DETERMINING THE ISSUES OF LGBTQ COMMUNITY ON THE IMPLEMENTATION

OF GUIDELINES AND RULES IN ACLC COLLEGE OF ORMOC

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements of Practical Research 2

Presented to the Faculty of ACLC College of Ormoc

Mary Estephanie C. Abad

Isshi Mae T. Cuizon
Aira Mae D. Maro
Mary Jane B. Mopon
 July 2019
ii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We would like to gratefully acknowledge all our efforts in making this project. The great

cooperation and time management that helped us become a better team. The researchers would

like to thank everyone that made this study possible.

To this subject adviser, Ms. Marielle Dominique De la Cruz for guiding us throughout

the making of the paper and for providing valuable comments and inputs on the drafts of the paper.

To our parents, who never failed to support and encourage us to always work hard.

To our classmates, for their contribution and answering our queries about the making of

research paper.

To the respondents, who willingly gave some of their time to answer and share their

opinions in our questionnaire.

Most of all, to our almighty God, the giver of knowledge and provider of good health.

Without Him letting us understand our topic, we will not arrive at some certain thoughts that

became a great help to our research paper.

To our panels, who made the oral defense possible. For their honest comments and

suggestions that helps us in making our study. Commented [1]: The last acknowledgement should be
for God
 CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

LGBT stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender and along with heterosexual they Commented [2]: Period, then separate sentence for
They.
are terms used to describe people’s sexual orientation or gender identity (LGBT Ireland, 2018).

Just like any other marginalized group that has had to fight for acceptance and equal rights, the

LGBT community has a history of events that have impacted the community. Barbara Gittings, an

American activist for LGBT equality, stated that, "Every lesbian and gay should be judge as an Commented [3]: judged

individuals." (The Ladder, 1960)

Prior to the late-nineteenth century, the concept of having a distinct sexual identity did not

exist, though people in the past lived lives similar to our modern understanding of what it means

to be LGBTQ. Gay identity, as both a personal and political category, did not fully emerge until Commented [4]: LGBTQ or just LGBT?

the mid-twentieth century. Historical terminology used to describe sexuality and gender often

lacked the specificity that exists today (Iovannone, 2018).

Gender non-conformity in the Philippines pre-dates the arrival of the Spaniards in 1521,

from Spanish accounts of encounters between conquistadores and the archipelago’s original Commented [5]: enclose in ""

inhabitants, crossing gender and transvestism were cultural, exemplified by the babaylan. Also Commented [6]: italicize the word and put a footnote

bayoguin, bayok, agi-ngin, asog, bido, binabae (Garcia, 2004), balian, baleen, babay, and balayan

(Melencio, 2013). These men, however, did not only wear the customary clothes of women as well

as assumed the demeanor of women, but were also granted social and symbolic recognition as

“somewhat-women”. Some were even “married” to men, with whom they had sexual relations

(Garcia, 2004). References to gender expression were noted in the evolution of some words in the
 4

Filipino language. As an example, an old word used to refer to effeminate men is syoki, Commented [7]: please enclose in " "

believed to be derived from the Hokkien (Minnan) words syo and ki to mean “with weak spirit”.

It therefore effeminate men are weak (Tan, 1995). In the past, the term used to identify mainly

cross-dressing effeminate men was bakla, while the female counterpart was tomboy. Commented [8]: "bakla"

The British sexologist Havelock Ellis, for example, referred to both people who we would

today identify as gay or transgender as “sexual inverts,” which he defined as persons who exhibit

same-gender attraction and a gender presentation socially contrary to the sex one was assigned at

birth. The term “homosexual,” coined in 1869 by the Hungarian doctor Karoly Maria Benkert, was

not in popular usage till the early twentieth century. The Pew Research Center conducted a survey

from 2 March to 1 May 2013 in 39 countries with 37,653 respondents. This survey showed that 73

percent of the Filipino respondents said that homosexuality should be accepted by society with an

even higher percentage (78%) of younger respondents in the 15-29 age group (Pew Research

Center, 2013). “Gay” emerged as an underground term in the early-twentieth century and came

into popular usage in the 1960s. According to Iovannone (2018), the LGBTQ initialism is not just

a random collection of letters that represent identities; rather, these letters are history embodied.

