Being Part of the LGBTQ+ Community in the

Philippines: A Qualitative Study of Perceptions

A Research presented to the Faculty of

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

Hannah Grace G. Basan

March 2019
 Introduction

The term SOGIE is a widely used acronym that merges Sexual

Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression in a single concept to

understand one’s sexuality and gender and avoid prompting labels that may

be biased against a person. The concept of SOGIE equality is proposed

along the vision of eradicating the existing gender system that is evidently

favorable merely for the stereotypical sex and gender of female and male.

It is where the liberation is given as a right to all the members of the society,

regardless of other factors, to express their individuality in respective sex

and gender they identify themselves

The prevalence of violence committed against the members of

LGBTQ+ Community is significantly high based on the recorded cases of

hate crimes by the Philippine LGBT Hate Crime Watch. A quantity of 28

hate crimes on 2011 added up to the cases recorded since 1996 which

totals to 103 hate crimes and around 141 deaths from 1996 to 2011.

According to an assessment of research evidences conducted by RTI

international, one finding of it shows that numerous featured studies

suggest that persons from the LGBTQ+ community in different age groups

are more likely to be victimized by all forms of violence, which includes

physical and sexual assault, bullying, harassment and hate crimes. With

the continuous increase of violence and other hate crimes against the stated

community, risk perception can be an indicator to anticipate what other

varying elements and factors can put an individual at higher risk for SOGIE-
related violence. Thus, understanding and analyzing members of LGBTQ

perceptions of risk is particularly significant in identifying its relation with the

actual future risk of SOGIE- related violence.

Background of the Study

The Philippines is one of the countries that has a culture that

perpetuates stigmas and prejudices against the LGBTQ community which

may be caused by the lack of education and awareness regarding basic

sensitivity and recognition of the members’ rights. Although SOGIE Equality

Bill has already been filed in the 11th Congress by the former Sen. Miriam

Santiago and Akbayan Rep. Etta Rosales, it’s still a current challenge for it

to be signed as a law due to the dispute between beliefs and stands of the

lawmakers. With this bill still on its process, there is thus far no anti-

discrimination bill that is comprehensive and SOGIE-specific that enables

protection from harassment and violence against the persons with

distinctive identity, gender and expression affiliated to their sex and gender.

The phenomenon of SOGIE-related violence justifies the sore need

for immediate attention and actions that will foster the rights of every Filipino

regardless of sex and gender. Furthermore, this demands for studies based

on theoretical frameworks that will initiate a society that prioritizes safety

and equality.
Statement of the Problem

This study will be conducted to anticipate risk and danger of SOGIE-

related violence committed against the members of the LGBTQ community

Specifically, this research aims to answer the following questions:

1. What are the risk factors that may affect members' (of the LGBTQ+

community) perceptions towards SOGIE-related violence?

2. How do risk factors affect perceptions about SOGIE-related violence?

Risk Factors include but are not limited to the following:

2.1. Personal

2.2. Family

2.3. School (if applicable to the subject/s)

2.4. Community and Environmental

3. What are the plausible solutions to lessen the severity of risk persons

from LGBTQ community perceive?

This study will be conducted to provide a brief analysis of perceptions

of risk in SOGIE-related violence as part of being a member of the LGBTQ+

community

Furthermore, this study is descriptive in nature and therefore

interpretive and psychometric paradigm will be applied to analyze the

gathered data. The research sample will be composed of thirty (30) persons

from the LGBTQ+ community residing in any barangay from San Pablo City.

The sample is delimited to individuals who might have or have not

experienced SOGIE-related violence after identifying themselves as

members of the aforementioned community. The methods that will be used

to gather data are: survey questionnaires that will contain queries regarding

their personal and family background, and an in-depth interview that will be

done for one session depending on their availability and comfortability of

time.

Significance of the Study

This qualitative investigation will be conducted to analyze and

understand perceptions of risk in SOGIE-related violence. The sectors that

will benefit from this are the following:

To the academe, this research study aims to contribute in widening

the extent of knowledge about the perceptions of risk in SOGIE-related

violence. This study will provide a brief analysis of the risk factors,
addressing the views of the LGBTQ+ individuals, their experiences, and

other related information concerning the phenomenon of SOGIE violence.

Consequently, this is expected to help in anticipating future actual risks of

violence prompting the implementation of policies that will protect their

rights as citizens.

To the society, this qualitative study aims to reduce cases relating

to SOGIE violence. In addition, the goal for this investigation is to develop

the understanding of perceptions of SOGIE-related violence that will help

support the community-based efforts to lessen the violence perpetrated

against the LGBTQ+ members. This will help create a society that is gender-

sensitive which values and recognizes rights from all the sectors of the

community, and is not prone to discrimination and oppression.

