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- Uncategorized
- Author:
- Lyndon Barnett
- Posted:
- Wednesday, 30 July 2008
Our focus this week is the Philippines, a country known for its post-colonial heritage, communist and Muslim insurgency and its rich mineral deposits. SSO explores what its like living gay today in Manila.
Manila-born Jonjon (name substituted) attributes the rise over the past 15 years in the gay pride movement in the Philippines to western influences.
I think the reason for change is modernisation. I think the influence from the west has had a bearing on the change. The Philippines is awash with western culture, Jonjon said.
For Jonjon, 35, growing up in a deeply conservative environment, dominated by the Catholic Church, was particularly difficult.
My mother told me when I was five that my effeminate behaviour should change. I despised myself, because I thought that I was being sinful, he said. It was drilled into my head that I will be damned.
Today the conservative society hasn’t really shifted their views. The difference is that the homosexual population are now confident to lead an openly gay lifestyle in the country.
This shift can be traced to the pride parade of 1994. The parade was organised by a student activist group formed in 1993 called ProGay Philippines.
This parade has now gone down in history as the first pride parade ever held in Asia. Jonjon, who’s been working in insurance in Sydney since 2003, is not surprised that his country celebrates this milestone.
I think that is expected of us: we have a strong democratic tradition, he said. We are very outspoken politically.
The success of the parade spawned gay bars, nightclubs and saunas.
The first bathhouse opened in 1997. This added a degree of legitimacy to gay sex, Jonjon said. Now there were venues advertising gay relations.
There were never any laws in the Philippines prohibiting homosexual acts. The focus on legal framework now is ensuring anti-discrimination legislation is fully enacted.
Alex Go, Consular Officer with the Philippine Embassy in Canberra, believes that the gay population currently enjoy a great deal of equality and freedom. We respect the right to be gay in the Philippines. We have no discrimination in work or study, he said. People are free to be themselves.
In a bold move for himself, Jonjon joined a gay men’s choir in 2001: a group which would not have been possible only ten years prior.
The Hiraya Men’s Chorus is very visible on the cultural scene, which sent a strong signal to society that we are here, young and fearless, he said. We even performed every weekend in a Catholic Church. Everyone knew but no one talked about it. We were creating good music which added to the service.
Despite this Church embracing a gay choir, Jonjon doesn’t believe same-sex marriage will ever happen in the Philippines.
The Catholic Church is too powerful, with too many conservative people in Manila, he said. Also the country is too poor and with too many other priorities including economic and political stability which are more important.
Jonjon is enjoying the sense of community in Sydney.
We look after each other here more with institutions like ACON and the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir, he said. You only have to walk round Fair Day to see all the supportive organisations in Sydney.
August 1st, 2008 @ 8:35 pm
Very interesting to learn that the pride parade was so quick to spawn gays feeling more comfortable to come out and relaxed about who they are in Manila.
Change can be so simple, yet so difficult.
August 2nd, 2008 @ 7:25 pm
i agree with scott…events like these will help make people aware that what we considered taboo before simply does exist and religious or not, it’s reality.
August 4th, 2008 @ 8:12 pm
These articles are really interesting. it’s great to see the strategies that have been applied under different systems of government and social institutions. It’s especially interesting to see how some countries who were previously much more segregated (re: South Africa) have passed laws more progressive than those here in Australia. Even though the real-world implications of those laws doesn’t seem to reflect the actual situation of those living there.
A very uplifting series of articles, which really highlight the struggles yet to be fought and how far we all have yet to go. :)