They tell the story of the modern LGBTQ Rights Movement, reminding us that our victories have

been a long time coming, and have not been easily won. In the 2000s, more LGBT organization

were formed to serve specific needs, including sexual health (particularly HIV), psychological

support, representation in sports events, religious and spiritual needs, and political representation.

However, the efforts of these organizations started to overlap with each other.

A major organization formed this century was the LGBT political party Ang Ladlad, which

was founded by Remoto (one of the editors of the Ladlad anthology) on 21 September 2003. It
 5

intended to represent LGBT Filipinos by winning a seat in the Philippine Congress through the

party-list system. By mid-2013, the number of LGBT organizations from all over the Philippines

that included human rights advocacy in their platform numbered approximately 100. The bisexual

community remains under represented in the LGBT community in the Philippines, not only

because of the stigmatization of bisexuals by both heterosexual and homosexual communities, but

also because of the conflicting perceptions among Filipinos on who is bisexual. (Tan, 1996)

Though today “gay” typically refers to men who are attracted to men, it was historically

used as a broad term that encompassed the entirety of the modern LGBTQ initialism. Activists

believed that the term gay community did not accurately represent all those to whom it referred.

As lesbians forged more public identities, the phrase "gay and lesbian" became more common.

The term “lesbian” comes from the Greek island of Lesbos, associated with the poet Sappho,

whose surviving writing lyrically describes erotic love and attraction between women. Since the

1990s, different versions of the initialism have proliferated as increasingly nuanced ways to

understand and define people’s lived experience of gender and sexuality are articulated. The letter

“Q” was sometimes added to the initialism, alternatively referring to “queer,” or to include those

who were “questioning” their sexual orientation or gender identity. According to Levy (2009)

beginning in the mid-20th century, an increasing number of organizations were formed. The

Cultuur en Ontspannings Centrum (“Culture and Recreation Centre”), or COC, was founded in

1946 in Amsterdam. In the United States the first major male organization, founded in 1950–1951

by Harry Hay in Los Angeles, was the Mattachine Society (its name reputedly derived from a

medieval French society of masked players, the Société Mattachine, to represent the public

“masking” of homosexuality), while the Daughters of Bilitis (named after the Sapphic love poems
 6

of Pierre Louÿs, Chansons de Bilitis), founded in 1955 by Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin in San

Francisco, was a leading group for women.

Statement of the Problem

Due to the frequent exposure of issues about LGBTQ community, their rights and

regulations also arises. As a result, it is important to determine the issues a LGBTQ community Commented [9]: If you say there are frequent
exposure of issues, then why would you still need to
determine the issues? (as stated on the sentence that
member is experiencing in a society and do necessary actions to resolve it. followed)
Commented [10]: in order to provide
The major purpose of this study is to make rights and guidelines for the members of

LGBTQ community and propose this in ACLC College of Ormoc for it to be implemented.

Hence, the research problem will be:

1. What are the movements of LGBTQ Community inside and outside the Philippines? Commented [11]: Why is this relevant to your study?
Please explain to me in person when we meet.

2. What are the issues that the LGBTQ community members are experiencing in ACLC

College of Ormoc?

3. What rules and guidelines should be implemented prior to the issues? Commented [12]: prior? I think the word prior needs to
be changed. Prior means before.
 7

Significance of the Study

The findings which this study will have after completion, may help certain groups and Commented [13]: Be specific. The title of your study
focuses on LGBTQ members of ACLC, so specify it
here.
benefits which they may be able to gain are as follows:

Researchers. This study will help them in making guidelines and rules for the LGBTQ

community members who are studying or working in ACLC College of Ormoc. This will help Commented [14]: Is your study focused on the
students, or on the employees as well?
them to fully understand the matter and carefully judge all the information that is gathered to arrive

at the point of having a critically made guidelines and rules.

School. This study will serve as an awareness to them about the LGBTQ movements in

other countries, regions and in a society. The study itself will improve the school's approach to the

members of LGBTQ community who are studying or working in ACLC. They can set guidelines

and rules from the results of this research and be the first school in Ormoc who widely promotes

gender equality. Commented [15]: Make a separate point for ACLC

and another for Schools in Reg8.

LGBTQ members. The study will help them to be aware of the movements of their

community in other countries, regions and in the ACLC society, respectively. Their awareness will

lead them to take the necessary actions that would aid their fellow members in the community

from the experience they once encountered and be able to encourage the group to do immediate

actions for the sake of their members. The guidelines and rules when set will help them have the

equality they longed to have.

