The most controversial part came from the questions raised by Prof. Gary Dowsett of Latrobe University in Melbourne. To sum up the presentations and discussions during the Rainbow Conversations, a human rights conference held from January 28-31, 2008 in conjunction with the first Asia-Pacific Outgames, Prof. Dowsett asked why words like activism and oppression were conspicuously absent in the language that we use. We resorted, instead, to words like advocacy, which implies working within the system to push for reforms, and homophobia, a psychosocial attitude, a type of fear.
And if we indeed learned anything from the Rainbow Conversations, a gathering of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer (LGBTIQ) from Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Singapore, India and the Philippines to talk about the situation of LGBTIQ individuals and communities in the region and the struggle for equality, it is this: we are not facing a mere phobia, we are facing oppression, a systematic exclusion of LGBTIQs and their persecution. And we can’t afford to be mere advocates working within the system, we have to be activists resisting the status quo and imagining a different world.
The range of issues that were tackled during the conference does manifest the continuing oppression of LGBTIQs. During the opening plenary, a gay activist from an aboriginal community in Australia discussed layers of oppression – on the basis of race, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation and gender identity – can converge and seem inextricable. Dede Oetomo of Gaya Nusantara and the Asia-Pacific Rainbow, a renowned scholar-activist on gender and sexuality, talked about the diverse gender identities in the region and the common thread of discrimination and prejudice that they all face. The International Lesbian and Gay Association also presented harrowing stories of abuse encountered by LGBTIQs in a region beset with deep poverty and religious fundamentalism, while Georgina Beyer, the first MTF Member of Parliament from the Labour Party in New Zealand, said that even being in a position of power can be a lonely job. She spoke passionately on the struggle in New Zealand to push for the civil union legislation and the prostitution reform law (I went to Ms. Beyer’s office in Wellington once, as part of a study visit arranged by comrades from the New Zealand Young Labour. She hasn’t changed a bit.).
In the panel organized by the Asia-Pacific Rainbow (APR), I made a presentation on the situation of Filipino LGBT and the efforts being made by community groups to eliminate stigma and discrimination and enhance LGBT representation, in particular the push for the passage of a bill that criminalizes discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. In the health panel, I spoke of TLF Share’s experience and insights on HIV/AIDS and Filipino MSMs, and the range of challenges that we face to fight a hidden and growing disease whose spread is greatly aided by stigma, ignorance and Catholic dogma.
I didn’t go for the shock and awe tactic, but they were nonetheless shocked to learn about what’s happening in the Philippines. We sometimes tend to think that things are going well in the country, that Filipinos LGBTs are at the very least tolerated, if not accepted. But years of involvement in LGBT activism have told me otherwise, and we cannot simply accept a status quo that imposes a glass ceiling for LGBT workers or allows hatred and rejection as part of school policies. If things are not equal, then things are not ok. The yardstick is equality and dignity, period.
All in all, it was a reinvigorating trip (except, really, for the flying part). There is such a thing as fatigue, as I have discovered for the last few months, but I somehow got inspired by stories of resistance and resilience, a good reminder that this path may at times seem unthankful and difficult (and it is not), it is, for sure, not a lonely one. I met wonderful people doing amazing work, going through the dilemmas, trials and questions that are surprisingly similar to what we face. It certainly is not a lonely journey.
I remember crying in a cab when the Anti-Discrimination Bill was approved by the House on final reading, I remember crying at home when it became clear that the House and Senate would not pass the bill, and all of these things didn’t kill me or any of my fellow activists here in Manila. And you know this bullshit that they say about things that don’t kill you? It is, apparently, actually true.
(The Outgames is a global and regional sporting, cultural and human rights event for lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgenders, queer and intersex athletes, activists and performers. The first one took place in Montreal, Canada in 2007, and the next Outgames will be in Copenhagen in 2009. What took place in Melbourne, Australia was the first Asia-Pacific Outgames.)
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