Ladlad Logo Vandalized

December 07, 2011, Ladlad Party List Dumaguete and Negros Oriental coordinator Michael Victor was alarmed and dismayed when he informed me that the mural of the LGBT Guild of Negros Oriental State University (NORSU) and Ladlad was vandalized . The words "AIDS CARRIER" WAS SPECIFICALLY INSCRIBED IN THE LADLAD BUTTERFLY LOGO and "SOCIAL PESTS" were printed on the mural.

The mural of the LGBT Guild of NORSU and Ladlad logo were on display because the Dumaguete Pride March will be held this Friday, December 09, 2011 as their way of celebrating World Aids Day and International Human Rights Day. It is also a good time for Ladlad Dumaguete and Negros Oriental to participate and call on its citizens to have an open mind and an open heart.

However, in the recent spate of discriminatory remarks made in the Ladlad Logo and mural, we in Ladlad Party List strongly castigate and denounce the disparaging lines that clearly showed disrespect to the political party of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Filipinos and as well to the rights and sense of self-worth of LGBT individuals.

As the chairperson of Ladlad I can only attribute this doleful circumstance to the uncalled for statements of Department of Health (DOH) Sec. Enrique Ona in the recently concluded Philippine National AIDS Council plenary meeting, the DOH head unwittingly suggested that in order to address the rapid rise of HIV cases in the country, “parents should rein in their homosexual children and get them tested.”

The DOH Secretary irresponsibly elaborated further on how to solve the HIV crisis: “I was just given the information that, for example, the Partylist Ladlad has 67,000 members. Let’s just assume that there are 100,000 of them and get the ages, from say, 20-35 and ask all of them to have HIV/AIDS test. Wouldn’t that be a practical solution too?”

That is why I was disturbed when I learned that Sec. Ona reinforced the stigma, stereotype and discrimination that tilts against our ranks. His statements may have unwittingly caused more harm than any good to the LGBT community. I was hoping that he would be more circumspect and sensible in dealing with vulnerable sectors like the LGBT community.

I call on our brothers and sisters to stop the prejudice and hate and accord us of our individual and collective human rights.

In vigilance and fortitude,
Ms. Bemz D. Benedito
Chairperson

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Gay is Ok- Student Council Alliance of the Philippines

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.

Hate should stop now. Hate should end in the educational institutions which are supposed to mold the students mentality in sexual orientation and gender identity and not mislead them  to believing that homosexuality is a sin and a disorder.




From: http://scapnationwide.blogspot.com/

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.

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Angeles City Gay Pride

Angeles City Pride Parade: ProGay Philippines and the United Gay Power Movement invite LGBTs and our straight allies to join us in celebrating 2nd Grand Freedom Parade FLY WITH PRIDE on December 17, 2011 Saturday 3PM at Bayanihan Park in Balibago Angeles City! There will be a contest for Best Float and Best In Costume with exciting prizes.

From: Kaye Equality Francisco Candaza

RAMP with PRIDE!

Calling all LGBT supporters allies and friends pls support the locaL Gay Pride in Angeles City,bring more friends relatives

http://www.facebook.com/events/181028131994017/

From: Ed Oz

Dec. 17 bulletin: Hi merong two waves of commuters. Yung unang wave 1pm sana ang alis sa Victory Cubao para makahabol sa 3pm motorcade. The second wave ay 2pm ang alis para maka-arrive sa 4pm Parade sa Bayanihan park (assembly area). ...Kung may private vehicle kau, u might want to be part of the motorcade at the Nepo Quad. My cp is 0915.5558508, col na lang kau, baka wala ako load to text back :-) .... so yung sasama sa akin advance party, kita kits 12pm to 1pm sa Victory cubao!

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U.N. Report Calls On Countries to End Anti-LGBT Discrimination

Imagine a world with out discrimination.

I just hope that all countries will listen since there are a lot of cases of discrimination leading to verbal, emotional, and physical abuse because of people's sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI). It would be a good start but of course, this will stir debates worldwide. For sure, the Catholic Church will not easily agree on this, specially here in the Philippines where CBCP is blocking the inclusion of SOGI in the Anti-Discrimination Bill. The United Nations' stand on diminishing the LGBT discrimination can be used to strengthen and hasten the lobbying of the Anti-Discrimination Bill in our country and hopefully, be passed in no time. 

