Camille.docx

Acknowledge The success and final outcome of this project required a lot of guidance and assistance from many people and I am extremely privileged to have got this all along the completion of my project. All that I have done is only due to such supervision and assistance and I would not forget to thank them. I respect and thank Mr. Kurt-Airion H. Sumalyo, for providing me an opportunity to do the project work and giving us all support and guidance which made me complete the project duly.

I owe my deep gratitude to our project guide Camingue and Manatad who took keen interest on our project work and guided us all along, till the completion of our project work by providing all the necessary information for developing a good system.

I am thankful to and fortunate enough to get constant encouragement, support and guidance from all Teaching staffs of high school department which helped us in successfully completing our project work. Also, I would like to extend our sincere esteems to all Camingue,and manatad for their timely support.

Dedication I dedicate this project to God Almighty my creator, my strong pillar, my source of inspiration, wisdom, knowledge and understanding. He has been the source of my strength throughout this program and on His wings only have I soared. I also dedicate this work to my husband; Owen Arasomwan who has encouraged me all the way and whose encouragement has made sure that I give it all it takes to finish that which I have started. To my children Charis (Maama), Joel (Human Adult) and Sophia (Babe) who have been affected in every way possible by this quest. Thank you. My love for you all can never be quantified. God bless you

The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in the Philippines have a distinctive culture in society, and also have limited legal rights. Gays and lesbians are generally tolerated (if not accepted) in Filipino society, especially with the recent events that promote the rights, general acceptance, and empowerment of the community, but discrimination remains. Filipino gays are known as "bakla", but are not limited to this term. . Gender equality, also known as sexual equality, is 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.

Gender equality, equality between men and women, entails the concept that all human beings, both men and women, are free to develop their personal abilities and make choices without the limitations set by stereotypes, rigid gender roles and prejudices. Gender equality means that the different behaviour, aspirations and needs of women and men are considered, valued and favoured equally. It does not mean that women and men have to become the same, but that their rights, responsibilities and opportunities will not depend on whether they are born male or female. Gender equity means fairness of treatment for women and men, according to their respective needs. This may include equal treatment or treatment that is different but which is considered equivalent in terms of rights, benefits, obligations and opportunities. Gender equality is the goal, while gender neutrality and gender equity are practices and ways of thinking that help in achieving the goal. Gender parity, which is used to measure gender balance in a given situation, can aid in achieving gender equality but is not the goal in and of itself. Gender equality is more than equal representation, it is strongly tied to women's rights, and often requires policy changes. As of

2017, the global movement for gender equality has not incorporated the proposition of genders besides women and men, or gender identities outside of the gender binary.

UNICEF says gender equality "means that women and men, and girls and boys, enjoy the same rights, resources, opportunities and protections. It does not require that girls and boys, or women and men, be the same, or that they be treated exactly alike."[1]

On a global scale, achieving gender equality also requires eliminating harmful practices against women and girls, including sex trafficking, femicide, wartime sexual violence, and other oppression tactics. UNFPA stated that, "despite many international agreements affirming their human rights, women are still much more likely than men to be poor and illiterate. They have less access to property ownership, credit, training and employment. They are far less likely than men to be politically active and far more likely to be victims of domestic violence."[2] The Philippines is ranked as one of the most gay-friendly nations in Asia.[2] The country ranked as the 10th most gay-friendly in a 2013 global survey covering 39 countries, in which only 17 had majorities accepting homosexuality. Titled "The Global Divide on Homosexuality," the survey conducted by the Pew Research Center showed that 73% of adult Filipinos agreed with the statement that "homosexuality should be accepted by society," up by nine percentage points from 64% in 2002. The main reasons for the high percentage of LGBT acceptance in the Philippines are (1) the archipelago's historic point of view and respect to gender-shifting and non-based gender roles before the 12th century which have been inputted in indigenous cultures prior to Islamization and Christianization and (2) the current public mediums (television, writings, radios, and social media) that have set a spotlight on the sufferings of countless LGBT Filipinos in their own country due to colonial-era and colonial-inspired religions ols should be safe places for everyone. But in the Philippines, students who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) too often find that their schooling experience is marred by bullying, discrimination, lack of access to LGBT-related information, and in some cases, physical or sexual assault. These abuses can cause deep and lasting harm and curtail students’ right to education, protected under Philippine and international law.

