5 reasons why you cannot skip this story:
- Discover the truth behind a surge in transphobic violence in the Philippines, a country long believed to be tolerant
- Meet the families and survivors fighting stigma, silence, and systemic neglect
- Understand why a 25-year non-discrimination bill remains stuck in Congress
- Learn how discrimination drains billions from the economy
- Find out why many LGBTQ Filipinos fear the police
When 39-year-old Filipino transgender woman, former journalist, and LGBTQ rights advocate, Ali Macalintal was shot dead last June at her acupuncture clinic in General Santos City, the shock reverberated far beyond her community.
Friends and activists suspect her killing may be linked to her advocacy. The murder adds to a list of attacks that question the image of the Philippines as one of Southeast Asia’s more tolerant countries.
At least 50 transgender or non-binary individuals have been murdered in the Philippines since 2010, the highest number in the region, with experts fearing the true toll might be much higher. This year, a series of transphobic killings prompted the Commission on Human Rights to condemn a “disturbing pattern of transfemicide”.
Alarming rates of abuse and violence
A 2022 study by the Council for the Welfare of Children found that among the 174 LGBT children surveyed :
- 75% suffered physical maltreatment
- 78% experienced psychological abuse
- 33% reported sexual abuse
Mental health figures are equally stark. LGBT youth in the Philippines are twice as likely to consider suicide compared to their heterosexual peers and 75% of LGBTQ+ youth have seriously considered suicide at alarming levels:
- 59% considered suicide in the past year
- 46% attempted suicide at some point
- 34% attempted suicide in the past year
Stigma, silence and everyday survival
A recent documentary on intersex Filipinos exposed the ordeals many endure – confusion surrounding their identity struggles, hostility from neighbors, and the constant pressure to hide. In a country where religious groups urge LGBTQ individuals to “pray the gay away“, many grow up believing they are at fault for who they are.
For Jac Neric, a housekeeper and parent of two intersex children, the stigma is relentless. Whispered comments, misconceptions, and judgments follow the family everywhere. Managing her children’s medication regimen to treat Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia becomes even harder amidst societal ignorance and scrutiny.
Economic exclusion and healthcare gaps
Economic marginalization is another persistent daily reality. According to a recent survey, LGBT Filipinos are twice as likely to be underemployed and thrice as likely to be involved in vulnerable work.
Such conditions entrench poverty and limit access to safe housing and healthcare.
Health disparities further compound the problem. Intersex diagnosis is severely limited, with only two hospitals offering specialized services, often at costs families cannot afford. Many go undiagnosed for years. Others discover their status accidentally with no follow-up explanation being offered.
Male-to-male sexual partners face high HIV rates, marginalization, and an increasing risk of related health issues such as hypertension and substance abuse. Estimates show that these health burdens cost the Philippine economy US$1.58 billion in loss of gross domestic product, a consequence of discrimination, social exclusion, and an inadequate public health approach.
Deep distrust in law enforcement
Decades of abuse, harassment and discriminatory treatment by the police have left many LGBTQ Filipinos unwilling to seek help. Community groups cite repeated cases of:
- Physical and verbal abuse by officers
- Police ignoring or downplaying complaints from LGBTQ victims
- No clear guidelines for the police to follow, leading to biased treatment
- Extortion and blackmail
- Fear of retaliation and lack of faith in internal investigations
The lack of anti-discrimination laws worsen the problem, leading to unreported hate crimes and violence.
A 25-year non-discrimination bill stuck in Congress
A bill criminalizing sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC)-based discrimination has been stuck in the Philippines’ Congress for 25 years, delayed by procedural tactics, a lack of political will, and anti-LBGTQ disinformation campaigns, despite decades of advocacy.
Local regulations prohibit SOGIESC-based discrimination, but they “have no teeth at all”, explained Irish Inoceto, an LGBT activist and former employee of the Philippine Supreme Court, emphasizing the urgent need for a nationwide law.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has expressed support for LGBTQ+ rights and anti-discrimination, but the SOGIESC equality bill remains pending. Despite his backing, the bill has faced opposition, with some arguing it could infringe on religious freedom.
Policy gaps leave LGBTQ+ students behind
Even when policies do exist, implementation is weak. The Department of Education’s 2017 Gender-Responsive Basic Education Policy intended to make schools safer and more inclusive. A 2022 memorandum reaffirmed that students can wear clothes that align with their gender identity at events. Yet, LGBTQ+ students still face daily struggles with restrictions on uniforms and hairstyles that do not align with their identity.
Some local governments have passed anti-discrimination rules but, without a national law, LGBTQ+ individuals remain vulnerable to discrimination and hate crimes daily.
Equality delayed, equality denied
Senator Risa Hontiveros has compared the struggle for LGBTQ+ rights to earlier battles for women’s rights, recalling that women had been denied the right to vote, work, and access to power. The path towards equality for LGBTQ+ rights, she argued, is similarly slow.
The Commission on Human Rights has urged the government to revisit its rejection of a UN recommendation for a gender equality bill, emphasizing that legislation is essential for preventing the discrimination that is spreading across the country.
For families mourning victims like Ali Macalintal and for the entire LGBTQ+ community, one thing is clear – without national protection, tolerance will remain a myth and equality will remain a promise unfulfilled.
