Posts Tagged ‘bruce amoroto’

Bumoto at Pahalagahan ang Ating Dangal / Vote for Pride

Friday, November 13th, 2009

Bumoto at Pahalagahan ang Ating Dangal / Vote for Pride
ni/by Bruce Portugal Amoroto

Nitong Miyerkoles, Nobyembre 11, 2009, ibinaba ng Commission on Elections ang desisyon nito kaugnay ng petisyon ng Ang Ladlad LGBT Party na lumahok sa 2010 National Elections. Sa walong pahinang hatol ng Comelec, sinabi na “this petition is dismissible on moral grounds” (ang petition ay hindi nararapat na pahintulutan dahil sa ilang usaping pang-moral).

Ipinaliwanag pa ng hatol ng Comelec na “petitioner tolerates immorality which offends religious beliefs” (pinaparayaan/pinapayagan ng petitioner ang imoralidad na nakasisira sa mga relihiyong paniniwala) kasabay ang pagbanggit ng ilang talata mula sa Bibliya at sa Koran. Binanggit din sa nasabing hatol na “we cannot compromise the well-being of the greater number of our people, especially the youth” (hindi natin maaring ilagay sa alanganin ang kapakanan ng maraming tao, lalu na ng mga kabataan).

Sa ganitong punto marami sa atin, lalu na mula sa komunidad ng mga lesbian, gay, bakla, bantut, bayot, bisexual, tomboy, transgender, transsexual, intersex (LGBTI) at iba pang sexual and gender minorities (SGM), ang galit na galit dahil sa naging desisyon at sa laman ng hatol ng Comelec. Marami sa atin ang nag-iisip na i-boycott ang darating na halalan.

Gayunpaman, bagama’t hindi naging makatao at makatarungan ang naging hatol na ito ng Comelec, sa aking palagay, dapat pa rin tayong bumotong lahat sa Mayo upang patunayan sa Comelec at sa sambayanang Pilipino na kahit na tayo ay LGBTI o SGM, meron tayong malasakit at may magagawa para mabago ang sistema ng pamamahala sa Pilipinas.

Ang Philippine Forum on Sports, Culture, Sexuality and Human Rights (TEAM PILIPINAS) ay naniniwala na dapat nating ipagtanggol ang ating mga karapatan at kalayaan at pahalagahan ang ating mga sariling dangal. Ang kampanya ng TEAM PILIPINAS na “VOTE FOR P.R.I.D.E. (Pinoys who Respect Rights, Identity, Diversity & Equality) ay naglalayong ibalik ang pagpapahalaga sa sariling dangal nating mga Pilipino at nating mga LGBTI at SGM.

Itinuro ng mga mananakop at ng mga banyaga sa ating mga Pilipino na huwag magpahalaga sa ating mga sarili, sa ang ating kultura at sa ating pagkakakilanlan. Itinuro naman sa atin ng relihiyon na huwag pag-usapan o pahalagahan ang ating kasarian at sekswalidad at ituring na imoral ang anuman sekswalidad na labas sa sakramento ng kasal sa pagitan ng isang lalake at isang babae. Itinuro sa atin na may malaking pakialam ang Simbahan lalu na sa mga usaping kaugnay ng kasarian at sekswalidad.

Pero ngayon, hinihingi ng panahon na lumaya tayo mula sa kaapihan ng mga baluktot na kaisipan hinggil sa kung ano ang moral at di-moral, kung ano ang sekswal at ang mga may kaugnayan sa kasarian. Hinihingi rin ng panahon na ibalik nating mga Pilipino at nating mga LGBTI ang pagpapahalaga natin sa ating mga sariling dangal. Ang “pride” ay hindi pagmamayabang, ito ay simpleng pagpapahalaga sa sariling dangal.

Ang dangal na ito ay likas sa lahat ng tao at ang pagtatanggol dito ay tinitiyak ng Saligang Batas na naghalaw mula sa Pandaigdig na Pahayag ukol sa Karapatan ng Tao (Universal Declaration of Human Rights) na nagsasabing “All human beings born free and equal in dignity and rights” (Ang lahat ng tao’y isinilang na malaya at pantay-pantay sa karangalan at mga karapatan) at “All human rights are universal, interdependent, indivisible and interrelated” (Lahat ng mga karapatan ng tao ay unibersal, nagpapatibay sa isa’t isa, hindi mahahati at magkakaugnay).