In recent years, lawmakers and school administrators in the Philippines have recognized that bullying of LGBT youth is a serious problem, and designed interventions to address it. In 2012, the Department of Education (DepEd), which oversees primary and secondary schools, enacted a Child Protection Policy designed to address bullying and discrimination in schools, including on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. The following year, Congress passed the Anti-Bullying Law of 2013, with implementing rules and regulations that enumerate sexual orientation and gender identity as prohibited

grounds for bullying and harassment. The adoption of these policies sends a strong signal that bullying and discrimination are unacceptable and should not be tolerated in educational institutions. Human Rights WatchTable of ContentsSummary DONATE

“Be Who You Are”

Summary Key Recommendations Methodology Glossary I. Background II. Bullying and Harassment III. Creating a Hostile Environment IV. Exclusion from Curricula and Resources V. Philippines’ Legal Obligations to Protect LGBT Students Recommendations Acknowledgments Map Video DOWNLOADS Download the full report Download the summary and recommendations in Tagalog June 21, 2017 “Just Let Us Be”

Discrimination Against LGBT Students in the Philippines

A girl covers anti-LGBT messages in rainbow handprints during a Pride rally in Manila on June 27, 2015. © 2015 Bullit Marquez/AP Photo. Map Video Summary

[Senator and boxing legend] Manny Pacquiao says we’re not human. They should just let us be.

– Edgar T., an 18-year-old gay high school student in Manila, February 2017 Schools should be safe places for everyone. But in the Philippines, students who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) too often find that their schooling experience is marred by bullying, discrimination, lack of access to LGBT-related information, and in some cases, physical or sexual assault. These abuses can cause deep and lasting harm and curtail students’ right to education, protected under Philippine and international law.

In recent years, lawmakers and school administrators in the Philippines have recognized that bullying of LGBT youth is a serious problem, and designed interventions to address it. In 2012, the Department of Education (DepEd), which oversees primary and secondary schools, enacted a Child Protection Policy designed to address bullying and discrimination in schools, including on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. The following year, Congress passed the Anti-Bullying Law of 2013, with implementing rules and regulations that enumerate sexual orientation and gender identity as prohibited grounds for bullying and harassment. The adoption of these policies sends a strong signal that bullying and discrimination are unacceptable and should not be tolerated in educational institutions.

June 21, 2017 Video Video: LGBT Kids in the Philippines Need Protection from Bullying at School

Students across the Philippines experience bullying and discrimination in school because of their sexual orientation and gender identity. But these policies, while strong on paper, have not been adequately enforced. In the absence of effective implementation and monitoring, many LGBT youth continue to experience bullying and harassment in school. The adverse treatment they experience from peers and teachers is compounded by discriminatory policies that stigmatize and disadvantage LGBT students and by the lack of information and resources about LGBT issues available in schools.

This report is based on interviews and group discussions conducted in 10 cities on the major Philippine islands of Luzon and the Visayas with 76 secondary school students or recent graduates who identified as LGBT or questioning, 22 students or recent graduates who did not identify as LGBT or questioning, and 46 parents, teachers, counselors, administrators, service providers, and experts on education. It examines three broad areas in which LGBT students encounter problems—bullying and harassment, discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, and a lack of information and resources—and recommends steps that lawmakers, DepEd, and school administrators should take to uphold LGBT students’ right to a safe and affirming educational environment.

