LGBT rights in the Philippines

Precolonial period

Priestesses, or babaylan held positions of authority as religious leaders or healers in some precolonial Philippine societies.^[12] Cross-dressing or transvestite males sometimes took on the role of the female babaylan.^[13]

The babaylan, also called katalonan, bayoguin, bayok, agi-ngin, asog, bido and binabae depending on the ethnic group of the region,^[5] held important positions in the community. They were the spiritual leaders of the Filipino communities, tasked with responsibilities pertaining to rituals, agriculture, science, medicine, literature and other forms of knowledge that the community needed.^[4] In the absence of a datu, the babaylan could take charge of the whole community.^[5]

The role of the babaylan was mostly associated with females, but male babaylans also existed. Early historical accounts record the existence of male babaylans who wore female clothes and took the demeanor of a woman.^[6][7] Anatomy was not the only basis for gender. Being male or female was based primarily on occupation, appearance, actions and sexuality. A male babaylan could partake in romantic and sexual relations with other men without being judged by society.^[5]

Precolonial society accepted gender-crossing and transvestism as part of their culture. Rituals and trances performed by the babaylan mirrored the reunification of the opposites, the male and female. They believed that by doing this they would be able to exhibit spiritual potency, which would be used for healing spiritual brokenness. Outside this task, male babaylans sometimes indulged in homosexual relations.^[5]

During the Islamisation of Mindanao, barangays and states influenced by Islam expelled the belief of homosexual acceptance. Nevertheless, states and barangays that were not Islamised continued to practice acceptance on homosexuality and gender-bending cultures and belief systems.

Spanish colonial period

The Spanish conquistadors introduced a predominantly patriarchal culture to the precolonial Philippines. Males were expected to demonstrate masculinity in their society, alluding to the Spanish machismo or a strong sense of being a man.^[14][15] Confession manuals made by the Spanish friars during this period suspected that the natives were guilty of sodomy and homosexual acts. During the 17th-18th century, Spanish administrators burned sodomites to enforce the decree made by Pedro Hurtado Desquibel, President of Audiencia.^[5]

Datus were appointed as the district officers of the Spaniards while the babaylans were reduced to relieving the worries of the natives. The removal of the datu system of localized governance affected babaylanship.^[5] The babaylans eventually disappeared with the colonization of the Spaniards. Issues about sexual orientation and gender identity were not widely discussed after the Spanish colonization.^[16]

American colonial period

Four decades of American occupation saw the promulgation and regulation of sexuality through a modernized mass media and a standardized academic learning. Furthered by the growing influence of Western biomedicine, it conceived a specific sexological consciousness in which the "homosexual" was perceived and discriminated as a pathological or sick identity. Filipino homosexuals eventually identified to this oppressive identity and began engaging in projects of inversion, as the disparity of homo and hetero entrenched and became increasingly salient in the people's psychosexual logic.^[17][18]

Though American colonialism brought the Western notion of "gay" and all its discontents, it also simultaneously refunctioned to serve liberationist ends. While it stigmatized the local homosexual identity, the same colonialism made available a discussion and thus a discursive position which enabled the homosexualized bakla to speak.^[18] It was during the neocolonial period in the 1960s that a conceptual history of Philippine gay culture began to take form, wherein a "subcultural lingo of urban gay men that uses elements from Tagalog, English, Spanish and Japanese, as well as celebrities' names and trademark brands" developed, often referred to as swardspeak, gayspeak or baklese.^[19] Gay literature that was Philippine-centric also began to emerge during this period.^[20] Further developments in gay literature and academic learning saw the first demonstrations by LGBT political activists, particularly LGBT-specific pride marches.^[21]

Martial law

During the implementation of the Martial Law, citizens were silenced by the Government through the military. People, including the LGBT community, did not have a voice during this period, and many were harassed and tortured. At the behest of Imelda Marcos, an anti-gay book was published that clarified the agonistic situation of gay culture at the same time that all other progressive movements in the country was being militaristically silenced.^[22] There were some homosexuals that were exiled by Marcos in America where they joined movements advocating the rights of the LGBT people.^[23] The community responded to this through the use of several mediums, such as the 1980s film Manila by Night, which introduces an LGBT character in its plotline.^[24] When the regime ended, those exiled returned to the Philippines, introducing new ideas of gay and lesbian conceptions.

