The Rainbow Blog Philippines

Official Statement of the Society of Transsexual Women of the Philippines (STRAP) on the recent happenings inside the Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) House involving Rica Paras “Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.” --Anonymous She-man. Mumu (Ghost). Half-half. Samson and Delilah. These are just a few of the derogatory comments heard recently from PBB Double Up Housemates Rob Stumvol, Patrick Villanueva, Hermes Bautista, Mariel Sorino, Yuri Okawa and most especially Rocky Salumbides in referring to Rica Paras. We, her sisters in STRAP, join the rest of the world’s loyal audiences who watch PBB Double Up diligently in expressing our dismay, disappointment and disbelief in this blatant show of anti-transgender prejudice or transphobia . STRAP condem...

I think the picture says it all ...

Dear all, Tomorrow is a chance for all of us to come together in a show of force and unity. Tomorrow is the planned protest against the COMELEC decision on TLBG people, that the COMELEC accuses of deceit, immorality and corrupting minors. It is time to stand up and reclaim our dignity. Let us not permit the COMELEC to spread lies, trample on our rights and persecute us. If you believe in TLBG equality and empowerment (protected no less by the Philippine Constitution), join the rally (see the poster below). Immorally yours, PinayTG

Click to See Full Image

As citizen and Senator of the Republic, I question the recent rejection of Ang Ladlad Party to be a duly registered sectoral party by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) because of allegations of ‘immorality.’ The Comelec invoked passages from the Holy Bible and the sacred Qu’ran to justify their decision on Ang Ladlad’s petition for party registration. The Republic of the Philippines is a secular state, and as such, we must ensure the clear separation of church and state in our civil and political affairs, as enshrined in the Philippine Constitution, Article II, Section 6. Invoking justifications from sacred texts should not stand in the way of our secular and liberal democratic principles and the rights for political representation of all well-meaning Filipino citizens. Every Filipino, regardless of sexual orientation, can exercise the fundamental right to be represented in the country’s political affairs, including the right to run for public office as political parties and indivi...

"The doctrine of the separation of the Church and State was not enunciated by a king or a president, or by a pope or a bishop, but by our Lord Jesus Himself. While our Lord was still in this world, there were those who wanted to show Him up as a false prophet, so they went to Him and asked whether they should pay the taxes demanded by the Roman government or not. Thereupon Jesus asked them to and Him a coin; upon receiving it, He asked them whose face was it that appeared on the coinl and they answered it was Caesar's. Jesus then said: "Render unto Caeser what is Caesar's and unto God what is God's." [Matt 22:15-22, Mark 12:13-17; Luke 20:20-26] (President Manuel L. Quezon at the Luneta, Manila 17 July 1938) For even more analysis of this issue, visit Sampaloc Toc's Render onto Comelec blog .

Rainbow Rights Project, Rainbow Radio Pilipinas and Task Force Pride bring you RRRomance! The Rainbow Radio Pilipinas Launch Nov. 20, Friday, 8pm BED Bar Malate with performances by: Pow Chavez Kooky Tuason SPIT Alden Copuyoc + other surprise guests and performers Prizes and Surprises await the luck Rainbow Radio Romancers! No entrance fee before midnight (Just buy you first drink to gain entrance) For more info, visit: www.rainbowrightsproject.org Supported by: BED Bar Malate Lunduyan ng Sining Vitalstrats Creative Solutions

Appreciating the wisdom of the Commission on Elections regarding the accreditation of Ang Ladlad LGBT Political Party List My dear Commission on Elections (COMELEC) of the Philippines, I wish to congratulate you for doing such an act of pure love and piousness when you upheld God's Law in your decision regarding the petition of Ang Ladlad LGBT Political Party. Invoking Romans 1:26-27 was a brilliant idea! I feel so blessed that you guys are doing the job that the Constitution of the Philippines mandated you to do. And I feel so relieved that you guys are there to save my soul from being infected by the presence of a lesiban,gay, bisexual, and transgender political party in the 2010 elections. I try to share the wisdom of your decision with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind him that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate. I'm really convinced that you are very right. You kno...