Hindi makatarungan na gamitin ng Comelec ang Bibliya at ang Koran bilang batayan para kanilang hatol sapagkat higit sa lahat nakasaad sa ating Saligang Batas, sa Article II Section 6, ang pagkakahiwalay ng Simbahan at ng Estado. “The separation of Church and State shall be inviolable.”

Sa darating na Mayo, IBOTO AT PAHALAGAHAN NATIN ANG ATING MGA SARILING DANGAL! VOTE FOR PRIDE! Ipakita natin sa Comelec at sa sambayanan na naniniwala at ipinagtatanggol natin ang pagkakapantay-pantay ng lahat sa dangal, karapatan at kalayaan.

Ayoko sa TRAPO! Ayoko sa Elitistang Pulitika! Gusto ko ng Pagbabago! Yes to PRIDE in 2010!

Ayoko sa TRAPO! Ayoko sa Elitistang Pulitika! Gusto ko ng Pagbabago! Yes to PRIDE in 2010!

This Wednesday, November 11, 2009, the Commission on Elections handed down its decision regarding the petition of Ang Ladlad LGBT Party to take part in the 2010 National Elections. In its 8-page decision, the Comelec stated that “this petition is dismissible on moral grounds”.

In the decision, the Comelec also elaborated that “petitioner tolerates immorality which offends religious beliefs” citing verses from the Bible and the Koran. The ruling also stated that “we cannot compromise the well-being of the greater number of our people, especially the youth”.

At this point, many of us, especially from the lesbian, gay, bakla, bantut, bayot, bisexual, tomboy, transgender, transsexual, intersex (LGBTI) community, are furious at the process and content of the Comelec’s ruling. Many of us are now thinking of boycotting the upcoming elections.

However, even though the Comelec ruling was inhumane and unjust, I believe we should still consider taking part in the May 2010 Elections and to prove to the Comelec and the Filipino nation that despite being LGBTIs and SGMs, we are concerned and capable of changing the system of governance in the Philippines.

Philippine Forum on Sports, Culture, Sexuality and Human Rights (TEAM PILIPINAS) believes that we should all protect our rights and freedoms and uphold our pride–to value our dignity. The TEAM PILIPINA campaign “VOTE FOR P.R.I.D.E. (Vote for Pinoys who Respect Rights, Identity, Diversity & Equality) aims to bring back the Filipinos’ and the Filipino LGBTIs’ sense of pride and valuation for one’s dignity.

We Filipinos were taught by the colonizers and foreigners not to value ourselves, our culture, our identity. Religion on the other hand taught us not to talk about or value our gender and sexuality and to regard as immoral any sexuality outside of the sacrament of marriage between a man and woman. We were also taught that the Church has a major role on the issues of sexuality and gender.

But time is now asking us to break free from the oppression of twisted mindsets related to what is moral, what is sexual and what is related to gender and sexuality. Time is also asking us to renew our pride as Filipinos and as LGBTIs and SGMs. Pride is not being arrogant nor boastful, it is simply valuation of one’s own dignity.

This dignity is inherent in all human beings and its protection is guaranteed by the Constitution that drew from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which says, “All human beings born free and equal in dignity and rights” and “All human rights are universal, interdependent, indivisible and interrelated”.

The Comelec’s use of the Bible and the Koran as bases for their ruling is unjust because first and foremost, our Constitution in Article II Section 6 states, “The separation of Church and State shall be inviolable.”

This coming May, VOTE FOR PRIDE! Let us show Comelec and the nation that we believe and we will protect everyone’s equality in dignity, rights and freedoms.

VOTE for PRIDE. Vote for Pinoys who Respect Rights, Identity, Diversity & Equality.

Equality! / Pagkakapantay-pantay!

xx

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An Open Letter to Legislators and to those Running for the 2010 National Elections

Friday, October 30th, 2009

29 October 2009

Dear Honorable Sir/Madam,

Liberatory and rainbow greetings to you!

I am Bruce Portugal Amoroto, a Filipino gay activist and current President-Coordinator of Philippine Forum on Sports, Culture, Sexuality and Human Rights (TEAM PILIPINAS), Vice-President of Gay and Lesbian Asia Pacific Sport Association (GLISA Asia Pacific), and Asia Pacific Director at Gay and Lesbian International Sport Association (GLISA International). I am also a graduate of the University of the Philippines Diliman and since 2000 I have been involved in the justice and human rights sector particularly on the equal human rights of lesbians, gays, and others.

