Homosexuality in the Philippines
From WikiPilipinas: The Hip 'n Free Philippine Encyclopedia
In the Philippines, the term gay has been used loosely to include Homosexuality|homosexuals, Bisexuality|bisexuals, Transsexuality|transsexuals, transvestism|crossdressers, and effeminate|effeminate men. Filipino gays are mostly stereotyped as effeminate, crossdressers, hairdressers, camp. Bakla or Bading, a 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|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]
Bakla(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 some of these heterosexual men having relations with these gays is usually financial. 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. Straight-acting gays are called "paminta" in Manila and “maya” in Visayas and Mindanao.
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[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 |
|---|---|---|
| aketch/akiz | ako | me |
| anaconda | ahas | pilferer |
| andalu/datz | pera | money |
| anik/anetch | ano | what |
| antiobiotic | antipatika | bitch |
| award | pinagalitan | scolded |
| balaj | balahura | shameless |
| bilat | babae | woman |
| booking | lumandi | to flirt |
| carry/keri | sige | alright
|
| charing | nagbibiro lang | just kidding |
| chanda romero | tiyan | tummy |
| chika | tsismis | gossip/small talk |
| chiminey cricket | chimay | maid |
| chuva | chismis | gossip |
| clasmarurut | kaklase | classmate |
| crayola | iyak | cry |
| cynthia luster | hindi kilala | unknown |
| dakota | malaki | huge |
| dedma | hindi pansinin | ignore |
| echosera | singungaling | liar |
| 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
|
| ititch | ito | this |
| jolina magdangal | nahuli | caught in the act |
| jubis | taba | fat |
| junakis | anak | offspring |
| jutay | maliit | small |
| kangkang | pagtatalik | sex |
| kaplang | mali | mistake |
| karir | seryosohin | to take seriously
|
| kyoho | mabaho | smelly |
| 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 |
| paminta | pa-mhin | straight-acting/discreet gay guy |
| papable | masarap | boyfriend material |
| plangak | tumpak | precisely |
| pocahontas | pokpok | female prostitute |
| purita kalaw | walang pera | broke |
| rica peralejo | mayaman | rich |
| tarush | taray | bitchy |
| sininguelas | sino | who |
| thundercats | matanda | old people |
| sholbam | callboy | male prostitute |
| tommy lee jones | gutom | hungry |
| waley | wala | nothing |
| warla | away | altercation |
| wiz/waz | 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 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
- Philippine Womyns Bisexual Network (WomynBiNet)
- This group aims to unify and create a Womyn's Bisexual network who's goal is to address the issues of womyn bisexuals in the Philippines, clarify the definition of bisexuality and become both an online and offline support group.
[edit] List of Famous LGBT people in the Philippines
- Hair stylists/make up artists
- Ricky Reyes (Philantropist)[1], 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., BB Gandanghari, Robby Tarroza, Ogie Diaz, Diego Llorico, Chokoleit, Teri Onor, Ate Gay, Renee "Ate Glow" Reyes, Manny Castañeda, Terry (Yes yes show), John Lapus, Jovit Moya, Joed Serrano, Vice Ganda, Jimboy Salazar[2]
- TV/Radio Hosts
- Boy Abunda, Arnell Ignacio, IC Mendoza, Tita Swarding, Raymond Gutierrez, 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), Joel Cruz
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Manila Gay Guy - recent gay happenings in and around Manila, Philippines, as related by a local gay guy. S
- Bakla Ako, May Reklamo? (I'm Gay, Got a Problem With That? - A look at the everyday Queer Society and Gay community in the Philippines.
- Progress Philippines - a biologists view of gay rights in the Philippines, with causes of homosexuality and same-sex marriage rights discussed.
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