PHOTO BY PATRICK KING PASCUAL
To mark the global celebration of the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have announced the scheduled holding of a series of events to highlight the plight of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in the Philippines from 12 to 16 May.
The event is supported by the “Being LGBT in Asia”, a ground breaking joint initiative between UNDP and USAID, which is being implemented in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam. Since its launch in December 2012, this regional initiative has been working with LGBT communities, universities, and human rights organizations to gain insights into the challenges and successes of LGBT communities in Asia.
On the 12th, “Being LGBT in Asia: The Philippine Country Report”, will be launched. This is a participatory review and analysis of the legal and social environment for LGBT people and civil society, with the report providing an overview of LGBT human rights situation in the Philippines including the effects of laws, policies, culture, and social attitudes, and religion, based on research, consultation and community dialogue.
An exhibit, which aims to raise awareness of the legal and social environments of Filipino LGBT, will be on display at the RCBC Plaza lobby from 12 to 16 May.
On May 16, there will be a film showing – dubbed “Stories of Being Me” – at the University of the Philippines Film Institute (UPFI) Film Center, Diliman, Quezon City.
“Stories of Being Me” are short documentary films, which form part of a campaign in supporting the well-being of young people from sexual and gender minorities. The film showing aims to raise awareness about the personal lives of LGBT people across Asia Pacific by putting a personal face to LGBT people’s challenges and successes. A brief interaction/discussion with directors and/or actors will follow after the screening.
For more information on the events, contact: for UNDP, Christopher Reyes at (+632) 9010249 or (+63) 915219 3461; Philip Castro at (+632) 9010223; and for USAID, Catherine Hamlin at chamlin@usaid.gov.