The incidents described in this report illustrate the vital importance of expanding and enforcing protections for LGBT youth in schools. Despite prohibitions on bullying, for example, students across the Philippines described patterns of bullying and mistreatment that went unchecked by school staff. Carlos M., a 19-year-old gay student from Olongapo City, said: “When I was in high school, they’d push me, punch me. When I’d get out of school, they’d follow me [and] push me, call me ‘gay,’ ‘faggot,’ things like that.” While verbal bullying appeared to be the most prevalent problem that LGBT students faced, physical bullying and sexualized harassment were also worryingly common—and while students were most often the culprits, teachers ignored or participated in bullying as well. The effects of this bullying were devastating to the youth who were targeted. Benjie A., a 20-year-old gay man in Manila who was bullied throughout his education, said, “I was depressed, I was bullied, I didn’t know my sexuality, I felt unloved, and I felt alone all the time. And I had friends, but I still felt so lonely. I was listing ways to die.” The mistreatment that students faced in schools was exacerbated by discriminatory policies and practices that excluded them from fully participating in the school environment. Schools impose rigid gender norms on students in a variety of ways—for example, through gendered uniforms or dress codes, restrictions on hair length, gendered restrooms, classes and activities that differ for boys and girls, and close scrutiny of same-sex friendships and relationships. For example, Marisol D., a 21-year-old transgender woman, said:

When I was in high school, there was a teacher who always went around and if you had long hair, she would call you up to the front of the class and cut your hair in front of the students. That happened to me many times. It made me feel terrible: I cried because I saw my classmates watching me getting my hair cut. These policies are particularly difficult for transgender students, who are typically treated as their sex assigned at birth rather than their gender identity. But they can also be challenging for students who are gender non-conforming, and feel most comfortable expressing themselves or participating in activities that the school considers inappropriate for their sex.

Efforts to address discrimination against LGBT people have met with resistance, including by religious leaders. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has condemned violence and discrimination against LGBT people, but in practice, the Roman Catholic Church has resisted laws and policies that would protect LGBT rights. The CBCP has sought to weaken anti-discrimination legislation pending before Congress, for example, and has opposed implementation of comprehensive sexuality education in schools. Representatives of the Church warn that recognizing LGBT rights will open the door to same-sex marriage, and oppose legislation that might promote divorce, euthanasia, abortion, total population control, and homosexual marriage, which they group under the acronym “DEATH.” In a country that is more than 80 percent Catholic, opposition from the Church influences how LGBT issues are addressed in families and schools, with many parents and teachers telling students that being LGBT is immoral or wrong.

One way that schools can address bullying and discrimination and ameliorate their effects is by providing educational resources to students, teachers, and staff to familiarize them with LGBT people and issues. Unfortunately, positive information and resources regarding sexual orientation and gender identity are exceedingly rare in secondary schools in the Philippines. When students do learn about LGBT people and issues in schools, the messages are typically negative, rejecting same-sex relationships and transgender identities as immoral or unnatural. Juan N., a 22-year-old transgender man who had attended high school in Manila, said, “There would be a lecture where they’d somehow pass by the topic of homosexuality and show you, try to illustrate that in the Bible, in Christian theology, homosexuality is a sin, and if you want to be a good Christian you shouldn’t engage in those activities.” Virtually all the students interviewed by Human Rights Watch said the limited sexuality education they received did not include information that was relevant to them as LGBT youth, and few reported having access to supportive guidance counselors or school personnel.

When students face these issues—whether in isolation or together—the school can become a difficult or hostile environment. In addition to physical and psychological injury, students described how bullying, discrimination, and exclusion caused them to lose concentration, skip class, or seek to transfer schools—

all impairing their right to education. For the right to education to have meaning for all students— including LGBT students—teachers, administrators, and lawmakers need to work together with LGBT advocates to ensure that schools become safer and more inclusive places for LGBT children to learn.