1960s, 1970s–1980s

Swardspeak emerged in the 1960s and the pioneering Transgender activist in the time was Helen Cruz who was a singer and performer. During the 1970s and 1980s, Filipino concepts of gay were greatly influenced by Western notions. According to "Being LGBT in Asia: The Philippines Country Report", LGBT people who are exposed to the Western notion of being "gay" starting to have relationships with other LGBT people, instead of with heterosexual-identifying people.^[25] Towards the end of the 1980s, an increase in awareness of LGBT Filipinos occurred. In 1984, a number of gay plays were produced and staged.^[26] The plays that were released during the said time tackled the process of "coming out" by gay people.^[26]

1990s

Based on a report made by USAID, in partnership with UNDP entitled "Being LGBT in Asia: The Philippines Country Report", the LGBT community during the early 90s, made books that helped Filipinos become aware of the prevalence of LGBT communities like Ladlad, an anthology of Philippine gay writing edited by Danton Remoto and J. Neil Garcia and Margarita Go-Singco Holmes’s A Different Love: Being Gay in the Philippines in 1994 and 1993, respectively.^[11] This decade also marks the first demonstration of attendance by an organized sector of the country's LGBT community in the participation of a lesbian group called Lesbian Collective, as they join the International Women’s Day march of 1992.^[11] Another demonstration of attendance was made by ProGay Philippines and MCC Philippines, led by Oscar Atadero and Fr Richard Mickley respectively, when they organized a Pride march on 26 June 1994, that marked the first Pride-related parade hosted by a country in Asia and the Pacific.^[11] And throughout the decade, various LGBT groups were formed such as Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC) in 1991, the University of the Philippines (UP), Babaylan in 1992 and ProGay Philippines in 1993, and according to the report, the 1990s are the "probable maker of the emergence of the LGBT movement in the Philippines".^[11] In 1998, the Akbayan Citizens’ Action Party became the first political party to consult the LGBT community and helped with the creation of the first LGBT lobby group, the Lesbian and Gay Legislative Advocacy Network, otherwise known as LAGABLAB, in 1999.^[11] LAGABLAB proposed revisions to LGBT rights in 1999 and filed the Anti-Discrimination Bill (ADB) in 2000.^[11]

Contemporary (2000s–present)

The LGBT movement has been very active in the new millennium. In the advent of the 2000s, more LGBT organizations were formed to serve specific needs, including sexual health (particularly HIV), psychosocial support, representation in sports events, religious and spiritual needs, and political representation.^[11] For example, the political party Ang Ladlad was founded by Danton Remoto, a renowned LGBT advocate, in 2003.^[27] The community has also shown their advocacies through the 21st LGBT Metro Manila Pride March held in Luneta Park last June 27, 2015, with the theme, "Fight For Love: Iba-Iba. Sama-Sama". This movement aims to remind the nation that the fight for LGBT rights is a fight for human rights. Advocates are calling on the Philippines to recognize the voices of people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities.^[28] In present time, there remains no umbrella LGBT organization in the Philippines.^[11] Therefore, organizations tend to work independently of each other.^[11] Due to these divisions, there remains no prioritization of efforts, with organizations focusing on what they consider as important for them.^[11]

In December 2004, Marawi City banned gays from going out in public wearing female attire, makeup, earrings "or other ornaments to express their inclinations for femininity". The law passed by the Marawi City Council also bans skintight blue jeans, tube tops and other skimpy attire. Additionally, women (only) must not "induce impure thoughts or lustful desires." The Mayor said these moves were part of a "cleaning and cleansing" drive. People who violate these rules will have paint dumped on their heads by the muttawa, the religious police.^[29]

In late 2014, during the interpolations of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), the Filipino Government included a provision which would have allowed the Regional Bangsamoro Government to adhere to Sharia law. The usage of Sharia law would have allow gay people to be stoned to death or whipped in front of a public plaza. Due to the Mamasapano massacre in January 2015, the BBL was not passed by Congress, effectively hindering the passage of Sharia law in the Bangsamoro region.