I am writing to you because I and many other Filipino lesbians, gays, bakla, bantut, bayot, bisexuals, tomboy, transgenders, transsexuals, intersex (LGBTI) and other ’sexual and gender minorities’ (SGMs) in the country are interested in knowing your answer to our question. In your participation in the 2010 National Elections we would like to know sir/madam, what is your platform and programme of action regarding the equal human rights of Filipino lesbians, gays, bakla, bantut, bayot, bisexuals, tomboy, transgenders, transsexuals, intersex (LGBTI) and other ’sexual and gender minorities’ (SGMs) in the country?

According to the Yogyakarta Principles on the Application of International Human Rights Law in relation to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity that was drafted, discussed, developed and refined by a body of international experts on human rights:
1. All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
2. All human rights are universal, interdependent, indivisible and interrelated.
3. Sexual orientation and gender identity are integral to every person’s dignity and humanity and must not be the basis for discrimination or abuse.

Sexual orientation is understood to refer to each person’s capacity for profound emotional, affectional and sexual attraction to, and intimate and sexual relations with individuals of a different gender or the same gender or more than one gender.

Gender identity, on the other hand, is understood to refer to each person’s deeply felt internal and individual experience of gender, which may or may not correspond with the sex assigned at birth, including the personal sense of the body (which may involve, if freely chosen, modification of bodily appearance or function by medical, surgical or other means) and other expressions of gender, including dress, speech and mannerisms.

Since 1999, with the help of Akbayan Partylist, Lesbian and Gay Legislative Advocacy Network – Philippines (LAGABLAB-Pilipinas) has pushed for the passage of the Anti-Discrimination Bill (ADB), House Bill 956, in Congress. The ADB is a bill that aims to penalize acts and policies that discriminate on the basis of a person’s perceived or actual sexual orientation and/or gender identity. The ADB does not ask for special rights for Filipino LGBTIs instead it asks for the protection of the equality in dignity, rights and freedoms for the said sector and the provision of the same rights and freedoms accorded by the State to heterosexual and non-transgender/non-transsexual women and men.

In 2004 the Bill was approved at the Lower House but it failed to get a Senate counterpart and has since been pending in Congress due mainly to the strong opposition of the Catholic Church and other conservative and religious groups affiliated with legislators.

In the Philippines, oppression and violence against LGBTIs and other SGMs exists and it is, I believe, much worse compared to countries that criminalize homosexuality because the violence is silent with the discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity hidden and deeply embedded in society’s structure and system. There is only seeming tolerance for us Filipino LGBTIs and other SGMs in fact in our families, homes, communities, churches, work and in society in general, we are still looked at as either immoral, sinful or mentally ill. Many LGBTIs who come out and are out continue to experience vilification, ridicule and bad jokes; others have experienced various levels of discrimination, abuse and violence. In a few Catholic schools there are still policies on masculinity and on same-sex relationships such that students who fail to abide by these rules get kicked out of the institution. There are also private companies, government offices, and establishments that have policies related to the hiring, promotion and firing of employees, the provision of certain benefits, service or product, or dress codes that are oppressive to Filipino LGBTIs. Most of all, we Filipino LGBTIs experience violence from our families and in our homes–there are those who get thrown out and get disowned by their parents for embracing their sexuality and their true selves and there are those who are beaten and physically abused or raped with the consent of their parents who believe that their sons and daughters will be cured and converted into becoming “real men” and “real women”.

In our Constitution there is a provision regarding the Separation of Church and State (Article II Section 6) and yet the Church still finds a way to meddle in public policy. There is also a provision regarding the respect and protection of the equality in dignity, rights and freedoms of each Filipino no matter what status or characteristic they have (Article II Section 11) and yet clearly, Filipino LGBTIs and other SGMs are not treated equally in society. The Constitution is simply not enough to protect the equality of all Filipinos and in the end, only a law can make real and tangible the provisions on the equality in dignity, rights and freedoms of people.

Again, dear sir/madam, in view of the 2010 National Elections, may we know what your platform and programme of action is regarding the equal human rights of Filipino lesbians, gays, bakla, bantut, bayot, bisexuals, tomboy, transgenders, transsexuals, intersex (LGBTI) and other ’sexual and gender minorities’ (SGMs) in the country?

Thank you very much and we hope to hear your full and sincerest answer to our question.

