January'7,'2014'

January 7, 2015

'
His'Holiness'Pope'Francis''
Apostolic'Palace''
Vatican'City'
'
'
Your'Holiness:''
'
We'are'individuals'from'different'groups'that'are'pushing'for'lesbian,'gay,'bisexual,'and'
transgender'(LGBT)'rights'in'the'Philippines'who'are'writing'Your'Holiness'as'the'leader'
of'the'Roman'Catholic'faith.'
'
Your'Holiness,'you'are'arriving'at'a'moment'of'great'challenges'for'the'Filipino'LGBT'
community.'The'widespread'belief'that'we'are'accepted'in'the'country'conceals'the'
deeply'embedded'stigma'and'discrimination'that'dehumanize'our'existence'and'our'
lives,'exposing'many'of'us'to'harm'and'danger.''
'
Just'a'few'months'ago,'the'murder'of'Filipina'transwoman'Jennifer'Laude'has'shown'the'
vulnerabilities'of'our'community'to'genderQbased'violence'and'discrimination.'Her'story'
is'a'narrative'familiar'to'many'trans'people'who'face'physical'abuse'and'hate'crimes'
simply'for'identifying'with'the'gender'that'theyre'born'with.'It'is'a'story'known'to'
lesbians'who'encounter'sexual'assaults'that'are'meant'to'correct'their'sexual'
orientation'and'sexual'behaviors.''
'
We'are'also'experiencing'an'unprecedented'increase'in'new'HIV'cases'among'gays,'
bisexuals,'other'men'who'have'sex'with'men,'and'trans'people.'To'date,'18'new'HIV'
cases'are'detected'everyday,'mostly'due'to'unprotected'sex'between'men.'Young'gay,'
bisexual,'and'transgender'people'are'disproportionately'affected,'a'result'of'the'lack'of'
access'to'sex'and'sexuality'education'and'the'exclusion'of'LGBTs'from'sexual'health'
services.'The'number'of'HIVQrelated'deaths'in'our'community'is'also'growing,'each'loss'
muted'by'the'stigma'that'continues'to'surround'the'epidemic'and'maleQtoQmale'sex.''
'
Your'Holiness,'we'are'writing'to'tell'you'that'upon'the'Catholic'faith's'name,'stigma'and'
various'human'rights'violations'have'been'committed'against'Filipino'LGBTs.'We'wrestle'
with'faithQbased'prejudices'that'enable'human'rights'violations'against'us,'or'our'
vulnerability'to'the'HIV'epidemic.''
'
In'schools,'where'LGBT'students'face'disciplinary'sanctions'or'expulsion'because'of'their'
sexual'orientation'or'gender'identity'and'expressions,'unfair'policies'are'often'founded'
on'interpretations'of'the'Catholic'doctrine.'In'health'care,'religious'notions'on'human'
sexuality'and'sex'undermine'evidenceQbased'health'programs'and'restrict'access'to'lifeQ
saving'health'services'for'women'and'LGBTs.''
'
The'protection'of'the'family'is'often'invoked'to'rationalize'these'prejudices.'Ironically,'it'
is'the'promotion'by'Catholic'leaders'of'these'homophobic'and'transphobic'notions'that'

divides'the'Filipino'family:'that'idea'that'homosexuality'is'a'sin'has'encouraged'physical'
abuse'against'LGBT'children'within'the'family;'the'perspective'that'homosexuality'is'
pathological'that'can'be'corrected'and'cured'has'resulted'in'children'presumed'to'be'
LGBT'to'be'subjected'to'harmful'and'destructive'psychiatric'treatment;'and'the'idea'
that'being'LGBT'is'a'choice'is'viewed'by'others'as'a'license'to'hurt'and'stigmatise'those'
who'presumably'made'the'wrong'choice.'Within'the'family,'faithQbased'bigotry'against'
LGBTs'has'led'to'fragmentation'and'disunity.''
'
Your'Holiness,'as'leader'of'the'Catholic'faith,'you'are'in'the'best'position'to'dismantle'
faithQ'based'stigma'and'the'human'rights'violations'that'it'fuels.'In'several'occasions,'
you'have'stood'up'for'the'dignity'of'the'poor'and'the'marginalized;'you'have'made'
known'to'the'world'your'stance'on'injustice'and'inequality.'As'a'community'burdened'
by'the'weight'of'religious'stigma,'we'call'on'you'to'openly'condemn'the'
dehumanization'and'human'rights'violations'experienced'by'LGBTs.'In'the'spirit'of'
constructive'and'meaningful'dialogue,'we'would'also'like'to'request'for'an'audience'
with'Your'Holiness'during'your'visit'here'in'the'Philippines.''
'
Sincerely,'
'
'
'
Benjie'Zabala'
Jonas'Bagas'
Babaylanes'Inc.'
TLF'Share'
'
'
'
'
Anne'Lim'
Claire'De'Leon'
GALANG'Philippines'
University'of'the'Philippines'Babaylan'
'
'
'
'
'
Jacob'WalseQDominguez'
Magdalena'Robinson'
Task'Force'Pride'
CURLS''Cebu'
'
'
'
'
Jet'Evangelista'
Julian'Tolits'Tanaka'
Akbayan'LGBT'Collective'
Pinoy'FTM'
'
'
'
'
Rolando'Rivac'
Dawn'Madrona'
GAYONQAlbay'
STRAP'
'
Cris'Lopera'
SHINEQSOCCKSARGEN'
General'Santos'City'
'

'

Niccolo Cosme
The Red Whistle Campaign

Naomi Fontanos
GANDA Filipinas