In a United Nations Assembly for the establishment of an UN-backed LGBT Watch Personnel, the Philippine permanent delegate to the UN abstained from voting. Islamic nations and some eastern European nations voted against its establishment. Nevertheless, countries from Western Europe and the Americas with the backing of Vietnam, South Korea and Mongolia, voted in favor of its establishment. The LGBT Watch Personnel was established after the majority of nations in the meeting voted in its favor.

In 2016, Geraldine Roman became the first openly transgender woman elected to the Congress of the Philippines.^[30] Additionally, several openly LGBT people have been elected to local government positions throughout the Philippines, including as mayors or councillors. In Northern Samar, two of the province's 24 municipalities are run by openly LGBT mayors. The provinces of Albay, Cebu, Leyte, Nueva Vizcaya and Quezon as well as Metro Manila have LGBT elected officials.^[31]

A few months after the establishment of the UN expert on LGBT rights, an African-led coalition of nations made a move to dislodge the LGBT expert. In November 2016, UN members voted by a majority to retain the UN expert on LGBT issues, however, the representative of the Philippines chose to abstain again, despite outcry of support for the LGBT expert to be retained from various sectors in the country.^[32]

In late 2016, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) under Secretary Judy Taguiwalo enforced a policy, together with the Depertment of Education, where they allowed students to use uniform that match their gender identities, effectively accepting students who dress themselves like the opposite gender.^[33]

In July 2017, the Department of Education implemented the Gender-Responsive Basic Education Policy, which entails a review of public schools' curriculum to look at all forms of gender stereotypes, including LGBTIQ. The policy also mandates the observance of gender and development related events in schools; stating that June be celebrated as Pride Month.^[34]

According to the report of the ASEAN SOGIE Caucus released on November 2017 in time for the ASEAN Summit, the Philippines is shifting to "a trend to be more open and accepting of LGBT issues" as seen in the rise of cooperation and acceptance from government officials, especially in municipalities and cities nationwide such as Zamboanga City, Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, Metro Davao, Baguio City, and many more. The report also stated that there have been over 20 local government units that have adopted local ordinances on gender equality, but only two cities — Quezon City and Cebu City — have existing implementing rules and regulations (IRR).^[35]

On June 19, 2018, the Philippine Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a historic case seeking to legalize same-sex marriage in the Philippines.^[36][37][38]

2018 Supreme Court case

Falcis III vs. Civil Registrar-General
Court	Supreme Court of the Philippines
Full case name	Jesus Nicardo M. Falcis III vs Civil Registrar-General, LGBTS Christian ·Church, Inc., Reverend Crescencio "Ceejay" Agbayani, Jr., Marlon Felipe, and Maria Arlyn "Sugar" Ibanez, petitioners-in-intervention, Atty. Fernando P. Perito, intervenor.
Citation(s)	G.R. 217910
Questions presented
Constitutionality of the portions of Article 1 and 2 of the Family Code of the Philippines, which defines marriage as between a man and a woman, and whether said articles violate the Equal Protection Clause, Due Process Clause and religious freedom of the petitioner
Court membership
Judge(s) sitting	Antonio Carpio, Presbitero Velasco Jr., Teresita Leonardo-De Castro, Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Mariano del Castillo, Estela Perlas Bernabe, Marvic Leonen, Francis Jardeleza, Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, Samuel Martires, Noel Tijam, Andres Reyes Jr., Alexander Gesmundo
Keywords
Same-sex marriage