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has just denied the petition for accreditation of Ang Ladlad Partylist to be able to take part in the 2010 elections and represent Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Filipinos in Congress. The COMELEC, in its 7-page decision, claims that Ang Ladlad advocates sexual immorality and thus the COMELEC is protecting the youth from “moral and spiritual degradation” by denying Ang Ladlad’s petition. In light of this COMELEC decision, Ang Ladlad is calling all its members, allies, friends and supporters to a general assembly on 14 November 2009, Saturday, 9am-12nn at the Seminar Room 108 of the University Hotel, UP Diliman . For directions, call the University Hotel at landline 926.1975/926.1953 or mobile 0920.471.0111. It’s time to get up and stand up for our rights!

By Lilita Balane Newsbreak Ang Ladlad's own petition indicating intimate same-sex relations, brought that decision upon itself The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has rejected the petition of a group representing the "third sex" to be accredited for the party list on the ground that it "tolerates immorality, which offends religious beliefs." In an 8-page resolution, the Comelec cited the Ang Ladlad LGBT's advocacy of sexual immorality with same-sex relationships. Read more. Click: BUHAY BAYOT

This year, STRAP is partnering with the first-ever TLBG student group in the University of the Philippines (UP) system, UP Babaylan to commemorate the International Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) (see the beautiful poster above created by our very own Ms. Dee Mendoza). The TDOR is meant to honor people who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice. It began a decade ago after the death of Rita Hester who was brutally murdered in November 1998. Hester’s death resulted in the creation of the Remembering Our Dead website and a candlelight vigil in 1999. Henceforth, transgender people killed due to hatred are honored in annual TDOR activities worldwide. We are holding TDOR week in UP and our activities are as follows: November 24 - 27, 2009, UP Diliman Campus, Quezon City Nov. 24 (Tue.) 10:00 AM, TDOR Exhibit Opening | Palma Hall Lobby (Exhibit runs until the 27th) Nov. 27 (Fri.) 2:30 - 5:00 PM, TRANSCEND: Stories and Struggles of Transpeople in the Philippines (Foru...

Before the 2009 Manila Pride March that is. The countdown has already started. Would you dare March? Do you even care? I hope so. Thousands others like you will be there. Show your pride. Come to Malate on December 5. To join/volunteer and for updates click here . See you there!

DANTON REMOTO Chairman, Ang Ladlad Partylist 2010 Senatorial Candidate 1. Why have you taken a break from column-writing? My father died two weeks ago and I had to take charge of the wake and burial, being the eldest. I had to deal with everything -- from the mortuary to the car that would pick up my siblings at the airport to always being there with my mother, who is quiet and noble in her grief. 2. Are you running under the Liberal Party? I do not know. All I know is that I am running for senator in the 2010 elections with a big political party. 3. Why not independent? Been there, been that. People will promise you funds, warm bodies, watchers. But when push comes to shove, you are all alone, with only a few of your most loyal campaign volunteers. 4. When will you declare? My political party of choice has told me to wait it out while it finalizes a possible coalition with another party. We will declare before November 20, the first day of filing of certificates of candidacy. We will ...

A gay Filipino in Melbourne - GAYZHA - who is also a fellow Rainbow Blogger ( LIFE FUNTASTIQUE ), is joining this year's Annual Awards for Gay Asians - the Lotus Awards. She is competing for the Miss Lotus category (which is a battle of beauty, wit, talent and popularity). Wednesday, 4th of November was the preliminaries and she made it to the tough FOUR - however, in order to be on the FINALS on the 18th of November, she has to bag some votes from people on the internet. Would all of you please help your SISTER, as she represents the Filipino Gays in Melbourne !!! Simply click on the following: www.heavensdoor.com.au/lotus.html Vote for Gayzha - contestant number 3. There is also a video when you are a facebook member - just become a fan of the site! Maramng Salamat Po !!!

Here is the first press release from Task Force Pride (TFP) Philippines , the official network that organizes the yearly TLBG Pride March in Manila. I volunteered to handle some PR work for this year's TFP after coordinating last year's march. Our new membership coordinator in STRAP , Gia Alessandra Nolasco is our official rep to the network while last year's Marketing and Finance Head, Dee Mendoza, our outgoing STRAP chair, is doing marketing work for the 2009 Manila Pride March. She designed the teasers and posters of this year's Pride Parade, one of which you can see below. Like previous Pride Parades, the 2009 Manila PrideMarch, scheduled to take place on Saturday, 5 December 2009 in Malate, promises to gather thousands of Transgender Lesbian Bisexual and Gay (TLBG) Filipinosand foreigners alike, including their friends, families, loved ones and supporters in one massive and colorful parade that will rival the biggest Pride Marches around the world, from London to P...