Transgender Men of Cebu

Let’s talk about trans men who are into men.

Wha… GAY trans men?

Trans men are not necessarily attracted to women. Some trans men, whether they identify as gay, bi, androsexual or something else, are attracted to cis men or other trans men like themselves.

Gay Trans Manattracted toCis/Trans MenBi Trans Manattracted toCis/Trans Men and WomenAndrosexual Trans Manattracted toCis/Trans Men /…

I’m a trans man who’s had his fair share of travels and in all that time, only once was my gender ever brought into question inappropriately. Not by foreign immigration staff, not by local immigration staff, but by a single CISGENDER GAY FILIPINO MAN whose job is to frisk passengers. This is what happened:

In 2014, we were going on a family trip. At the second baggage scan, I was frisked…

First Transgender Flight Attendant in the Philippines

Jess Labares is the first known transgender woman to become a flight attendant in the Philippines.

Becoming a flight attendant is no easy feat. The selection, hiring and training process can be grueling as flight attendants must be fully prepared to ensure the safety of all passengers on their flight. It is even more difficult to become a flight attendant as a transgender woman in an industry…

Why Sex Segregated Toilets Don’t Make Sense

You may have heard about Gretchen Diez, a trans woman, who was barred from entering the women’s restroom at Farmers Plaza, Araneta Center, Cubao last August 13, 2019. The janitor at the mall illegally detained, physically and verbally abused, and humiliated her all because she wanted to exercise a very basic human right – to relieve herself in the toilet.

These issues could have been…

Marrz Saludez Balaoro: Trans or Tomboy?

The Philippine LGBT community is abuzz with the most recent MMK episode that aired last night, July 13, 2019, featuring Anne Curtis as a young Reverend Marrz Saludez Balaoro. The question on most people’s minds is, “Is Marrz a trans man or tomboy?”. This is because it was announced that the episode would be about a transgender man, but throughout the episode, Anne as Marrz would constantly refer…

Mandaue Pride March: Pass the SOGIE Equality Bill Now!

The first ever Mandaue Pride March will be held on the 24th of June 2018 at 7 PM in the City of Mandaue and will be open to all. LGBT+ groups and allies from all over Cebu Province are expected to attend. Aside from the main event, a series of small pride events will be held during the week from June 18 to 23, 2018.

The event was organized by the Cebu Coalition for Equalityand will be hosted by…

Trans Meets Intersex: Meeting Jeff Cagandahan

If you’re a law student or a transgender advocate, you’ve probably come across, at one time or another, the case of Jeff Cagandahan.

Jeff was born in January 13, 1981 as Jennifer but as he grew up he started developing male characteristics and, at the age of 22, he was diagnosed with simple virilizing congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). Finding work was difficult and awkward given the…

Trans Discrimination at Bars in Cebu City

In 2017 alone, at least two transgender women have aired out their complaints of discrimination on social media giant, Facebook. They complained about being denied entry to bars due to their transgender status.

Cebu City has an anti-discrimination ordinance that passed in October 2012 but the ordinance still lacks implementing rules and regulations. However, you can file a complaint at the LGBT…

One Step Closer to Equality

On September 20, 2017, for the first time in Philippine history, an anti-discrimination bill protecting persons of diverse SOGIE or more commonly referred to as the LGBT community has been passed by the Lower House of Representatives. More surprising is the result of the vote!

Affirmative – 197 Negative – 0 Abstentations – 0

Members of Congress get a groufie in celebration of equality.

  ALL…

New Guideline Allows Trans People to Transition at a Younger Age

The “Endocrine Treatment of Transsexual Persons”, first published in September 2009, has been replaced by The Endocrine Society’s latest guideline, “Endocrine Treatment of Gender-Dysphoric/Gender-Incongruent Persons”, published in September 2017. One of the changes in this new guideline is the recognition of compelling reasons to start HRT before the age of 16.

  Excerpt from Endocrine Treatment…

HeNotShe: Jake Zyrus is out. Now what?

My first tweet as Jake. Overwhelmed. Saw all your love comments and I’m so happy. Finally. I love you, everyone and see you soon.

— Jake Zyrus (@jakezyrus) June 20, 2017

Jake Zyrus officially changed his name on social media and made his first tweet under his new name on June 19, 2017, and deleted all previous tweets he made under the name Charice.

Transgender men and the general LGBTQ+…

Anti-Discrimination Ordinances Across the Philippines

Will the Anti-Discrimination Bill finally get passed into law?

Like many LGBT advocates, I’m wondering whether the Anti-Discrimination Bill is going to be passed or get passed over this 17th Congress. The Anti-Discrimination Bill (H.B. 4982 by Kaka J. Bag-ao, Geraldine B. Roman et al. & S.B.N. 1271 by Risa Hontiveros) is a piece of proposed legislation that would make discrimination on the basis…