To the future researchers, this will serve as a guide to create

improved and risk-factor-specific studies addressing and further

understanding the perceptions of risk in SOGIE-related violence.

This part presents all the relevant terms used in the study and their

respective definition. This further defines the acronyms and jargons used

throughout this research study.

SOGIE an abbreviation that combines sexual

orientation, gender identity and gender

expression in one term

Sexual orientation The determination of position in the society

Gender identity personal sense of one's own gender

Gender expression the way in which the person expresses their

identity

SOGIE Equality Bill also known as the "Anti-Discrimination Bill"

which prevents the discrimination against

people of their sexual orientation, gender

identity and gender expression

LGBTQ+ lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and

queer

Harassment intimidation or aggressive pressure

SOGIE-related violence discrimination/violence to one's sexual

orientation, gender identity or gender

expression
 Hate crime a crime that involves violence and prejudice

towards religion, gender and other fields

Risk perception subjective judgement made by people to

the characteristics and severity of the risk

Sex refers to the reproductive system of a

person and sexual characteristics

Gender means "type" and is categorize as

masculine, feminine, common or neuter

This chapter provides a general overview of the literature and studies about

SOGIE-related Violence, brief background and other information that is relevant to

the study. This introduces the framework for the study that comprises the main

focus of the topic.

Everyone can be a subject of violence and harassment. However, those

people perceived to be non-conforming of the standard genders and sexual

orientation are twice as likely to be the target of it (Mykhyalyshyn & Park, 2016).

According to the reports of UNESCO in the school-related violence and bullying

on the basis of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, this phenomenon is highly

prevalent in most countries located on the Asia-Pacific region, that of which

includes Philippines. According to Park and Mykhyalyshyn, from those who study

hate crimes, the attitude of acceptance is a major factor on the radicalism of the

citizens of a nation. It is further stated in the article that those who are strongly in

dispute with these new modifications in the culture, find them quite disturbing

(Herek, 2016). Herek then added that these sudden cultural shifts are viewed as

threats, prompting them to strike out that can lead to numerous possibilities, which

includes attacks of perpetration and violence.

Governments all around the world have been exerting their efforts to

address the issue of violence on basis with sexual orientation and gender identity.

Some actions include the promotion of the community’s welfare through

strengthening of rights and establishment of mental health organizations for cases

of untreated violence. In the Philippines, there were few attempts of reforms in the

law but none of them ever appeared to be SOGIE-related. According to an article

written by Ma. Jiandra Bianca F. Deslate, an underbar associate of Divina Law, a

bill has already been passed by the late Sen, Miriam Defensor Santiago and

Akbayan Rep. Etta Rosales yet for nineteen years, it still has been pending. The
filed SOGIE Equality Bill aspires to ensure the protection of the LGBTQ+

community rights as much as everyone else and is expected to comply to the

international law, most particularly the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as

part of both international and national duty. Still written by Deslate, although this

bill is ideal providing a comprehensive take on the issue of violence against this

oppressed community, the uncertainty of it being signed as a law is evidently

visible.

According to an article submitted to the Human Rights Council for Universal

Periodic Review 13th session, LGBT community faces an unprecedented heights

of both physical and verbal assault that often reflects to their complete social ,

economic, cultural wellbeing that can be caused by the lack of monitoring of

instances of discrimination, bias, prejudice, and violence that they face due to

perpetuation of homophobia, transphobia and machismo (“The Status of Lesbian,

Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights in the Philippines,”2012). Other

shortcomings in the process of addressing this violence include the faulty local

investigation methodologies, the predominant religious beliefs, lack of anti-

discrimination law that is SOGIE-specific, inaccessibility of proper healthcare and

services are the factors identified to be deterring the access to a gender-sensitive

and violence-free environment.

The LGBTQ+ Community faces unprecedented heights of abuse coming

from what they thought was "protecting" them from the threats although several

attempts was made to compromise for the misconducts that happened, the LGBTQ

Community then faced opposition from the Roman Catholic church, "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." (Theorson, R.

2017). While the government has put “indirect” action to the problem like the anti-

bullying law which also implements sexual orientation and gender identity on the

list, however, this isn’t the case for everyone, a study conducted by the Human

Watch Rights in 2016-2017 states that the three most common problems the

LGBTQ+ Community faces are Bullying, Discrimination and Harassment due to

the basis of our Traditional Culture and Beliefs. There are ways we can help the

LGBTQ+ Community for example having seminars for teachers and faculty

members of the school to help them familiarize the current issues the LGBT is

facing, but there are still some resistance inside from the faculties themselves,

Juan N., A 22-Year-Old transman states that “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.” While the LGBT

Community in general are facing these issues, it is through awareness this society

can achieve acceptance of them.