On March 2018, the Supreme Court of the Philippines approved the scheduling of a same-sex marriage petition that seeks to invalidate Articles 1 and 2 of the Family Code.^[55]

During the second week of June 2018, the Supreme Court announced that they will hear arguments in a case seeking the invalidation of the Family Code's provisions prohibiting same-sex marriage.^[56] The petition was filed by Atty. Jesus Falcis in 2015. The historic oral arguments are the first ever of its kind to be heard by the Supreme Court, and is backed by thousands of LGBT organizations in the Philippines, developing nations, and developed democracies, such as Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, and the Netherlands. The case is also supported by the country's top universities, including the Ateneo de Manila University and the University of the Philippines Diliman.^[57] The news of the historic oral arguments was also reported by the international media. Duterte also expressed his support for same-sex marriage to be legalized in the Philippines.^[58]

On June 19, 2018, the first wave of arguments commenced with the following arguments made: whether or not the petition is properly the subject of the exercise of the Supreme Court's power of judicial review, whether or not the right to marry and the right to choose whom to marry are cognates of the right to life and liberty, whether or not the limitation of civil marriage to opposite-sex couples is a valid exercise of police power, whether or not limiting civil marriages to opposite-sex couples violates the Equal Protection Clause, whether or not denying same-sex couples the right to marry amounts to a denial of their right to life and/or liberty without due process of law, whether or not sex-based conceptions of marriage violate religious freedom, whether or not a determination that Articles 1 and 2 of the Family Code are unconstitutional must necessarily carry with it the conclusion that Articles 46(4) and 55(6) of the Family Code (i.e.: homosexuality and lesbianism as grounds for annulment and legal separation) are also unconstitutional, and whether or not the parties are entitled to the reliefs prayed for. The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) under Jose Calida argued against the case.^[37] The second session of arguments took place on June 26, 2018.^[2][38]

Two days after the first arguments occurred, the presidential palace of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte stated that it was "too soon for same-sex marriage in the Philippines", causing outrage from various human rights organizations.^[59] Additionally, Senate President Tito Sotto, an ally of the Philippines President, commented: "Same sex union, no problem. Marriage? Debatable", saying that he will vote in favor of same-sex civil unions, a turnaround from previous pronouncements in 2016 and 2017 where he was against both same-sex civil unions and same-sex marriage.^[60]

Several Supreme Court justices have hinted that the case may be dismissed due to lack of standing, as Falcis did not apply for a marriage license himself.^[61]

Marriages by the Communist Party of the Philippines

The illegal Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), respectively its armed wing New People’s Army (NPA), does perform same-sex marriages among their members since 2005 in territories under their control.^[62]

Local government ordinances

Map of provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays in the Philippines that have sexual orientation and/or gender identity protections

  Sexual orientation and gender identity protected

  Sexual orientation protected

  Does not protect sexual orientation and gender identity

Seven provinces prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. These are Albay (2008),^[70][71] Agusan del Norte (2014), Batangas (2015), Cavite (2014/18),^[72] the Dinagat Islands (2016), Ilocos Sur (2017),^[73] and Iloilo (2016).^[74][75] The province of Cavite previously prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation only, but enacted gender identity protections in 2018.

Various cities, barangays and municipalities throughout the Philippines also have non-discrimination ordinances. The cities of Angeles (2013), Antipolo (2015), Bacolod (2013), Baguio (2017), Batangas (2016), Butuan (2016), Candon (2014), Cebu (2012), Davao (2012), General Santos (2016), Iloilo (2018),^[76] Mandaluyong (2018),^[77] Mandaue (2016), Puerto Princesa (2015), Quezon (2003/14), San Juan (2017),^[78] and Vigan (2014) ban sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination.^[74][75] 3 barangays also have such ordinances (Bagbag, Greater Lagro and Pansol; all three of which are in Quezon City), as does the municipality of San Julian (2014) in Eastern Samar.

