In the House of Representatives, Rep. Bienvenido Abante (5th District, Manila City), the Chairperson of the Committee on Civil, Political and Human Rights, blocked anew the passage of HB 634, or the Anti-Discrimination Bill. Rep. Abante, a pastor of a Baptist church, claims that gay rights are not human rights.
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According to experts, the general population of males who have sex with males in the Philippines is estimated to be from 379,799 to 804,280 only.
This is according to the 2005 HIV Estimates in the Philippines, a consensus report released by the Department of Health, World Health Organization, the United Nations Joint Programme on the HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), and the Field Epidemiology Training Program Alumni Foundation.
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In less than a month, the Philippine Daily Inquirer seems to have been able to douse the fire that the controversial column of Isagani Cruz had generated. But was the Inquirer able to respond to the more fundamental issues that Cruz's column raised - ethics in media and media responsibility?
LAGABLAB revisits the "Hello Billy" ads of 2001 and the Alta Theater raid in 2003 to explain why media institutions and practitioners should examine their own prejudices and do something about it. Visit www.lagablab.wordpress.com for more details.
Aruba bar and restaurant faces another investigation because of its dress code.
The Commission on Human Rights decided to hold an independent investigation on an alleged incident of discrimination involving Aruba restaurant and Christopher Borja (aka “Inday Garutay”). The case - CHR Case No. A6-105 - seeks to determine whether a human right violation, specifically “discrimination on the account of sex”, was indeed committed by the restaurant. Read more here.
The magic date is August 9, 2006. Thanks to your letters, the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment, and Human Resources Development finally calendared the Anti-Discrimination Bill (SBN 1738) for a public hearing. Visit LAGABLAB's blog to read how it happened.
We need your help. On August 2, 2006, LAGABLAB members will visit the Philippine Senate to lobby for a hearing on the Anti-Discrimination Bill (Senate Bill No. 1738) this August. On the same day, we will also meet with the Office of Sen. Bong Revilla, principal author of SBN 1738. Help us pressure the Office of Sen. Bong Revilla to work on the immediate approval of SBN 1738. For more information, click here.
On July 24, 2006, President GMA opened the Third and Final Regular Session of the Philippine Congress with her annual State of the Nation Address (SONA). Having survived several attempts to remove her from power, the SONA conveyed a mood of triumphalism. Despite this, however, the opening of Congress is still marked by a political crisis that wouldn’t not fade unless the truth is known and systematic reforms are implemented.
In our political landscape, where do lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgenders figure? Why is it important for the LGBT community to follow closely what's happening politically? Read more here.
Go local, and paint your municipality, city, or province pink. Push for an anti-discrimination ordinance to penalize discrimination against LGBT at the local level. You can also urge your local government officials to approve a resolution supporting the passage of the Anti-Discrimination Bill. Click here to learn more.
Civil Case. No. 70883-PSG - This is what Aruba restaurant got for its bigotry. Gay impersonator Inday Garutay (real name: Christopher Borja) today slapped a civil case against Aruba restaurant before the Pasig City Regional Trial Court. Read more here.
By imposing a dress code against 'cross-dressers', Aruba bar and restaurant in Metrowalk Commercial Complex discriminates against the entire Filipino lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. LAGABLAB calls all concerned citizens, including the LGBT community, to boycott Aruba bar and restaurant. To read more about this campaign, click here.
To help LAGABLAB fight discrimination against lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders, join our Stop Discrimination Now! campaign.
