certainly not a display of acceptance.
Acceptable stereotypes
De Vera also said the results of the survey should be taken "with a grain of salt, adding
they represent a certain brand of deceptive acceptance. De Vera is the spokesperson
of the IDAHO Manila Network.
Philippines has a peculiar relationship with LGBT people, he said. Majority of
Philippine society has typified LGBT people as creative, talented, loud entertainers who
are expected to stay in their neat little boxes stereotypes that LGBT people are
expected to conform to.
De Vera said that while the stereotypical butch lesbian security guards and effeminate
male comedians are accepted, an effeminate gay male wanting to join the nations
premier basketball association would be a totally different story.
The moment that we step out and demand rights that heterosexuals enjoy, we become
a threat because we no longer fit the stereotype, he added.

MOVEMENT. Pro-LGBT groups protest against the tagging of LGBTs as part of the "culture of death".
File photo by Rappler/Buena Bernal

Why pride?
June is the worlds Gay Pride month. CNN Contributor LZ Granderson makes a
compelling case on why there isnt a Straight Pride month.
Because the streets are not filled with children who have been kicked out of their
homes for being straight. Because there seems to be a lack of stories in which someone
has been beaten, tied to a fence and left to die or shot in the face at point blank range
because they were straight, he wrote.
In the latter part, Granderson was pertaining to a May incident when a gunman uttered
homophobic slurs before firing one fatal shot to the victim's face.
Granderson acknowledged in his piece how "the celebratory nature of Gay Pride
parades" have been "integral" to their "survival."
CNN Anchor Anderson Cooper also put the issue of pride at the core of the movement
when he saidthe tide of history only advances when people make themselves fully
visible. (READ: Anderson Cooper: "The fact is I'm gay")

As a public figure, Cooper asserted that remaining silent about his sexual orientation
might have unintended outcomes such as creating a false impression that he is
uncomfortable, ashamed or even afraid, which is "simply not true."
"In a perfect world, he said, I don't think it's anyone's business, but I do think there's
value in standing up and being counted.
Small steps
While an anti-discrimination law is yet to pass in Congress, De Vera said there are antidiscrimination ordinances that have been passed in the following Philippine cities since
May of last year: Bacolod (April 2012), Cebu (October 2012), Davao (November 2012),
and, most recently, Angeles (February 2013). He added that the anti gender-based
violence ordinance of Quezon City was extended to LGBT people in October 2012.
There are also existing partnerships between pro-LGBT groups and government
agencies: policemen are now undergoing gender sensitivity training, and the
Commission on Human Rights has agreed to push for LGBT rights.
"IDAHO Manila has partnered with business establishments to make their business a
safe space for LGBTs by continuing their practice of accepting LGBT people," De Vera
said, contrasting it with the "no cross-dressing policy" of a number of bars in Metro
Manila that unduly affect transgenders.
Civil society is doing its part. Social attitudes are increasingly tolerant. Our Congress
must not turn a blind eye to the abuses and forms of discrimination directed against
LGBTs. - Rappler.com

Buena Bernal writes development stories. You can follow her on Twitter: @buenabernal
http://www.rappler.com/move-ph/31276-philippines-gay-friendly