Source: http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2011/12/15/UN_Report_Calls_on_Countries_to_End_Anti-LGBT_Discrimination/

U.N. Report Calls On Countries to End Anti-LGBT Discrimination

By Julie Bolcer

A report released Thursday by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights calls on countries to abolish laws that criminalize homosexuality and to include sexual orientation and gender identity in comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation, among other recommendations.

Commissioned by a historic resolution on anti-LGBT discrimination passed by the UN Human Rights Council in June, the first-of-its-kind report from Navanethem Pillay, the U.N.’s top human rights official, provides an overview of discrimination and violence around the world, including in the United States. The 25-page report reviews applicable international standards and obligations before documenting the current status of anti-LGBT discrimination and violence, followed by a list of recommendations based in international human rights law.

“In all regions, people experience violence and discrimination because of their sexual orientation or gender identity,” says the introduction of the report. “In many cases, even the perception of homosexuality or transgender identity puts people at risk. Violations include – but are not limited to – killings, rape and physical attacks, torture, arbitrary detention, the denial of rights to assembly, expression and information, and discrimination in employment, health and education.”

“Violence against LGBT persons tends to be especially vicious compared to other bias-motivated crimes,” said the report, citing work from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

While noting that more than 10 countries including the United States have moved to repeal laws criminalizing homosexuality since 2000, the report points out that 76 countries retain laws criminalizing people for sexual orientation and gender identity. The death penalty may be applied for consensual homosexual conduct in at least five countries.

Saying that “a pattern of human rights violations emerges that demands a response,” the report in conclusion called on member states, which it said often overlook such incidents, to act with a list of eight recommendations. Among the recommendations is to, “repeal laws used to criminalize individuals on grounds of homosexuality for engaging in consensual same-sex sexual conduct, and harmonize the age of consent for heterosexual and homosexual conduct; ensure that other criminal laws are not used to harass or detain people based on their sexuality or gender identity and expression, and abolish the death penalty for offences involving consensual sexual relations.”

The report also calls for member states to “enact comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation that includes discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity among prohibited grounds and recognizes intersecting forms of discrimination; ensure that combating discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity is included in the mandates of national human rights institutions.”

The High Commissioner recommended that the U.N. Human Rights Council keep up to date about violence and discrimination linked to sexual orientation and gender identity, and encouraged investigations and reports within the U.N. system to continue.

Advocates hailed the report, released just one week after the Obama administration announced steps to more fully integrate LGBT human rights into its foreign policy. The White House issued a presidential memorandum and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told a U.N. audience in Geneva that LGBT rights are human rights.

“This is a groundbreaking U.N. effort that restates international law and makes it clear that criminalizing people because of their sexual orientation or gender identity is a fundamental denial of their human rights and human dignity. So, too, are acts of violence and discrimination,” said Marc Bromley, chair of the Council for Global Equality. “Based on the standards articulated in this UN document, all countries, including our own, still have more to do to fully recognize the human rights of their LGBT citizens. The report will be debated at a meeting of the U.N. Human Rights Council in March, and with South Africa leading the discussion, the March presentation will ensure that this report guides the work of the U.N.’s human rights experts worldwide.”

Jessica Stern, acting executive director of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, said, “The report is a tribute to all of the activists who have fought for recognition of homophobic violence and transphobic discrimination over decades, often in the face of extreme hostility. It will serve as an invaluable aid to each one of us who seeks to advance LGBT rights – not only at the United Nations but in cities and towns around the world.”

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Caroling Againts Discrimination

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) announces their disapproval about the inclusion of the "Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity" and want it taken out of the Anti Discrimination Bill since this will promote "Same Sex Marriages" in the Philippines and would punish Catholic Priests if they will refuse to officiate same sex weddings.

Contrary to this belief, the Anti-Discrimination Bill or Senate Bill 2814 (The Anti-Ethnic or Racial Profiling and Discrimination Act of 2011) does not include the legalization of same sex marriage hence it focuses on the equal treatment of all people regardless of their race, religion, and gender preferences.