The city of Dagupan enacted an anti-discrimination ordinance in 2010, which includes sexual orientation as a protected characteristic. The anti-discrimination ordinance does not explicitly mention gender identity. However, the terms "sex", "gender" and "other status" could be interpreted as covering it.^[79] In 2003, Quezon City approved an ordinance banning discrimination against "homosexuals". In 2014, it amended that ordinance and banned discrimination against anyone on the basis of both sexual orientation and gender identity.

Anti-bullying laws

Sexual orientation and gender identity are included as prohibited grounds of bullying in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Anti-Bullying Law, approved by Congress in 2013.^[80][81]

Religion

Several religious beliefs exists within the country, including Roman Catholicism, the Iglesia ni Cristo and Islam, among many others. These different faiths have their own views and opinions towards the topic of homosexuality.

Media

Recognized as an important venue for the promotion of issues related to the LGBT community by participants in national dialogue facilitated by the UNDP, the media acknowledges the negative impact of religion concerning the treatment of such issues, where it provides a blanket context that society views homosexuality as negative.^[11]

In May 2004, producers of several television programs received a memorandum from the chair of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), which warned against positive depictions of lesbian relationships; it was stated in the memo that "lesbian and homosexual relationships are an abnormality/aberration on prime-time TV programs gives the impression that the network is encouraging homosexual relationships."^[11]

The lack of sexual orientation and gender identity awareness is emphasized in other circumstances; transphobia is ubiquitous with media practitioners who do not address transgender people in accordance with how they self-identify.^[11] At the 2013 Cinemalaya indie awards, transgender actress Mimi Juareza won under the Best Actor category, and in reports, she was referred to repeatedly using the male pronoun.^[11] In 2014, the death of Jennifer Laude and the investigation conducted was highly publicized, with practitioners referring to her as Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude.^[91]

Participants in the UNDP-facilitated national dialogue stated that content emphasized a general lack of understanding for sexual orientation and gender identity, such that LGBT stereotypes dominate; there are many gay men hosting programs at radio stations and television networks, but they are limited to covering entertainment shows.^[11] There is an apparent lack of representation for lesbians and transgender people.^[11] Given their platform, some media personalities have publicly shared their anti-LGBT sentiments; in 2009 newspaper columnist Ramon Tulfo wrote that LGBT people "should not also go around town proclaiming their preferences as if it was a badge of honor."^[11]

Beyond mainstream media, which already has a niche for the sector, the Internet has provided LGBT people ways to tell their stories outside the realm of film, television, print, and radio.^[11] There are blogs kept, opportunities to connect with others, publications with LGBT sections and a web-based magazine, Outrage, catering to the community.^[11]

Views

Ryan Thoreson in his article "Capably Queer: Exploring the Intersections of Queerness and Poverty in the Urban Philippines" did a research on the LGBT community in the Philippines and how it copes with living in the country. He interviewed a total of 80 LGBT informants in order to gather the data.^[92] Based on his survey about employment and from what he gathered, he claimed that under a half of the respondents were employed and weekly income mean was only 1514.28 pesos per week.^[92] The survey also stated that "less than one-third have stable income and very few enjoyed any kind of benefits",^[92] and 75% of its respondents said that they would like to do more wage-earning work.^[92]

As for its empowerment section, the survey stated that when the respondents were asked to tell their primary contribution to the household, 45% of them named household chores as their primary contribution, 30% stated giving money or paying the bills, 17.5% provided labor and money, and 7.5% said that they were not expected to contribute anything.^[92] As for their privacy, 75% of the respondents said that they had enough privacy and personal space.^[92]

In terms of safety and security, Thoreson's journal also provides statistical data in terms of the LGBT community's involvement in crimes as victims. According to the survey he made, 55% of his respondents were harassed on the street, 31.2% were robbed, 25% had been physically assaulted, 6.25% had been sexually assaulted, 5% had survived a murder attempt, and 5% had been blackmailed by the police.^[92]

