Ladlad Negros is still alarmed as two members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community have been killed in the month of June.
 |  | Philippines |
| Name: | Carlito Floro Rosadino, jr | |
| Age: | 27 | |
| Zodiac: | Virgo | |
| Height: | 172 cm. | |
| Native language: | Tagalog |
Ladlad Partylist conducted a national convention attended by coordinators and members all over the country to set in motion its preparations for the 2013 midterm elections. 
Last Saturday, I received a call from Mae Hernandez regarding a negative propaganda against one of the candidates for the Chairperson post in the University of the Philippines Student Council Election, Heart Dino. It was quite alarming because the issue focused on the said candidate's sexual orientation. Of all schools, why did it have to be in UP where it should be progressive when it comes to gender identity, sexual orientation and human rights.by Sass Rogando SasotIn support of Ms Heart Dino
An Oxymoron? A patriarchal heteronormative transphobic feminist.
AND since when patriarchal heteronormative transphobia becomes “progressive”?
Nikki Salazar needs some re-education and Shaina Santiago needs some perspective.
A member of Gabriela Youth, Ms Salazar was quoted as saying that the University Student Council (USC) Gender Committee of University of the Philippines (UP) should be given back to a “real” woman (Ibalik ang USC Gender Commitee sa tunay na babae!). She is saying this because at the helm of USC Gender Committee is Ms Heart Dino, an out and proud transgender woman, who is currently running to be the USC Chairperson. On the other hand, Ms Santiago, another USC Chairperson candidate running under KAISA, a student political party in UP, was quoted as saying that she is the only woman in the race (Ako lang ang babae sa laban na ito!).
One would expect that these comments would come from the filthy mouth of a sexist, heteronormative, bigoted, reactionary oppressor. But No: Ms Salazar and Ms Santiago are members of organizations that are anything but those labels. Well I’m basing that assumption on the facts that: Gabriela Youth is a feminist organization and KAISA considers “inclusive activism” and “social progress with social justice” as its principles. These two organizations are (or should be) anything but sexist, heteronormative, bigoted, reactionary , and oppressor. After all, these organizations are always on the frontline whenever there’s a roll call of “progressive” organizations in the Philippines; unless of course, progressive now means a regression to a patriarchal, heteronormative, and transphobic way of living. Instead of focusing on whether or not Ms Dino has the ability to lead and do the job, Ms Salazar and Ms Santiago focused on whether or not Ms Dino is a “real” woman or not. The words of Ms Salazar and Ms Santiago echoed the discriminatory words of employers as they shut the door of employment to transgender people in the Philippines.
But let’s explore furthermore the comments made against Ms Dino. What is the “real woman” they are talking about? Does this “real woman” exist? What is the basis of this “realness”? Some would say that a “real woman” is someone who was “born” female. Some would say a “real woman” is someone who can be pregnant. Others would say a “real woman” is someone who has an XX chromosome. It seems answering the question “Who is a real woman?” will always solicit a reference to the body. Using the body as the arbiter of “who is a real woman” or “who is not” hides the fact that the terms we use to label our bodies are produced by culture. Our bodies are not objective grounds. Our bodies are not books that biologists, scientists, and even feminists read. We are not born into this world with bodies that have names already. Our bodies are named using names produced by culture. When it comes to our gender, we are not born with the labels “female” or “male” on our bodies. Assigning our gender is a social decision made by the doctor; and that decision is based on the prevailing and dominant pattern of thinking in society. As what Dr Anne-Fausto Sterling said in Sexing the Body: Gender Politics and the Construction of Sexuality: “We may use scientific knowledge to help us make the decision, but only our beliefs about gender-not science-can define our sex. Furthermore, our beliefs about gender affect what kinds of knowledge scientists produce about sex in the first place.”
More importantly and more disturbingly, this exercise of determining who is a “real woman” or not is akin to all oppressive projects which uses the tactic of designating who is real or not as their weapon to exclude, dominate, and control. Determining whether someone belongs or not to the category of “real” is always a prelude to the will to dominate and oppress because those who would be considered “not real” would be designated to the category “fake.” When that process begins, it only takes a few batting of eyelashes before those considered “fake” to be stigmatized, discriminated against, and marginalized. Henceforth, those who would be considered “fake” would be considered immoral, unnatural, illegal - not human.
Gay marriage a threat to humanity's future - PopeVATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Benedict said on Monday that gay marriage was one of several threats to the traditional family that undermined "the future of humanity itself".
