UK vs Philippines Approach to Gay and Trans People

Always a difficult opener at dinner parties but I am always very pleasantly surprised about the Asian approach to gay and trans people in Thailand and the Philippines. Even in Phil, with its very strong catholic culture, there was an easy acceptance of gay and trans people which in my opinion is an impressive lesson that people in the UK could do with learning. I have many gay family and friends and some british trans friends yet they seem to be permenantly campaigning for recognition and rights.

When in Surigao I had a couple of really wild karaoke nights out with a group of trans girls who were so so sweet and friendly ( and such great singers!). Admittedly I am comfortable in any company and a little beligerent about people's opnion of myself also.

I was wondering what Philippino forum members living in the UK thought about the different treatment or whether they think we have it right here.

Glad to hear you are very much friendly and associated with gay and trans people.

This forum is gay friendly, I am gay myself and very much welcomed by the admins and all members here.

In general, ph has been very open when it comes to the gay community. We have grown up with friends who are gay right from primary school and as their friends you only want the best for them.

Of course, you have raised a very valid point- their civil rights are still a struggle. Its still a long and hard fight due to the grip of religion to society.

In the Philippines, there are a lot of gay/trans who are now out in the open. I have a lot of gay friends back home and I love their company! All you will do is keep on laughing with them.

When I was in Manchester, I saw some gays/trans walking in the street. The public seem fine with them.

Manchester is a very open city and the gay village is popular with the LBTG and straight crowd. Seeing two men or women holding hands in the street is common and accepted.

Yeah, I took the missus around the gay village the other week when I picked her up from the office, she enjoyed it although in truth is does make me feel slightly uncomfortable, I don't mind gay people but I don't like it when they talk like a girl, it niggles me.

My colleague from Belgium is coming over in a couple of weeks and he always stops in a hotel right next to the village, he is gay and married to his long term partner.

I've always found there is an acceptance of LGBT in the Philippines. There will be a cousin, brother or niece in every family who is LGBT. You will not need to look very far to find someone who is transgender. In the UK, I know plenty of gay men and lesbians, but I don't know any transgenders whatsoever. However, there seems to be limits as to what LGBT are allowed to achieve in the Philippines.

I've sat around with groups of Filipino guys drinking Red Horse (I'm usually drinking tubig lang, po). My Tagalog is basic enough to make myself understood in most circumstances, but even I've been able to pick out the lines when the topic turns to baklas etc. Just like you'd expect with groups of young, macho drunken British guys, the opinions offered are just as insulting.

Gays seem to be expected to conform to stereotype and work in beauty parlours, entertaining or a server in Jollibee.

Mainstream work in the UK is far more accessible for LGBT. Indeed, many industries are encouraged to show how open they are to ethnic minorities and LGBT. The Philippines is a long way from reaching the point where the local police station is desperately trying to recruit a ladyboy to boost the ranks of non-hetero Pinoy males.

Interesting, my GF is trans and lives in the Cayman where she works as a make-up artist for M.A.C. She much prefers her treatment in the Philippines than to where she is now which is very conservative. I'm slightly concerned about when we meet in May as I tend to be quite blase and tactile etc and she is literally the only trans on the island.

We're both of an age ( 52 and 41) where we have many miles beneath our feet so sort of don't really care what life throws at us anymore but one day we will settle down together, probably in the UK to begin with but also probably spend time with her family. That being said, the potential to work in some places is lost to us because of the treatment of LGBT people, such as Dubai where I could make a very good living. Luckily my family are all good with it also ( ex wife not so much, daughter getting there ). One of the main differences I see is that in the UK trans people used to be only able to transition later on in life whilst in the Philippines its as soon as they decide. probably explains the lack of visibility. That being said, there are many more.... I hate this phrase myself... gender fluid young people in the country. In thailand schools have bathrooms for three genders.

I think I just outed myself...

Anyway, I hope you are all comfortable with all peoples, if not then try and knock some walls down, you might surprise yourself.

An opposite perspective from my eight year old stepson, who is most definitely "pink". He was bullied at school for being "bayot" in the Philippines; he has had no such problems at his school here, where his classmates calmly accept that he is gay, and he is popular with both boys and girls.

You "outed" as you put it simply by starting this thread, pretty obvious really

There is another member here on the forum with a similar set of circumstances as you, not been around for a while though, myself, @bigmac and others tried helping him out with his settlement visa application, unfortunately he was unsuccessful but he intends to try again if he has not already done so.

Indeed, I was testing the water.

Interesting regarding the other person. I wish him every success and if he wants to contact I would be grateful and maybe we can cooperate.

Absolutely.

Where is the Sir John Browne of the Philippines?
(Chairman of BP, a major oil company)

Where is the Sir Ian McKellen of the Philippines?
(much admired classical actor best known for playing Gandalf)

Where is the Chris Smith of the Philippines?
(gay Cabinet minister)

Such things are unthinkable - it's a society of "macho" mummy's boys.

The chap in question is a really pleasant and determined to get his girlfriend to the UK, I hope he has finally managed it I really do.

I will PM you and give you the chaps details once I find them and you can make contact, I'm sure he would appreciate it.

@PaddyJoh is the member, I was going to PM you but your privacy settings prevent me from doing so.

Say hello to him from me and tell him to get back on the forum and give us an update

John Browne worked really hard to hide his sexuality and it only came out when it appeared he had used his influence to the benefit of his partner. He is not really a role model. Tim Cook, much more.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=j...efox-b-ab&gfe_rd=cr&ei=3VivWM20FMST8QeF-bzgDA

The Philippines does have a transgender politician in congress, more than the UK. Both have gay politicans to be fair.

There are also many gay celebs also. I do recognise your comment about how LGBT people are treated still and the somewhat dated attitude which is generally born of ignorance. We saw in the UK that everyobody knew someone who was gay, its just that they could not come out because of this "banter". Times have changed and will in Phil also.... hopefully. Like most things, it often is linked to education and knowledge. Ignorance rather than prejudice. Role models are an important part of this, and we are sometimes those as well.

My privacy is set to members...??

Apologies, its me, you are accepting PMs

Yes, but... the reason why the Philippines has a trans Congresswoman is not that the voters of Bataan (a province that I know quite well, as my ex comes from Orani - I have driven down the Roman Highway for almost thirty years now) are unusually modern; it is that Geraldine is the current scion of the Roman dynasty, and happens to be trans. She would still be in Congress if she were not trans, so I am not quite sure that she should be used as an example of anything other than the power of dynasties in Philippines politics!