Economy

The LGBT community, although a minority in the economic sphere, still plays an integral role in the growth and maintenance of the economy. LGBT individuals face challenges in employment both on an individual level and as members of a community that is subject to discrimination and abuse. This can be compounded by the weak social status and position of the individuals involved.^[11]

A USAID study conducted in 2014, entitled "The Relationship between LGBT Inclusion and Economic Development: An Analysis of Emerging Economies", has shown that countries which have adopted anti-LGBT economic laws have lower GDPs compared to those who do not discriminate against employers/employees based on their sexual orientation.^[93] The link between discrimination and the economy is direct, since the discrimination experienced by members of the LGBT community turn them into disadvantaged workers, which can be bad for business. Disadvantaged workers usually practice absenteeism, low productivity, inadequate training and high turnover, which make for higher labor costs and lower profits.^[93] According to the USAID study, LGBT people in their sample countries are limited in their freedoms in ways that also create economic harms.^[94] This coincides with Emmanuel David's article, Transgender Worker and Queer Value at Global Call Centers in the Philippines, in which he states that "trans- and gender-variant people have always sought paid employment, and they have routinely performed unpaid labor and emotional work".^[95] In his article, he focuses on how in the Philippines there is a growing market of trans women looking for employment so they have tried creating their own space as "purple collar" but still face discrimination.

On the other hand, studies have shown that the integration of the LGBT community into the economic system yields a higher income for the country. In a recent USAID study, it is said that a wide range of scholarly theories from economics, political science, sociology, psychology, public health and other social sciences support the idea that full rights and inclusion of LGBT people are associated with higher levels of economic development and well-being for the country.^[94] Also, the acceptance of LGBT people within the office environment can lead to higher income for the company since the people do not feel as disadvantaged and as discriminated as before.^[94] Another thing is that a better environment for LGBT individuals can be an attractive bargaining chip for countries seeking multinational investments and even tourists, since a conservative climate that keeps LGBT people in the closet and policymakers from recognizing the human rights of LGBT people will hold their economy back from its full potential.^[93] Naturally, passing a non-discrimination law will not immediately lead to a sudden boost in the country's economy, although less discrimination should eventually lead to more output.^[93]

Politics

Marginalized sectors in society recognised in the national electoral law include categories such as elderly, peasants, labour, youth etc. Under the Philippine Constitution, some 20% of seats in the House of Representatives are reserved. In 1995 and 1997, unsuccessful efforts were made to reform the law so as to include LGBT people. A proponent of this reform was Senate President Pro Tempore Blas Ople who said (in 1997), "In view of the obvious dislike of the ... administration for gay people, it is obvious that the president will not lift a finger to help them gain a sectoral seat."^[96]

The Communist Party of the Philippines integrated LGBT rights into its party platform in 1992, becoming the first Philippine political party to do so.^[97] The Akbayan Citizens' Action Party was another early party (although a minor one) to advocate for LGBT rights in 1998.

Philippine political parties are typically very cautious about supporting gay rights, as most fall along the social conservative political spectrum. A major political opponent of LGBT rights legislation has been Congressman Bienvenido Abante (6th district, Manila) of the ruling conservative Lakas-CMD party.^[98]

The administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was called "not just gender insensitive, but gender-dead" by Akbayan Party representative Risa Hontiveros. Rep. Hontiveros also said that the absence of any policy protecting the rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender betrays the Government’s homophobia: "this homophobic government treats LGBTs as second-class citizens."^[99]

On 11 November 2009, the Philippine Commission on Elections (COMELEC) denied the Filipino LGBT political party Ang Ladlad's petition to be allowed to run in the May 2010 elections, on the grounds of "immorality".^[100][101] In the 2007 elections, Ang Ladlad was previously disqualified for failing to prove they had nationwide membership.^[102]

On 8 April 2010, the Supreme Court of the Philippines reversed the ruling of COMELEC and allowed Ang Ladlad to join the May 2010 elections.^[103][104]