The pope made some of his strongest comments against gay marriage in a new year address to the diplomatic corps accredited to the Vatican in which he touched on some economic and social issues facing the world today.
He told diplomats from nearly 180 countries that the education of children needed proper "settings" and that "pride of place goes to the family, based on the marriage of a man and a woman."
"This is not a simple social convention, but rather the fundamental cell of every society. Consequently, policies which undermine the family threaten human dignity and the future of humanity itself," he said.
The Vatican and Catholic officials around the world have protested against moves to legalise gay marriage in Europe and other developed parts of the world.
One leading opponent of gay marriage in the United States is New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan, whom the pope will elevate to cardinal next month.
Dolan fought against gay marriage before it became legal in New York state last June, and in September he sent a letter to President Barack Obama criticising his administration's decision not to support a federal ban on gay marriage.
In that letter Dolan, who holds the powerful post of president of the U.S. Bishops Conference, said such a policy could "precipitate a national conflict between church and state of enormous proportions."
The Roman Catholic Church, which has some 1.3 billion members worldwide, teaches that while homosexual tendencies are not sinful, homosexual acts are, and that children should grow up in a traditional family with a mother and a father.
"The family unit is fundamental for the educational process and for the development both of individuals and states; hence there is a need for policies which promote the family and aid social cohesion and dialogue," Benedict told the diplomats.
Gay marriage is legal in a number of European countries, including Spain and the Netherlands.
Some Churches that have allowed gay marriage, women priests, gay clergy and gay bishops have been losing members to Catholicism, and the Vatican has taken steps to facilitate their conversion.
In 2009, Benedict decreed that Anglicans who leave their Church, many because they feel it has become too liberal, can find a home in Catholicism in a parallel hierarchy that allows them to keep some of their traditions.
The Vatican has since set up "ordinariates," structures similar to dioceses, in Britain and the United States to oversee ex-Anglicans who have converted and be a point of contact for those wishing to do so.
(Reporting By Philip Pullella; editing by Tim Pearce)
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Run with an Open Mind and an Open Heart Express yourself regardless of your Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity In a celebration of Equality, Individuality and Diversity Join! Rainbow Run – A Colorful Run To The Finish 5:30AM Sunday 29 January 2012 Come in your most creative running ensemble and be up for Special Awards; “Most Original Runner” “Most Fasyon” “Pinakamagandang Hayop sa Balat ng Lupa” Take Home Limited Edition Premium Items This is not just a run. It’s a statement. It’s taking a stand. It’s choosing to accept who you are – With every step, With those who share the same Open mind and open hearts Registration Fees: 3K – PHP 450 5K – PHP 550 10K – PHP 650 ONSITE Registration Venues: ROX - Bonifacio High Street, Taguig City, Fridays- Saturdays Royal Sporting House - Level 2, Glorietta 4, Makati City Royal Sporting House - Level 2, Padre Faura Wing, Robinson's Place, Manila Reebok - Level 2, Festival Supermall, Muntinlupa City Reebok - Upper Ground Floor, SM Megamall Building A, Pasig City Reebok - Level 2 , Trinoma Mall, Quezon City Daily Registrations: November 25, 2011 - January 15, 2012 Register Online through http://www.pepsquadevents.com/ Race Kits will be delivered on or before January 27, 2012 Pep Squad Events and Marketing Services, Inc. Unit 304 Citiland III, VA Rufino St. Legaspi Village Quezon City 5197010/5198980 Ladlad Partylist Headquarters Unit 3-C, 4K Plaza 677 Shaw Boulevard Kapitolyo, pasig City 5848029See More |
The Student Council Alliance of the Philippines launches the "Stop the Hate! Campaign"hinged on the Students' Rights and Welfare Bill. The message is clear and hopefully the impact would be great knowing the fact that education is one of the key in removing social stigma and stereotyping. A lot of schools have dress code policies and LGBT individuals couldn't express themselves because transgenders are forced to dress up to wear clothing meant for their assigned biological sex and not with their gender identity. Aside from the dress codes, there are still bullying happening in different schools both physically and verbally which inhibits a student to perform at his/her best.The Student Council Alliance of the Philippines is a national network of student councils/governments envisioning an educational system co-determined by all the stakeholders in the society who actively participate in making education accessible to all. The alliance advocates education reform through executive and legislative engagements; promotes unity, social consciousness as well as solidarity with other basic sector towards empowering student councils to act as catalyst for social change.