Respectfully,

Bruce Portugal Amoroto
bruce.amoroto@gmail.com

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“Pride”: Definition and Redefinition, Usage and Reclamation, from Oppression to Empowerment and Liberation

Saturday, September 12th, 2009
Mabuhay ang lahing kayumanggi! Mabuhay ang dangal, karapatan at kalayaan ng LAHAT ng Pilipino

Mabuhay ang lahing kayumanggi! Mabuhay ang dangal, karapatan at kalayaan ng LAHAT ng Pilipino

“Pride”: Definition and Redefinition, Usage and Reclamation, from Oppression to Empowerment and Liberation

Ang “pride”: Kahulugan at Pagbabagong-kahulugan, Gamit at Pag-aangkin, mula sa Kaapihan patungo sa Kapangyarihan at Kalayaan

by/ni Bruce Portugal Amoroto

The Philippines is a predominantly Catholic-Christian country and religion has strongly influenced not only our daily lives but also public policy, this despite the Constitutional provision on the separation of Church and State. And so “pride”, because of the influence of religion, has often been seen or defined in a negative way both in colloquial as well as in proper application.

80% sa Pilipinas ay Katoliko-Kristiyano at malakas ng impluwensya ng relihiyon, di lang sa ating pang-araw araw na buhay kundi pati na rin sa pampublikong polisiya, ito kahit na meron tayong probisyon sa ating Konstitusyon ukol sa pagkakahiwalay ng Estado at ng Simbahan. At dahil dito, ang salitang “pride”, dahil na rin sa impluwensya ng relihiyon, ay kadalasang nakikita o ginagamit sa isang negatibong paraan sa pangkaraniwan pati na sa pormal na gamit ng salitang ito.

However, it’s interesting to see that in the 2004 edition of ‘Handbook of English-Filipino Filipino-English Dictionary’ (Comprehensive Edition with Sample Sentence) by Zenaida P. Villanueva and published by MW Publishing Inc in Quezon City, Philippines, the entry on pride goes,
pride, (n.) pagpapahalaga sa sariling dangal;
You should learn to have some pride. Dapat matuto kang magkaroon ng pagpapahalaga sa sariling dangal.

Subalit nakawiwiling makita na sa 2004 edisyon ng ‘Handbook of English-Filipino Filipino-English Dictionary’ (Comprehensive Edition with Sample Sentence) ni Zenaida P. Villanueva at nilimbag ng MW Publishing Inc sa Quezon City, Philippines, ang salitang “pride” ay
pride, (n.) pagpapahalaga sa sariling dangal;
You should learn to have some pride. Dapat matuto kang magkaroon ng pagpapahalaga sa sariling dangal.

The entry on “dangal” on the other hand goes:
dangal, (n.) reputation; Ang dangal ko ang aking tanging yaman. My only wealth is my reputation.

Ang salitang “dangal” naman ay:
dangal, (n.) reputation; Ang dangal ko ang aking tanging yaman. My only wealth is my reputation.

A relevant entry, now on dignity, goes:
dignity, (n.) dangal; Where is the dignity in this line of work? Nasaan ang dangal sa ganitong uri ng trabaho?

Ang kaugnay na salitang “dignity” ay:
dignity, (n.) dangal; Where is the dignity in this line of work? Nasaan ang dangal sa ganitong uri ng trabaho?

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/affirm-the-universality-of-human-rights-protect-the-equal-human-rights-of-filipinos-regardless-of

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/affirm-the-universality-of-human-rights-protect-the-equal-human-rights-of-filipinos-regardless-of

With all these in mind (and much more), a redefinition, reclamation and queering, if you may, of the word “pride” in the Philippines is important and necessary. Since the 16th century, since colonial times, we Filipinos were taught by the Spaniards, the Americans, the Japanese and even by modern-day Filipino institutions, to not be proud of who we are as a people, to not value our self worth and dignity.

Kung isasaalang-alang natin ang lahat ng mga ito (at higit pa), ang pabibigay ng bagong kahulugan, ang (muling) pag-angkin, ang kakaiba/pangingibang gamit sa salitang “pride” sa Pilipinas ay mahalaga at kailangan. Mula pa ika-16 na siglo, mula sa panahon ng mga mananakop, tayong mga Pilipino ay tinuruan ng mga Kastila, ng mga Amerikano, ng mga Hapones, pati na rin ng ating mga makabagong institusyon at istruktura sa lipunang Pilipino na huwag pahalagahan ang sarili bilang tao, na huwag pahalagahan ang sarili at ang sariling dangal.

