The Rainbow Blog Philippines

Tired of the usual Monday blues? Now there's something to cheer you up! Lunduyan ng Sining brings you LEMONITES (Lesbian Monday Nights) Every 2nd Monday of the month @ Magnet Katipunan, 7.30 pm onwards Featuring poetry, music, art, films, acts and more! Starting this Monday, March 9 March 9 lineup: - Poetry reading and open-mic - Music by Flush and the Toilets, Al Rio, Rocket Mama and Tao Aves - 3 short lesbian films in between sets Entrance fee is Php150, P50 consumable for a drink ;) For specific Monday night line ups, check out www.lunduyanngsining.com see you all there! :)

By: Bemz Aleeh Benedito The liberation of a nation is through the liberation of it's people (Professor Danton Remoto and 2010 candidate for senator). 01 March 2009, I met the statuesque and jaw-dropping BB Gandanghari in the flesh at Power Books in Megamall at the launching of S, the new entertainment magazine in town from Mega Publishing Group. I was overwhelmed to witness on how the people from across classes welcomed and accepted her in pride and jubilation. The image that I saw was a far cry from the hunky Rustom Padilla that BB Gandanghari killed and buried as she metamorphosed into the glam and glamour of the style and beauty icon Audrey Hepburn. A few weeks ago, I was personally insulted and offended by the uncalled for remarks and tirades of gay comedians Vice Ganda and Chokoleit on national television about BB Gandanghari's blossoming. And as if they were not enough, considered gay icon, entrepreneur and philantropist Ricky Reyes also lambasted BB Gamdanghari on the ...

In celebration of International Women's Month, the Rainbow Rights Project , a legal and policy think tank composed of LGBT lawyers, in cooperation with the University of the Philippines Paralegal Volunteers Organization (UP PVO), Ang Ladlad Partylist and the Society of Transsexual Women of the Philippines (STRAP), cordially invites you to a forum on trans rights: Hope to see you there!

Yesterday someone who works for a major TV station (let's call her Lily) called me up regarding the latest, breaking news that some members of the top brass of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are now actually inclined to accept gays and lesbians in the military. Lily, however, was more concerned about terminology. She wanted to know the correct terms that their their News and Current Affairs department should use to report the story in Filipino. "Shall we use bakla and lesbyana ?", she asked. I told her that lesbyana (a direct translation of the word lesbian) was fine but bakla might prove to be more problematic. Firstly, the terms that the general Filipino viewing public are familiar with in referring to the Pinoy LGBT community are bakla and tomboy . Bakla as a term is traditionally associated with effeminacy, "softness", weakness and sometimes even, cowardice, which fall under the purview of gender. Thus, I have always maintained that bakla wa...

I love this. Just the thought of it. And its endless possibilities.

Bongga! This is how I described The Dan and Rye Show ‘s second episode on their current season ( http://tdrs.mypodcast.com/2009/02/Revived_Ep2_Para_Sa_Bayan-186271.html ). As in tawa ako ng tawa and parang nakikinig lang ako ng radio. Buti na lamang at tamang tama pala ang question ko dahil ang episode nila ay related sa EDSA People Power Revolution. “How can we attain unity and solidarity among the LGBT in the Philippines?” “Siguro makapag-unite ang Rainbow Bloggers Philippines (clap clap clap)” - Dan and Rye Echos. Anyway, nakakaloka yung suggestion na palaklakin ng ecstasy ang mga bakla. Hehehe. But, I was moved by their idea on eliminating discrimination among ourselves. Paminta. Botomesa. Parlorista. Effem. Ito ang mga katagang naririnig natin sa mga miyembro ng LGBT saan ka man magtungo. Tayo mismo ang naninira sa pagkatao ng kapwa natin bakla. Mga bading na rin mismo ang nanglaglalag ng kanilang kalahi. Tama sina Dan and Rye sa kanilang binitiwang kataga na “Dapat sa atin ma...

A few years back there was Jasmine Trias (and the other contestant who ACTUALLY acknowledged her Filipino descent) Last season there was Ramielle Malubay... Wondering where the Filipino is in the latest reality shows? Why it's in RuPaul's Drag Race!!! YESSS!!! My favorite drag contender (well at least the one which I feel has the MOST talent), Ongina (aka Ryan Ong Palao), mentioned in her very MOVING revelation during this week's episode that she grew up from the Philippines! In a very unexpected turn of events during the judging/elimination, Ongina, after being named the winner of the Mac Viva Glam Challenge, breaks down into tears. After recovering herself she reveals that she's been living with HIV for two years and has still to tell his parents about it (and then somehow, in the midst of the drama, Ongina reveals she's from the Philippines)... Check out a post-Viva Glam Challenge interview of Ongina: Well, nevermind the issues, just check out how ferosh this bi...