On 17 June 2011, the Philippines abstained from signing the United Nations declaration on sexual orientation and gender identity, which condemns violence, harassment, discrimination, exclusion, stigmatization and prejudice based on sexual orientation and gender identity. However, on 26 September 2014, the country gave a landmark yes vote on a follow-up resolution by the UN Human Rights Council to fight violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI).^[105]

The Ang Ladlad is a progressive political party with a primary agenda of combating discrimination and harassment on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

University of Santo Tomas

In the 1960s, the first LGBT organization, Tigresa Royal, at the University of Santo Tomas was established. However, the organization dissipated during the martial law era. The organization was never recognized by the university. In 2013, HUE, a new LGBT organization at the university, was formally established. The organization was established by Majann Lazo, the student council president of the Faculty of Arts and Letters, and Noelle Capili, a member of Mediatrix, a university-wide organization for art enthusiasts. Similarly to Tigresa Royal, the university denied HUE recognition as a university organization.^[106]

On July 1, 2015, the university ordered numerous organizations to "take down" all rainbow-themed profile pictures of its members on social media after the legalization of same-sex marriage in the United States. The order was defied by numerous students of the university, marking the beginning of the UST Rainbow Protest. In July 2016, various student organizations supported the filing of the SOGIE Equality Bill in the Senate and the House of Representatives.^[107][108]

In March 2018, during the passage of the SOGIE Equality Bill in the Philippine House of Representatives, numerous UST student organizations, including the first intersectional feminist organization in the school, UST Hiraya, backed the bill's passage.^[109]

On June 21, 2018, statements against the UST LGBT community were circulated on Twitter and Facebook. The statements originally came from the school regent. The tweet noted that the school "understands" LGBT rights, but tasked all presidents of all student organizations at the university to "take down" pro-LGBT statements, especially if those statements involved the words "LGBT" and "Pride Month". The statements garnered massive backlash against the university on social media, with almost 4,000 disapprovals and around 1,100 retweets in less than two days. The order of the school regent was also defied by numerous UST organizations, in continuation of the UST Rainbow Protest.^[110][111]

Ateneo University campuses

The Jesuit-run Ateneo de Manila University and its branches throughout the country have been viewed as pro-LGBT since the middle of the 20th century. The university supports the SOGIE Equality Bill, the advancement of the Metro Manila Pride March, sex reassignment surgery (such as in the case of Geraldine Roman), and same-sex marriage.^[112][113] The university also has inclusive gender restrooms, a move spearheaded by its Davao campus, which has the largest population of Muslim students. The same campus also held the first pride march in the Davao region.^[114][115]

University of the Philippines campuses

All campuses of the University of the Philippines support the SOGIE Equality Bill, same-sex marriage, sex reassignment surgery, and other progressive LGBT causes. The university is home to UP Babaylan, the largest network of LGBT student organizations in the country. All campuses of the university have conducted annual pride marches since their establishment, including Baguio (Cordillera), Pampanga (Central Luzon), Olongapo (Central Luzon), Laguna (Calabarzon), Manila (Metro Manila), Quezon City (Metro Manila), Iloilo (Western Visayas), Davao City (Davao Region), Tacloban (Eastern Visayas) and Cebu (Central Visayas).^[116]

University of San Carlos

The Cebu-based University of San Carlos is viewed as "LGBT-friendly", despite its Catholic upbringing. The university has approved various LGBT-related events at the university campus, and even invited Hezekiah Marquez Diaz, the first transwoman in the Philippines to dress as a woman at her graduation. Diaz was a guest speaker at the 6th Carolinian Summit, a leadership summit attended by influencal leaders in Cebu and held at the university.^{[117][118][119]}