After hearing this news, many LGBT rights advocates were disappointed with the statement of the church and wanted to start a movement againts the stand of CBCP. The passage of the Anti-Discrimination Bill is the focus of the different LGBT organizations in the Phillippines because this will lessen the oppression of the LGBT people in the country. There was a rumored Pride March that will be conducted but was not pushed through. However, the LGBT advocates, led by Ladlad Partylist, went caroling at CBCP to protest instead and carried banners saying "“All We Want For Christmas is our Human Rights.”

According to Danton Remoto, the chairman emeritus of Ladlad Partylist once said, "The CBCP’s proposition is lamentable, defective and thoughtless because it claims that being LGBT is a choice, which makes them ineligible for being protected under the law." The LGBT organizations promises to continue in their different rallies to ensure that the sexual orientation and gender identity be included in the Anti-Discrimination Bill despite the resistance from the Catholic Church.

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News: Bakla, natagpuang patay sa QC

Another gay man was killed and his body was found near the office of Commission on Human Rights. The story was reported in DZMM and the actual news is stated below:

Source: http://dzmm.abs-cbnnews.com/news/Metro/Bakla,_natagpuang_patay_sa_QC.html

Isang bakla ang natagpuang patay sa isang bakanteng lote malapit sa tanggapan ng Commission on Human Rights (CHR) sa Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City.
Basag ang mukha, nakababa ang shorts at nakalabas pa ang ari ng biktimang si Gilbert Sergio, 26 anyos nang matagpuan ng kaibigang si Mary Rose.
Natagpuan din sa tabi ng biktima ang isang malaking bato na may dugo na hinihinalang ginamit sa pagpatay dito.
Iniimbestigahan na ng mga pulis ang insidente gayundin ang lalaking umano'y huling nakausap ng biktima kagabi. Report from Dennis Datu, Radyo Patrol 42

The same news was covered in Journal Online.
Source: http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php/news/metro/19429-scavenger-found-dead-in-up-campus

Scavenger found dead in UP campus
A gay scavenger was found dead inside the University of the Philippines (UP) campus in Quezon City on Monday morning, his head was smashed with a rock, and his pants was pulled down to his knees exposing his sex organ.
Investigator PO2 Jogene Hernandez identified the victim as scavenger Gilbert Sero, 26, who stays at a shanty near the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) located along CommonwealthAvenue inside the UP Diliman campus.
Hernandez said that the victim was already dead when he was found at around 6 a.m. under a tree at a grassy lot just a few meters from his shanty.
The investigator said that the victim apparently was killed after his head was smashed with a rock which was found next to the body.
Witnesses said that the victim was seen talking to a man on Sunday night.
He noted that the victim was lying on some cartons used as makeshift mats.
Sero also had his shirt pulled up to his chest and his pants pulled down to his knees, Hernandezadded.
The body was discovered by the victim’s friend Mary Rose Grayo, 24, who is also a scavenger.
Grayo told police that she dropped by that morning so that she and the victim could start looking for some junk to scavenge.
However, when she started looking for Grayo, she was shocked to find him dead.        Melnie Ragasa-Jimena

I wish that justice will be served to this case and to all hate crimes committed against the members of the LGBT Community.

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Face to Face: Barako Syota ay Tatlo! Nang magkaharapan, may ibukuking na totoo!

"... Gusto ko lang kasing malaman ninyo kung ano talaga ako bago ako umalis kung ano talaga ako  at kung sino ako. Niloloko ko na sila, niloloko ko pa ang sarili ko... patawad, bakla po ako ma'am. "

These are the words said by Roland in this episode of Face to Face, a reality TV show that discusses different topics in our society nowadays. It was a courageous attempt to disclose his true identity and I admire him for his decision. However, I would want to express my disappointment with the reactions of the audience when his partner was asked about the reason why he stood by Roland. The audience kept on yelling "Pera!", "Magaling" thinking that same sex relationships are all about money and sex when in fact it should be about love and affection and emotional satisfaction. Too bad these people can stereotype gay relationships. I can't imagine how narrow they can be and because of this, I believe that they should be educated about the LGBT Community.

The advise of the religious counselor was that discriminating and he told Roland that God loves him despite the fact that he is gay. I hope that all preachers are like him unlike those who kept on throwing stones at us and thinks that they are righteous.

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