Pinoys are gay friendly? Only on paper, says LGBT activist

The Philippines ranked 10th out of 39 countries in its acceptance of homosexuals and homosexuality, according to a recent global survey, but the local LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered) community is raising its collective eyebrow on it.

According to Jonas Bagas, executive director of TLF Share, a gay civil society group, the reported acceptance of homosexuality in the country may in fact be just veiled tolerance.

“I think hindi natin pwedeng sabihing sign 'yun ng gay friendliness, and in fact napaka-cosmetic ng pagtanggap sa mga LGBTs,” Bagas said, noting that the acceptance of LGBTs in the country is centered around stereotypes.

“Okay ka basta nagfi-fit ka sa stereotype, okay ka basta isa kang entertainer. Pero isang LGBT politician? Hindi natin 'yan tatanggapin. Clearly, iba ang sinasabi natin sa surveys, sa pananaw natin sa homosexuality, pero 'yung totoong attitudes natin, taliwas sa lumabas na survey,” he added.

Bagas was referring to the survey done by US-based Pew Research Center titled “The Global Divide on Homosexuality,” which showed that 73 percent of adult Filipinos surveyed agreed with the statement that “homosexuality should be accepted by society.”  

The high rating climbed nine percentage points since the last survey in 2002.

Out of the 39 countries surveyed, only 17 posted a majority acceptance of homosexuality. Other countries in the top 10 include Canada (80 percent), France (77 percent), Australia (79 percent), Spain (86 percent), Italy (74 percent) and Argentina (74 percent).

“Brazilians and Filipinos are considerably more tolerant of homosexuality than their countries’ relatively high levels of religiosity would suggest,” the Pew survey report noted.

A Catholic priest interviewed on GMA News TV’s “State of the Nation” Monday night said this could be because of Christian dignity.

“Ayon sa itinuturo ng ebanghelyo, we should not judge other people, we should treat everyone with human dignity and Christian dignity,” said Fr. Lino Nicasio, SVD of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish.



Tolerance, not acceptance

In a Facebook post, Bagas elaborated on why he believed the survey didn’t capture the true feelings of Filipinos toward homosexuality.

“Filipinos mistake acceptance of the so-called gay humor for 'gay-friendliness', a 'friendliness' that conveniently vanishes the moment LGBTs demand for equality. The moment we demand for access to health services, we are called 'AIDS carrier,’” he said.

“The moment we ask for access to education, we are warned against recruiting students to homosexuality, or warned against getting into romantic relationships. The moment we ask for respect and for the recognition of our dignity, we are told that we are too loud, too flamboyant; we are reminded that gay sex is unnatural,” he added, stressing that LGBTs continue to fight against constantly being made a punchline.

“Filipinos are friendly to the bakla who makes them laugh, who's creative and talented. But the moment that we demand for equality, we stop being the entertainers that you find funny; for you, we turn into a joke,” Bagas said. — Patricia Denise Chiu/KBK, GMA News