The Rainbow Blog Philippines

Task Force Pride, a non-profit network of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual (LGBT) groups will organize the 17th Annual Pride March in Manila. The aim of the march is to gather different LGBT groups, allies and individuals in solidarity, as well as provide positive visibility to the community. This year's theme, “Pride of the Orient”, recalls the community's achievements with regard to advancing LGBT human rights, such as... organizing the first pride march in Asia in 1994 and the formation of Ladlad party list, the only LGBT-oriented party list in the world, and extensive HIV/AIDS Awareness campaigns nationwide . “Pride of the Orient” calls on LGBT Filipinos to reclaim these milestones and look forward to more victories they've yet to achieve. For Organizations, please confirm in this link: http://taskforcepride.blogspot.com/2011/11/2011-confirmation-form-organizations.html%20 For Individuals, please confirm in this link: http://taskforcepride.blogspot.com...

Where: Isis International #3 Marunong St., Bgy. Central, Quezon City Metro Manila, Philippines When: November 20, 2011, Sunday Time:1:00pm until 4:00pm Organizer: Society of Transsexual Women of the Philippines (STRAP) Event Page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/events/194935397252709

Here's an email I sent to Penshoppe with regard to my experience just today from one of their staff in Trinoma.  It's been a long time since I last shopped for your brand and today I decided to visit your Trinoma Branch. I was looking for a pair of denim so when I got the pair I wanted, I asked the sales lady for a smaller size than the one I was holding, then with utterly complete disregard, she said "Ay Sir 29 lang po ang smallest size namin, yung 28 po sa ladies' section na po". I am a professional young gay guy who was dressed appropriately. Despite the fact that I am out (everyone I know knows my sexual preference), I found it very rude, unprofessional, and disrespectful of her to say that to me. While she was looking for a smaller pair, I left the store hoping to exit with a new pair of jeans, but all I took with me was an insult from one of your staff. Had it not been for my two friends who convinced me to shrug it off, I wouldn't have had the energ...

20 October 2011 – Naomi Fontanos, chairwoman of the Society of Transsexual Women of the Philippines (STRAP) the pioneer human rights advocacy organization of transgender/transsexual Filipinas or transpinays, spoke on a panel called Trans* Rights Are Human Rights organized by the Heinrich Boell Foundation in Berlin, Germany on 5 October 2011, Wednesday (see video below).  The panel focused on the initial research findings of the TransRespect Vs TransPhobia (TvT) Project of Transgender Europe (TGEU) , which investigates the legal and social situation of transgender people globally. Talking about transpeople in East and Southeast Asia, Fontanos said "From East Asia to Southeast Asia, transpeople face a similar situation: silenced, excluded and erased. Most transpeople have no say over their identities; their lived realities are belittled and dismissed and state and cultural forces act to render them powerless, with no control over their own lives.” “Like others elsewhere in...

LIVING POSITIVELY + LIVING WELL A movement to use love and happiness against HIV. Begin your own advocacy to live with a positive outlook, and share that positivism to the world. Add your voice to the growing number of advocates rallying for positivism and against HIV. To be a part of the Living Positively + Living Well Open Photoshoot : Share your stories, thoughts, or philosophies on how you live positively; Join our two-part open photoshoot; and Be featured in our photo exhibition. When: October 22 and 29 (10AM-6PM) Where: Pioneer Studios, 123 Pioneer Street, Mandaluyong City For the location map and directions to the venue, visit www.pioneerstudios.ph . The parking space in front of Pioneer Studios is limited and a tow-away zone .  Pay parking is available at Pioneer Citiland Parking near the studio at the corner of Pioneer Street and Reliance Street (see location map).  Rates are PhP30.00 for first 3 hours and PhP10.00 succeeding hours. Registration...

Nakakalungkot isipin na may isang taong naisipang isumite ang bill na ito upang gawing batas! Ganito ang nangyayari sa Uganda. Isang bansang tinaguriang 'perlas ng afrika'. Bansang ang pagiging bakla ay kinamumuhian at may parusang kamatayan. Nagsimula ang ganitong ideolohiya sa Uganda dahil sa mga christian evangelist na dala'y bibliya at pananampalataya upang sakupin ang kaisipan ng mga tao. Walang masama sa adhikaing ito. Bagkus, ito'y isang magandang gawain sa lahat ng may pananampalataya sa kanilang Diyos! Subalit, sa kadahilanang sarado at mangmang ang mga pastor na ito tungkol sa saklaw ng pagiging homosexual, pati utak ng mga mga tao ay nilason na nila sa kaisipang ang babae ay para sa lalaki at walang puwang sa mundo ang mga bakla at tomboy. American evangelicals such as Scott Lively and California pastor  Rick Warren  have a history of involvement in Uganda where they focus their missionary work. As a result, Warren and others have become influential in th...

CSWCD, UP Diliman -- The Society of Transsexual Women of the Philippines (STRAP) , the pioneer transgender human rights organization in the Philippines, makes history as they send off a communication to the United Nations (UN) that calls attention to state responsibilities of the Philippine Government as a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to pay careful attention to how the justice system updates itself with current developments in international human rights law in its understanding of gender identity through the lived experiences of transsexual women. "The launch of this historical and important communication to the United Nations comes at a very opportune time what with the recent hurtful pronouncements made by the mother of Congressman Manny Pacquiao. Mommy Dionisia has made comments about transsexuals and their use of the pill showing the widespread ignorance about transsexualism in the Philippines," says STRAP Chairwoman Nao...