Students. This study will help them open their minds about the LGBTQ including all that

is happening outside and inside the Philippines. With the findings, they can also be knowledgeable Commented [16]: Irrelevant to the title of your study.

about other concerns regarding to the members of the LGBTQ that would be a help for them to
 8

show support and promote actions for gender equality. Their knowledge about the matter can be

an instrument to spread the movement started by the members of ACLC society.

Scope and Delimitations

This study will only focus on making guidelines and rules for the LGBTQ community

member in ACLC College of Ormoc. The reason for this is to help them settle their issues in the

society and arrive at the point of being the first school in Ormoc City to implement rules to

resolve the issues of LGBTQ members.

This study is limited to the students of ACLC College of Ormoc that is part of LGBTQ

community. Commented [17]: As what you said here, this is limited

to the students so the issues of the LGBTQ in the Ph
and outside of Ph.
 9

Framework of the Study

Rodgers framework about gender inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender

(LGBT) people in emerging economies is positively associated with a country’s economic

development, according to this study. The findings suggest that LGBT equality should be a part of

economic development programs and policies. The study analyzes the impact of the treatment of

lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people on economic development in 39 countries, and

presents findings that demonstrate a link between LGBT rights and economic output.

This relates to the study for the reason that the researchers’ goal is to implement rules and

guidelines for the LGBTQ members in order to achieve gender equality and neutrality. The theory

suggests that gender inclusiveness has a positive effect on the country’s development, in match to

the researchers’ study, the policies to be implemented will result in to a better relationship between

the LGBTQ community and school society.

Figure 1. Yana Rodgers’ Analysis on the Relationship between LGBT Inclusion and

Economic Development
 10

Definition of Terms

For clarity of presentation, the following terms are defined in their operational definitions:

Acceptance. The act of accepting something or someone

Effeminate. Having or showing qualities that are considered more suited to women than to

men

LGBTQ. Stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer

Gender equality. The state of equal ease of access to resources and opportunities

regardless of gender, including economic participation and decision-making; and the state of

valuing different behaviors, aspirations and needs equally, regardless of gender

Guidelines. An indication or outline of policy or conduct

Homosexuality. Sexual attraction or the tendency to direct sexual desire toward another

of the same sex

Initialism. An abbreviation formed from initial letters

Issues. A matter that is in dispute between two or more parties

Movements. A series of organized activities working toward an objective

Sexual orientation. A person’s sexual identity in relation to the gender in which they are

attracted; the fact of being heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual

 CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Movements of LGBTQ in Abroad

“Equality is unstoppable and equality will also come to Colombia,” said the interior

minister, Juan Fernando Cristo, as he announced that his government was in favour of marriage

equality. Same-sex couples are already allowed to enter into legal unions and a case deciding

whether to have full marriage equality is currently held up in the country’s constitutional court.

While in Mozambique, the gay community had a lot to celebrate in 2015, after their

campaign to get homosexuality decriminalised succeeded last June. Mozambique is known for

having a more relaxed attitude to homosexuality than some other African countries, with Joaquim

Chissano, the former president, pointing to the social cost of homophobia in 2014: “We can no

longer afford to discriminate against people on the basis of age, sex, ethnicity, migrant status,

sexual orientation and gender identity, or any other basis – we need to unleash the full potential of

everyone.”

Nepal has been on path to recognising the rights of its LGBT community since the

country’s civil conflict ended in 2006. But in 2015, the Himalayan country made history when it

joined only a handful of countries in recognising a third gender on passports. The landmark

decision allowed transgender people to mark their passport with an O for indeterminate gender,

instead of an M or F. It’s important because it allows individuals to self-identify their gender rather

than relying on what was put on their birth certificate, and it recognises the rights of hijras, a

transgender community who have a long cultural history in Nepal. (Banning-Lover and Clarke,

2016)
 12

According to a headline posted by NBC News (2015), "The gay rights in Vietnam is now

more progressive than America". While that sentiment may be a little premature, LGBT rights

have certainly improved in the south-east Asian country in recent years. Vietnam’s liberal attitude

to LGBT issues increased in 2015, particularly when the country passed a law in December which

would allow individuals who have undergone reassignment surgery to register under a new gender.