However now more than ever it is important and necessary that Filipinos reclaim and redefine “pride” from its negative and oppressive usage and connotation to one that is empowering and liberatory. We Filipinos need to break free from the “colonial” and even our own self-oppression. We Filipinos need to celebrate and be proud of who we are as a people, to be celebrate and be proud to be sexual and gendered beings.

Subalit ngayon, higit kailanman, mahalaga at kailangan nating mga Pilipino na bigyang bagong kahulugan ang salitang “pride” at angkinin ito mula sa negatibo at mapang-aping paggamit at pagpapakahulugan patungo sa isang makapangyayari at mapagpalayang paggamit. Kailangan nating mga Pilipino na kumalas sa kolonyal at maging sa ating sariling kaapihan. Kailangan nating mga Pilipino na ipagbunyi at ipagmalaki kung sino tayo bilang mga tao, bilang isang bayan, ipagbunyi at ipagmalaki na tayo ay mga nilalang na may angking sekswalidad at kasarian.

We now (should) say,

I am proud to be a Filipino!
I am proud to be lesbian / gay / bakla / bayot / bantut / bisexual / tomboy / transgender / transsexual / intersex / silahis etc!
I value my humanity!
I value my self worth!
I value my dignity!
I value my rights!
I value my freedom!
I value my fellow Filipino!

Dapat sabihin natin ngayon na:

Proud ako bilang isang Pinoy!
Proud ako bilang isang lesbian / gay / bakla / bayot / bantut / bisexual / tomboy / transgender / transsexual / intersex / silahis etc!
Pinahahalagahan ko ang ang pagkatao!
Pinahahalagahan ko ang aking sarili!
Pinahahalagahan ko ang aking dangal!
Pinahahalagahan ko ang aking mga karapatan!
Pinahahalagahan ko ang aking kalayaan!
Pinahahalagahan ko ang aking kapwa, ang aking kapwa-Pilipino!

Philippine Forum on Sports, Culture, Sexuality and Human Rights (TEAM PILIPINAS) currently has a campaign to “Affirm the universality of Human Rights; Protect the equal human rights of Filipino lesbians, gays, bakla, bayot, bantut, bisexuals, tomboy, transgenders, transsexuals, intersex and other sexual and gender minorities”.

Facebook link to cause

Petitionsite.com link

The campaign aims to convince the Permanent Mission of the Republic of the Philippines to the United Nations to sign statements that uphold and protect the equal rights of Filipino LGBTIs and other sexual and gender minorities.

Kasalukuyang may kampanya ang Philippine Forum on Sports, Culture, Sexuality and Human Rights (TEAM PILIPINAS) upang itaguyod ang pandaigdigang paglalapat ng Human Rights o Karapatang Pantao at upang ipagtanggol ang pantay ng karapatang pantao ng mga Pilipinong lesbians, gays, bakla, bayot, bantut, bisexuals, tomboy, transgenders, transsexuals, intersex (LGBTI) at iba pang ’sexual and gender minorities’.

Facebook link to cause

Petition.com link

Ang kampanya ay naglalayong kumbinsihin ang Permanent Mission ng Republika ng Pilipinas sa United Nations na pumirma sa mga pahayag na nagtataguyod at nagtatanggol sa pantay na karapatang pantao ng mga Pilipinong LGBTI  at iba pang ’sexual and gender minorities’.

Ayoko sa TRAPO! Ayoko sa Elitistang Pulitika! Gusto ko ng Pagbabago! Yes to PRIDE in 2010!

Ayoko sa TRAPO! Ayoko sa Elitistang Pulitika! Gusto ko ng Pagbabago! Yes to PRIDE in 2010!

–
–
Bruce Portugal Amoroto
President-Coordinator, Philippine Forum on Sports, Culture, Sexuality and Human Rights (TEAM PILIPINAS)
Vice President, Gay and Lesbian Asia Pacific Sport Association (GLISA Asia Pacific)
Member, Gay and Lesbian International Sport Association (GLISA) International Board of Directors
team-pilipinas@yahoogroups.com

http://diversityandequality.ph

http://teampilipinasorg.multiply.com

+63-916-2826781
GMT+8:00 (Manila, Philippines)

TEAM PILIPINAS is a member of GLISA Asia Pacific
http://www.glisaap.org http://www.asiapacificoutgames.org

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