“Suicide is the leading cause of death among gay and lesbian youths. Gay

and lesbian youths are 2 to 6 times more likely to attempt suicide than heterosexual

youth. Over 30% of all reported teen suicides each year are committed by gay and

lesbian youths. Gays and lesbians are at much higher risk than the heterosexual

population for alcohol and drug abuse. Approximately 30% of both the lesbian and
gay male populations have problems with alcohol. Gay and lesbian youth are at

greater risk for school failure than heterosexual children.” (U.S. Department of

Health and Human Services, 1989, as cited in “How Are LGBT Youth Affected by

Discrimination…,” Blackman, 2007) The discrimination from society, peers, family

and school staff can be a contributing factor as to why LGBT Youth die or

discriminated (Blackman, 2007). According to Cole (2007), it is also statistically

proven that LGBT juveniles experience a higher rate of abuse, neglect, and

discrimination as compared to those of the straight ones. Blackman further stated

that gender preference of parents among their children and school administrators

among students affect the overall practice of discrimination against LGBT youth.

Furthermore, verbal abuse is one of the most common type of discrimination

done against LGBT Youth. The use of slur terms such as “faggot” and “gay” in a

negative sense as an expression for something “stupid” or “uncool” shows an

alarming sign that their community is being oppressed and discriminated, if not

daily, oftentimes (Blackman, 2007). Reports from the “Today’s Gay Youth: The

Ugly Frightening Statistics” of denial and refusal of parents, peers, and members

of the society after their sexuality or gender being expressed publicly or even

privately only imply that the society is still opposing the freedom to choose from

any gender and sexuality oneself can identify with.

Moreover, People from the LGBTQ community are more likely to be

engaged with alcohol and drugs. Substantially higher proportions of homosexual

people use alcohol, marijuana or cocaine than is the case in the general population

(McKirnan & Peterson, 1989). Another proof that LGBT people has a higher rate
of experiencing inconvenience in their daily lives is the discomfort brought by

physical and verbal abuse that happens inside the premises of different schools

causing the approximately 28% of gay and lesbian youth to drop out of High School

(Remafedi, 1987). Gay and lesbian youths’ discomfort stems from fear of name

calling and physical harm (Eversole, n.d).

With all the above information being stated, violence and harassment

against LGBTQ individuals can happen anywhere and anytime. Because of the

perpetuation of stereotypes and other stigmas, and other factors, their community

is prone to a higher risk of danger. Thus, the above evidences are sufficient enough

to anticipate that even if there are staunch advocates of welfare of the said

community, the complete cessation of violence and discrimination against them is

still far-fetched. This just signifies that there are many contributing factors affecting

the behavior towards and against the LGBTQ persons and hence there is a

desperate need for proper addressing of these factors and application of

comprehensive solutions to lessen the perpetration committed against them. This

will serve as a way to protect their rights and ensure their security through

awareness and in-depth and thorough study and discussion of the topic.
 Methodology

This chapter presents the research design, population and sampling

technique and the instrument for data collection.

Research Study

This study will be designed to investigate the perceptions of risk in SOGIE-

related violence. Thus, this study will make use of qualitative approach including

the application of interpretive and psychometric paradigm as this study will tackle

the LGBTQ+ encounters of the aforementioned type of violence.

Furthermore, this study aspires to provide a brief discussion and

assessment of opinions, stories of past experiences, and agonies of future dangers

that may arise due to various risk factors prompting SOGIE-related violence.

Population and Sampling Technique

The target population for this study is 15-20 respondents which will

comprise of 5-7 LGBTQ+ persons from each section of the HUMSS strand of San

Pablo City Science High School namely Comte, Freire, and Marx. The population

for this study will be chosen according to the needs of this study using the

purposive sampling technique. However, this study may not comply to the target

population since the gathering of data will be time consuming and the accessible

population will include students within the priorly stated strand and campus which

is just within the researchers’ reach.

The researchers will conduct a survey as the method for data collection in

this study. The members of the LGBTQ+ community who might have or have not

experienced SOGIE-related violence will be interviewed. The survey questions will

be set towards eliciting relevant information concerning the cases of SOGIE-

related violence in the society, the perceived problems and dangers of violence

committed against them, affiliated risk factors, as well as plausible solutions that

can be adopted to prevent future actual cases of harassment or any forms of

violence.
 Administration of
Formulation of Population
the Data Gathering
Questions Sampling
Instrument

Data Collection Data Analysis Conclusion

Figure 1. Flow Chart