Also in 2015, the US Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples have a constitutional right

to marry, effectively bringing marriage equality to all 50 states. While Australia officially became

the 26th country to legalize same-sex marriage in December 2017. Followed by Germany who

also changed to allow same-sex marriage, as did Malta, Bermuda and Finland. (Hutt, 2018)

LGBT rights are being advanced across the world, from Colombia to Vietnam, but many

countries still have a way to go.

Movements of LGBT in the Philippines

During the 300-year Spanish colonization of the Philippines, a change in ideology was

imminent. From the indigenous matriarchy, the Spanish introduced the patriarchy and the

machismo concept which made gender crossing a ridiculed practice. It was not long until even

effeminate men were also looked down upon, developing regional vernacular for what the Tagalog

call bakla (gay man, also meant confused and cowardly). The American colonization period further

reinforced of Western conceptualizations of gender and sexuality, cementing it in formal

education.
 13

Well after the Second World War, gay rights activist Justo Justo established the Home of

the Golden Gays in 1975. Originally intended to serve as a home for elderly gay men who have

been kicked out by their families, mostly due to their lack of financial contribution. It has grown

into a loving community composed of vibrant and unique individuals. Unfortunately, the death of

Justo in 2012 led to the closing of the home.

The women’s movement in the 1980s was a highlight in the struggle of the lesbian

community to be visible in the public. With lesbian concerns being subsumed under women’s and

feminist studies which was previously heterosexual in nature, and under the gay movement which

previously prominently conceptualized lesbian women as female version of homosexual men.

Eventually, the underground women’s organization MAKIBAKA released a position paper

including sexual orientation issues in the movement. Later in the 1990s the issue of gender and

sexuality became a major concern in the women’s movement, leading to the formation of The

Lesbian Collective, LESBOND, the media advocacy group Can’t Live in the Closet, and the first

National Lesbian Rights Conference.

One of the more memorable moments in the history of the LGBT movement in the

Philippines was the first LGBT Pride March on June 26, 1994 to commemorate the 20th

anniversary of the Stonewall Riot. The march was not only the first gay pride march in the

Philippines, but in Asia. This event was organized by the Progressive Organization of Gays in the

Philippines (PROGAY Philippines) and the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) Manila.

More recently, the Psychological Association of the Philippines (PAP) released the LGBT

Non-discrimination Policy Resolution in October 2011. This policy statement affirmed the
 14

inherent dignity and equality of LGBT individuals as well as the right to not be discriminated

against based on their sexual orientation, gender identity and expression. This resolution also

reinforced the American Psychiatric Association’s position in 1973 viewing same-gender sexual

orientations as healthy, non-disordered variant of human sexuality, love, and relationships. The

resolution was later translated to Tagalog in November, 2014.

Fortunately, on June 30, 2016 the first transgender representative in the congress, Geraldine

B. Roman submitted House Bill 267, otherwise known as the Anti-SOGI Discrimination Act, and

is currently up for approval. Beyond laws and policies, the ordinary members of the LGBTQ+

community play a significant role in this vision of equality - to remain visible and fight the stigma.

Movements of LGBTQ in Region 8

Members of a group of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) in San Julian, Eastern

Samar are overwhelmed with the praises and support they have been receiving after painting a 10-

meter crosswalk, which symbolizes their fight for equality and recognition.

Roel Andag, San Julian Pride founder, said having a rainbow-colored crosswalk in their

town aims “to show that even in our rural setting characterized by poverty and frequented by

natural disasters it is possible to organize; to make our community visible; to make LGBT+ people

feel that they are welcome in San Julian; to call for the passage of the long-delayed SOGIE (Sexual

Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression) Equality Bill."

 15

Moreover, San Julian is the first municipality in the Philippines to pass an Anti-

Discrimination Ordinance in 2014 and Mayor Dennis Estaron approved the implementing rules

and regulations on Dec. 10, 2018, in time for the International Human Rights Day. As of June 1,

2019, only six of 81 provinces, 19 of 145 cities, two municipalities including San Julian and three

villages have their own anti-discrimination ordinances. (Amazona, 2019)

Movements of LGBTQ in Ormoc City

According to the Population Program Officer of Gender and Development Office, that as

a tradition our minds are set that when it is male it should come up with such things as headship,

determiner, and planner and if when ask about gender equality it should be applied to both male

and female; fair and equal. No person dominates the other, equality will be spread: the vision of

Ormoc City.

