The document discusses the history and current state of LGBT rights and culture. It explains the origins and meaning of the term LGBT and its growing mainstream acceptance. While LGBT people experience some tolerance in the Philippines, discrimination still exists and legal protections are limited. The document advocates for respecting all people regardless of attributes like gender identity.
2. The term LGBT is intended to emphasize a diversity of "sexuality and gender identity-based cultures" and is sometimes used to refer to anyone who is non-heterosexual instead of exclusively to people who are homosexual, bisexual, or transgender.To recognize this inclusion, a popular variant adds the letter Q for those who identify as queer and questioning their sexual identity (e.g., "LGBTQ" or "GLBTQ", recorded since 1996). The initialism has become mainstream as a self-designation and has been adopted by the majority "sexuality and gender identity-based" community centers and media in the United States and some other English-speaking countries.
3. Before the sexual revolution of the 1960s, there was no common non‐derogatory vocabulary for non‐heterosexuality; the closest such term, "third gender", traces back to the 1860s but never gained wide acceptance. Not until the 1990s did it become common to speak of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people with equal respect within the movement. LGBT Culture: A Philippine Experience. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in the Philippines have a distinctive culture, but limited legal rights. Although gays and lesbians are generally tolerated (if not accepted) within Philippine society, there are still widespread cases of discrimination. Baklas are a distinctive group in the Philippines.
7. We should respect a human being not just with his or her color, race and religion but also with their gender preferences. Being a lesbian/gay/bisexual or transgender is not a disease to be afraid of. They are unique individuals with their own rights that should be respected.