University of Mindanao

The campuses of the University of Mindanao outside the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) are seen as "LGBT-friendly", however, the campuses in the ARMM have past cases involving persecution of members of the LGBT community, especially in Marawi, the only city in the Philippines which has an intentional anti-LGBT ordinance. No person has yet to challenge the ordinance in court. In 2012, leaflets and radio broadcasts from unidentified sources were released at the Marawi campus, saying that all LGBT people should move away from the city, if not, all of them will be murdered through "wajib", or a so-called "Muslim obligation".^[120] Reports have found that many LGBT students and former students at the university have experienced a variety of harassment and even some near-death experiences. Additionally, many LGBT alumni at the university have been gunned down in the city. One account states that within 4 years, 8 of the closest LGBT friends of a Marawi transwoman were gunned down in the city.^[121]

De la Salle University

Campuses of De la Salle University have been viewed as pro-LGBT. The student government of the university has hosted numerous pro-LGBT events including "G for SOGIE" in 2018. In 2011, the Queer Archers' Alliance (QAA) was conceptualized and established at the university.^[122] The university has supported the SOGIE Equality Bill, sex reassignment surgery, greater awareness of HIV/AIDS, and other progressive legislation, although some of the university's older employees have contrasting views.^[123]

Universidad de Zamboanga

The Universidad de Zamboanga is viewed by many of its students as "pro-LGBT", although cases of hate crimes have surfaced as well.

Saint Louis University

The Baguio-based Saint Louis University is viewed as an "LGBT-friendly" university in the Cordilleras. It supports the SOGIE Equality Bill and it has its own gender-neutral restroom policy.^[124]

Lyceum of the Philippines University

The Lyceum of the Philippines University is viewed as "pro-LGBT" and has active student organizations focused on equality, including LPU Kasarian, which successfully lobbied for the university to establish a gender-neutral restroom policy in 2017.^[124]

Xavier University

The Jesuit-run Xavier University is viewed as "pro-LGBT". The university supports the SOGIE Equality Bill and sex reassignment surgery.

Polytechnic University of the Philippines

The Polytechnic University of the Philippines is highly viewed as "pro-LGBT". In March 2018, the university itself advocated for LGBT rights, in cooperation with numerous student organizations, including its own LGBT student organization, PUP Kasarianlan.^[125] In June 2018, the university had its first ever transgender valedictorian, Ianne Gamboa.^[126]

Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila

In September 2013, after a year of fighting for recognition, the University of Manila officially recognized its first and only LGBT student organization, later leading to the first ever pride march at the campus. The recognition of the organization was spearheaded by a coalition of student organizations at the university, ranging from feminist organizations, fraternities, sororities, art organizations, literary organizations, business organizations, and many others.^[127]

Eastern Samar State University

In May 2017, the Eastern Samar State University unanimously ruled that gender-neutral restrooms would be implemented as a way to commit to gender equality, becoming the first school in Samar to do so.^[128]

Bicol University

In 2013, Bicol University's first LGBT organization, BU MAGENTA, was officially formed and recognized. The organization was backed by numerous faculties of the university. The organization had grown to become the largest LGBT student organization in the Bicol Region by 2018.^[129]

Central Luzon State University

The Central Luzon State University is viewed as "LGBT-friendly". The university recognized its first LGBT student organization on the very first year it was established. The university also holds its own gay pageant, where the winner is given the title "Mushroom Fairy".^[130][131]

Bulacan State University

The Bulacan State University is home to BulSu Bahaghari, an LGBT student organization and the first established in the province of Bulacan.^[132][133]

Silliman University

The Silliman University is viewed as "pro-LGBT". The university has its own LGBT section in its university library, and the library itself organizes LGBT panel activities.^[134] It has also recognized many literary works and authors who have advocated for gender equality in the Philippines.^[135]

Far Eastern University

The Far Eastern University is viewed as "pro-LGBT". The university allows transgender students to wear clothes reflecting their gender identity on the campus.^{[136][137][138]} The university also accredited Sexuality and Gender Alliance (SAGA), a student-led university-wide organization that fights against any form of abuse or discrimination.^[139]