LGBT, as stated by the officer, is different from gender equality same as gender have its

own differences. Sex only talks about two, girl (females) and boy (males). Girls have their vaginas,

lactating breast, and egg cell while boys have penis, scrotum, and sperm cell. Gender is about

people who shows attitudes and characteristics of their opposite sex. The importance of seeing

people equally is not about the rights but it is about the way they are.

Sexual orientation of a person in the society talks about LGBTQ. Wherein the people

involved in the community are subject to bullying. They desire to express themselves into the

society but are sometimes afraid to come out because they have no voice. So as to what the officer

claims, LGBTQ has been inserted in the Gender and Development code. The necessary actions

taken from the local government of Ormoc City is to institutionalize gender equality. In the
 16

Ordinance No. 21, an ordinance revising the 2013 Gender and Development Code (GAD Code) is

synonymous to stating the rights of women and there had already been many ordinances and as

that have been approved, that aims in showing and empowering women.
 CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY

Research Design

This study utilizes a qualitative design that uses the policy analysis approach. Qualitative

research includes observation and interviews with the target population. The policy analysis

research will help prescribe an unambiguous course of actions for specified individuals or groups,

which the study's focus are members of the LGBTQ community, in certain situations.

Research Locale

This study will be conducted in ACLC College of Ormoc, one of the private schools in

Ormoc City located at Lilia Avenue, Brgy, Cogon, Ormoc, City, Leyte. The researchers aim to

gather issues from the citizens of ACLC for them to be able to propose a guidelines and rules for

the LGBTQ community which will help the society build a name: The first school in Ormoc who

widely supports LGBTQ members. The respondents consist of students, faculty and staff of senior

high school and college department in ACLC College of Ormoc who claims to be a member of the

LGBTQ community. They will be observed and interviewed inside the school premises during the

academic year, 2019-2020.

 18

Research Instruments

The instruments to be used in collecting data are interview and observation. The

researchers will ask questions to the selected interviewee and gather their opinions about the

LGBTQ and gender equality. The researchers will also observe the actions done by the LGBTQ

community in ACLC. This will help them to come up with a set of rules and guidelines for the

members of the said community prior to the issues taken from the conducted interviews and

observation.

Sampling Technique

A random sampling technique will be used for selecting the participants in this study. The

main goal of random sampling is giving the respondents equal chances of being selected.

Researchers will randomly observe and interview students in ACLC College of Ormoc. The

researchers will conduct the study to the students, with their consent, until the required number of

respondents will be obtained.

Data Analysis

In this study the researcher’s organized the steps in gathering their data. The following

shows the process of how they will analyze the data:

Step 1. Observation was the main instrument of the study to determine issues of LGBTQ

community. The conducted observation focused on the current issues being shown to
 19

the LGBTQ community on the implementation of guidelines and rules in ACLC College

of Ormoc.

Step 2. The observation was conducted by the researchers themselves after doing a research

and intensive reading from the internet about how could they conduct it relating to their

study.

Step 3. The researchers constructed a letter to the School Director of ACLC Ormoc for

formality and for them to be properly informed that the researchers will conduct an

observation among the students of ACLC College of Ormoc.

Step 4. Interview was done during the conducted observation. The researchers asked

random respondents about their personal views or experiences about the LGBTQ and

gender equality.

Step 5. The questions were prepared by the researchers and was showed to the subject

teacher for the comments and suggestions. After that, the revision of the questions was

done. The researchers incorporated the comments and suggestions and prepared the second

draft of the questionnaire.

Step 6. The interview has two parts. Part I is about the respondent’s profile in terms of age,

gender, and educational level. Part II focused on the issues of LGBTQ community and the

level of acceptance they can give to the LGBTQ community.

Step 7. After the observation and interview, the researchers reviewed the data gathered. All

of which was considered and balanced so that response will have more help in creating
 20

guidelines and rules for ACLC College of Ormoc without being bias. After the analytical

process, the data was ranked by the use of percentage, followed by the final step where

both processed data were combined in order to get the most relevant and useful result in

making the policies. A conclusion and concise statement of the analysis was provided at

the end.
 References

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Garcia, J.N.C. (2008). Philippine Gay Culture: Binabae to Bakla, Silahis to MSM. Quezon City:
University of the Philippine Press
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