Presenters at this year’s national conference of the Psychological Association of the Philippines.
Filipino psychologists presented eight new lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) research studies to audiences at this year’s national conference of the Psychological Association of the Philippines (PAP).
“This is the fourth year we’ve had out and proud LGBT programming here at the PAP conference,” according to Eric Manalastas, who coordinates PAP’s LGBT capacity-building initiatives. “Our aim is to have an inclusive psychology in the Philippines, one that advances rights and well-being for everyone, LGBT Filipinos included.”
Researchers from the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman, UP Tacloban, De La Salle University Dasmariñas, Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Ramon Magsaysay (Cubao) High School, and University of San Carlos Cebu led two dedicated LGBT psychology sessions which attracted more than a hundred and fifty professional attendees from all over the country and the region.
Four of the new studies delved into experiences of Filipino gay and lesbian youth in the family, in high school, and in rehabilitation settings. The rest explored a range of queer topics, including mate preferences of Filipino lesbians and gay men, outness of same-sex couples in Cebu, Filipino male bisexuality, and homophobia-reduction using broadcast media.
Rounding out the LGBT sessions were a round table discussion on LGBT psychology and counseling in Southeast Asia featuring guest panelists from Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand, and a half-day professional workshop on LGBT-affirmative counseling led by Ateneo de Manila University’s Mira Ofreneo, a pioneer of LGBT psychology in the country.
