Philippines, Asia

The Philippines comprises 7,107 islands in the western Pacific Ocean. It's the world's 12th most populous country with a population of 90 million people. Its national economy is the 46th largest in the world with an estimated 2008 gross domestic product of over US$154.073 billion. There are more than 11 million overseas Filipinos worldwide, about 11% of the total population. It is a multi-ethnic country. Ecologically, The Philippines is considered to be among 17 of the most megadiverse countries in the world.

Homosexuality is increasingly being tolerated in the Philippines. However this tolerance is tempered by the strong influence of the Catholic church and macho culture. Most Filipinos appear to be comfortable with gays as long as they fit to certain stereotypes and behave according to accepted, non-threatening norms. There is a vibrant gay scene in the Philippines with several bars, clubs and saunas in Manila as well as various gay rights organizations. Homosexual relations between consenting adults in private are not a crime. Although sexual conduct or affection that occurs in public may be subject to the "grave scandal" prohibition. See gay rights in Philippines.

 

 

Philippines: UN Human Rights Committee Identifies LGBT Rights Violations

Justice Secretary Declares Interest in Moving Forward as Regional LGBT Rights Leader (Geneva)—The United Nations Human Rights Committee completed its fourth periodic review of the compliance of the Government of the Philippines with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) in Geneva this week. The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC),… Read more »

Boxing champion lauds Cruz for becoming first openly gay boxer

Manila, Philippines – Puerto Rican boxing champion Miguel Cotto has commended his fellow boxer, friend and countryman Orlando Cruz for announcing that he is gay. “For many years, Orlandito and I spent time together on the national team in Puerto Rico,” Cotto said in a radio interview, as quoted by Boxing Scene. “We went to… Read more »

The ASEAN declaration – Good news or bad news?

We now know what the draft ASEAN Human Rights Declaration will say. Is it good news or bad news for LGBTI? Douglas Sanders looks at the issues. First the bad news. We are not named. In the anti-discrimination provisions there is no reference to “sexual orientation” or “gender identity” or “gender expression.” Perhaps we don’t… Read more »

Japan to take official steps in support of LGBT youths

Following in the footsteps of the United States, where the “It Gets Better” project started two years ago in order offer support to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youths thinking of suicide, a new program in Japan hopes to do the same. Fumino Sugiyama, a co-founder of the project, which loosely translates to “Connected… Read more »

New Regional Community Youth Leader And Policy Briefing Paper Announced

(Bangkok)   The Asia Pacific Coalition on Male Sexual Health (APCOM) has been a leader in mobilising attention and action to promote the health and human rights of men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender people since 2007. Today, APCOM reaffirms its commitment to working with young MSM and transgender people by supporting… Read more »

Lady Gaga responds religious protests with emotional speech

International pop star who has met protests from Christians and Muslims during Asian tour speaks out during Manilla concert Lady Gaga’s Asian tour has been met with religious protests in Korea, the Philippines and Indonesia. At last night’s concert in Manilla she finally aired her views. ‘So many people have been protesting and it really… Read more »

Filipino father admits burning son after discovering three children were gay

A Filipino father has told police he drunkenly attacked his son after learning that three of his children were gay. The Philippine LGBT Hate Crime Watch said today that 19-year-old Edmund Padilla was left with burns and blisters after his father, Erano, attacked him with boiling water. Erano Padilla reportedly told police he attacked his… Read more »

Philippine HIV cases rose 89% in November

The number of new HIV cases in the country jumped by nearly 90 percent in November compared to the same period in 2010, a Department of Health (DOH) report said. The Philippine HIV and AIDS Registry report released last week said there were 212 new HIV cases reported in November last year, an 89-percent increase… Read more »

Gay Philippines News & Reports 2011

1 Personal Essay: Never too late 4/07 2 In Southeast Asia, no longer silence on LGBT issues 5/11 3 AIDS advocates use social networking to educate high risk sector 5/11 4 The Courage Unfolds Campaign 5/11 5 An emerging epidemic 6/11 5a 103 suspected anti-LGBT hate crime deaths 7/11 6 The 2011 Philippine National LGBT… Read more »

Gay Philippines News & Reports 2007-10

1 Personal Essay: Never too late 4/07 2 NZ AIDS foundation’s new safe sex campaign targets asian gay men 5/07 3 Ramon Magsaysay Award recipients announced 8/07 4 Rustom Padilla’s gay redemption: Urian award 9/07 5 SC junks transsexual’s plea for gender, name change 10/07 6 Being gay not a sin, acting on gay desires… Read more »

Gay Philippines News & Reports 2003-06

1 Keeping faith (He loves us, too) 1/03 2 Church clashes with gays in Philippines 1/03 3 Gay robbers steal from and kiss male victims 5/03 4 Silent Discrimination 2003 5 Gays tapped for Bulacan’s tourism, antidrug drive 6/03 6 At Manila ILGA conference, gays decry discrimination in Asia 11/03 7 Church Unduly harsh on… Read more »

Gay Philippines News & Reports 2001-02

1 Transgenders and other ‘third sexers’ 6/01 2 Gays in the Philippines push for equal rights 2/02 3 Progay hits ‘ungrateful macho church leadership’ 5/02 4 Filipino gays struggle with their rainbow 6/02 5 Religious, economic biases haunt Pinoy gay community 6/02 6 Pride Day 2002 and its impact on the gay community in Manila… Read more »