The issue of same-sex marriage is an argument that all of us have heard, and most of us have strong opinions on. I know very few people that don’t have a preference of legalization or not. Personally, I believe that homosexuals should be granted the same rights as heterosexual couples. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “marriage is a basic human right. You cannot tell people they cannot fall in love.” While he said this in reference to marriage between races, the same can be said about homosexuals. Who are we to allow some people to get married, and tell others they cannot. However, regardless of my beliefs, I would first like to provide some background on the history of same-sex marriage. Years ago, homosexuality was unacceptable. Most that were gay hid it from others and did not act upon it. They married the opposite gender to live out a “normal” life. There are many instances of homosexuals being prosecuted and discriminated against. At one point, homosexuality was considered a mental illness as recognized by the DSM of Psychology. Slowly, being gay became more acceptable, and homosexuals fought for more rights, and eventually the right to marry. The fight for the allowance of same-sex marriages has been a long process, and just recently the issue is coming more into the light of current politics. In 1942, in Skinner v. Oklahoma, the US Supreme Court ruled that marriage is one of the basic civil rights. Civil Rights are rights that cover all genders, no matter the sexuality of the individual. Another Supreme Court case in 1967, Loving v. Virginia, affirmed that “the freedom to marry has long since been recognized as one of the vital personal rights essential to the orderly pursuit of happiness by free men.” These court cases have paved the way for same-sex couples to fight for equal marriage rights, and were the catalysts that gave homosexuals some hope to right for their right to marry. In 1993 in Hawaii, Judge Kevin Chang ruled that there was no good reason to deny marriage licenses to gay couples. Although the Hawaiian legislature then amended their constitution to ban gay marriage, this was the first instance where a decision was made in favor of it. On May 17, 2004, Massachusetts became the first state to grant marriage licenses to gay couples. Since then, 9 states plus Washington D.C. have legalized gay marriage. Some states, however, can’t seem to make up their minds on the issue of same-sex marriage. California is for most of us the state that comes to mind when the issue of same-sex marriage comes about. California especially has held an extremely irresolute stand on the issue. In 2004, San Francisco Mayor Newsom ordered marriage licenses to be issued to same-sex couples, although these were later deemed invalid. When the Californian legislature passed a legalizing bill, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger immediately vetoed it. In 2008, the Californian Supreme Court ruled that marriage must be equally

available to all types of couples, and same-sex couples were allowed marriage licenses until Proposition 8 was passed, again banning gay marriage. These events illustrate the strong divisions between supporters and opponents of the issue. California seems to be teasing homosexuals, getting their hopes up only to tear them back down again. Could they please just make up their mind already? On a more federal level, Bill Clinton passed the Defense of Marriage Act, which stated that the federal government defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman, but does not require any states to accept this definition nor does it ban any state from allowing same-sex marriage. However, federal opinion can greatly sway the opinions of state legislatures. Opponents of same-sex marriage have been trying to pass a Federal Marriage Amendment to the US constitution, officially defining marriage as a legal union between a man and a woman, but have (luckily) failed to gain support. Supporters of gay marriage have fought a long battle, and gone through lots of ups and downs. Hopefully, in the next years, gay marriage will be legal, and we will see it as Dr. Martin Luther King once dreamed we would see marriage between whites and blacks-a completely normal.

Worldwide, most countries recognize that equal rights should exist between men and women. Many have produced regulations intended to fight discrimination and programs granting women access to health, education, and economic rights such as land ownership. However, the fact remains that women have fewer opportunities than men to benefit from economic development, with lower participation in the labor force.

Even in the most advanced countries, their wages average 73 percent of those of men. International programs such as the Millennium Development Goals point out the benefits of addressing gender inequality and the positive impact this can have on poverty reduction.

According to the Cayman Islands National Assessment of Living Conditions conducted in 2006/07 “The overall labour force participation rate for the Cayman Islands was at 71.9 percent, and labour force participation by males (73.6%) exceeded female participation (70.1%).”

While the principle of gender equity in the workplace is generally accepted, discriminatory practices persist in many organizations despite regulations to the contrary. It is important to create an open and

friendly atmosphere to address gender discrimination issues; therefore it is critical to involve men and women rather than only women. Because gender biases are embedded in culture, it is very difficult to eliminate them without having a holistic view and involving men as a part of the solution.