Diskriminasyon 101

Discrimination is common,invisible and remains unaddressed.

A survey done by SWS in 2001 reveal that Filipinos in general held largely negative views toward lesbians and gays. More than 50% of the respondents said that homosexuality can never be rationalized, while a quarter would rather not have lesbian or gays as neighbors.

Discrimination is happening in schools,workplace, communities, public service, in the healthcare system, and most importantly, in the family. In politics and in the media, lesbians and gays also experience prejudice.

Some lesbians and gays encounter discrimination even within their families. According to the Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Studies, suicide is on the rise among adolescent lesbians and gays due to lack of acceptance in families.

Some schools have adopted a ‘masculinity test’ to screen out gay students. Others have made cross-dressing as a basis of dismissal, while in some schools, organizing lesbian and gay groups is prohibited.

Stigmatization of HIV/AIDS as ‘a homosexual’s disease’ have made access to healthcare difficult for lesbians and gays. For Lesbians, access to reproductive health is sometimes denied Because of negative and flawed stereotypes.

In the workplace, one’s sexual orientation or gender identity is used as a basis for dismissal,rejection, or denial of promotion or benefits.

In politics, the higher the position, the lesser the possibility of having an openly lesbian and gay politician.

The Philippine media promotes flawed and restricted stereotypes of lesbians and gays to sell their products. Lesbians and gays can be
good entertainers or TV show hosts but they can never be TV broadcasters. TV companies also peddle negative images of gays for their ratings.

Discrimination is invisible

Negative treatment of lesbians and gays creates an environment that is conducive for more abuses. People in general feel that since it is okay to ridicule lesbians and gays, negative behavior against them is not an issue.

When raped or when physically abused, lesbians and gays oftentimes hesitate to seek assistance from the police because of fears of further abuses.

While there are no laws that explicitly prohibits homosexual acts, some laws – like the antikidnapping law and the anti-vagrancy law -are used to harass lesbians and gays.

Discrimination remains unaddressed

Other than the anti-discrimination ordinance in Quezon City (2002), there are no laws that protect lesbians and gays from abuses and human rights violations.

Discrimination must stop

In 1999, AKBAYAN party list Rep. Etta Rosales through LAGABLAB filed the Anti-discrimination Bill to penalize discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

The bill was re-filed in 2004 as HB 634. It criminalizes a wide range of discriminatory practices, among them discrimination in schools, workplaces, healthcare, public service, etc. It is
now scheduled for Second Reading in Congress.

Two counter-part Anti-Discrimination Bills were filed in the Senate by Senators Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Bong Revilla.

You can stop discrimination

This Election vote for Candidates that will support the passage of the Anti-Discrimination Bill in Congress. Push your local government to pass an ordinance banning discrimination against lesbians and gays.

Its High Time!