The Philippines: Ripe for LGBT Employee Networks

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The Philippines Ripe for LGBT Employee Networks

• Dana Rosete
• Ronil Villacorta
• Adam Baron
• Kelly Miller

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Workshop Agenda

• Introductions
• Meet the Philippines!
• The Thomson Reuters Story
• Key Takeaways
• Discussion and Questions

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Meet the philippines!
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Mabuhay and Welcome to the Philippines!

• The Philippines is an archipelago comprised of
  how many islands?
• 57
• 734
• 3,219
• 7,107

Manila
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Mabuhay and Welcome to the Philippines!

• The Philippines is an archipelago comprised of
  7,107 islands located in the Western Pacific
  Ocean in Southeast Asia.
• Total land area is comparable to Arizona
• 12th most populous country in the world (101
  million, 2011 est.)
• There are three main divisions Luzon, Visayas
  and Mindanao
• Most of the islands are mountainous and covered
  in tropical rainforests, with usually hot and
  humid weather

Manila
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Western Influence in The Philippines

• What two countries are represented in the
  official seal of Republic of The Philippines?
• USA and Spain

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Western Influence in The Philippines

• Islands originally populated by various
  indigenous tribes
• The Philippines were established by Spain in 1565
  and named after King Philip II
• Islands ceded to the United States in 1898 as
  part of the Treaty of Paris
• Republic of Philippines became independent in
  1946
• Western influence can be seen everywhere from
  language, names, cuisine, arts and music

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Western Influence in The Philippines

• National language is Filipino. The Philippines
  has the largest population of English speakers
  (as a second language) in the world.
• One of the most apparent influences of Spanish
  rule is seen in religion where 80 of the
  population identifies as Roman Catholic
• Government based on three branches similar to the
  US President, bicameral Congress and Supreme
  Court
• Education system structure similar to that found
  in the US

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The LGBT Landscape
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The LGBT Landscape

• What do you call a person who speaks the gay
  lingo? Bekimon

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The LGBT Landscape - LAWS

• CRIMINALIZATION
• No laws criminalize homosexuality.
• ANTI-DISCRIMINATION
• No laws prohibit discrimination based on sexual
  orientation or gender identity, but there is a
  pending anti-discrimination bill in Congress
• MARRIAGE and FAMILY
• No legal recognition for same-sex marriage, civil
  unions or domestic partnerships.
• No legal recognition for adoptive same-sex
  parents
• MILITARY
• Sexual orientation does not exempt citizens from
  CAT (Citizens Army Training). The Philippines
  ended its ban on allowing openly gay and bisexual
  men and women from serving in the military in
  2009.
• GENDER CHANGES
• It is illegal to change genders on an official
  document. This is not allowed even after sex
  reassignment surgery.

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The LGBT Landscape - POLITICS

• POLITICAL PARTIES
• Political parties are typically very cautious
  about supporting LGBT rights, as most fall along
  the social conservative political spectrum.
• AKBAYAN PARTY National citizens party made up of
  various sectors who traditionally have had little
  voice in government youth, women, fisher folk,
  elderly, gays and lesbians, Muslims and workers.
  First version of the Anti-Discrimination Bill (HB
  634) was authored by Akbayan.
• LADLAD PARTY Political party for LGBT Filipinos
  running for representation in Congress in 2013.
  Founded in 2003 and comprised of LGBT and
  LGBT-friendly members. In 2009 the Commission on
  Elections rejected their bid for representation
  on moral grounds.
• SECTORS
• Under the Philippine constitution some 20 of
  seats in the House of Representatives are
  reserved for sectors (categories such as the
  elderly, peasants, labor, etc.). In 1995 and
  1997, unsuccessful efforts were made to reform
  the law so as to include LGBT people.
• UNITED NATIONS
• The Philippines abstained from voting on the UN
  declaration on sexual orientation and gender
  identity which condemns violence, harassment,
  discrimination, exclusion, stigmatization, and
  prejudice based on sexual orientation and gender
  identity.
• UNITED STATES EMBASSY
• Celebrated LGBT Pride Month in The Philippines
  for the first time ever in 2011
• Event hosted by US Ambassador Harry Thomas

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The LGBT Landscape COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS

• RAINBOW RIGHTS PROJECT
• Lesbian and gay lawyers and legal activists
  promoting rights of LGBT Filipinos
• Acclaimed for their rainbow cards
• PINK basic rights, what to do if arrested for
  offense common to LGBT community
• BLUE legal protections for lesbians in
  relationships
• LILAC basic rights in the workplace
• UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES BABAYLAN
• Leading LGBT student group for all UP campuses,
  founded in 1992
• INCLUSIVE WORKPLACE PROJECT
• Encourages organizations to adopt workplace
  non-discrimination policies the include sexual
  orientation and gender identity/expression
• Developed the Inclusive Workplace Philippines
  List
• PHILIPPINE NATIONAL LGBT CONFERENCE
• 2011 conference hosted participants from 46 LGBT
  groups across the country
• Call for government action and collaboration on
  community outreach strategies

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The LGBT Landscape THE LINGO

• LGBT TERMS
• SWARDSPEAK
• Sward meaning gay male
• Coined in the 1970s, it enables Filipino gays to
  resist dominant culture and carve out a space of
  their own.

Filipino English
Bakla, Bading, Becky, Binabae Gay man
Tibo, Lesbiana, Tomboy (pink, blue and purple) Lesbian
Bisekswal, Silahis Bisexual
Bakla Transgender
Swardspeak Origin Definition
crayola cry (English) to cry, be sad
Pagoda Cold Wave Lotion pagod (Tagalog) tired
Tom Jones gutom (Tagalog) hungry
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The LGBT Landscape THE LINGO
Swardspeak Origin Definition
Murriah Carey mura (Tagalog) ?

• What is the English translation of Murriah Carey?
• diva
• glitter
• cheap
• fierce

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The LGBT Landscape CULTURE

• Macho Dancer
• First indie gay film
• Released in 1988 by Filipino director Lino Brocka

• BryanBoy
• Filipino fashion blogger
• Site receives 5,000 visits/day
• Fans include Marc Jacobs and is recognized as an
  influence by major fashion publications

• Aiza Seguerra
• Popular actress and recording artist became a
  celebrity at the age of 3
• Came out as lesbian in 2007

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The LGBT Landscape CULTURE

• ZsaZsa Zaturnnah
• Popular comic book super heroine created by
  Filipino artist Carlo Vergara
• Alter ego, Ada, is a gay man who turns into
  ZsaZsa by ingesting a pink stone and shouting
  Zaturnnah

• Amazing Philippine Theatre
• Founded in 2001, its one of the biggest
  entertainment venues in Asia featuring
  transgender performers

• Jose Pitoy Moreno
• Top Filipino fashion designer internationally
  once dubbed the Fashion Czar of Asia
• Has dressed royalty, politicians, socialites and
  celebrities around the world

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The LGBT Landscape CULTURE

• Name another prominent Filipino celebrity.

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THE THOMSON REUTERS STORY
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Cross Border Beginnings

• Global LGBTF Network Formed at Out Equal 2010
• Network initially active in the US and UK
• Global expansion goals, but no clear plan
• Executive Sponsor Recruited in Hong Kong
• Straight ally, ex-New Yorker who just relocated
• Requested larger Asia LGBTF presence
• LGBTF Story on Internal Site Attracted Global
  Members
• Executive sponsorship announcement appeared
  online
• Close to 30 members in Manila
• Onil sent a personal email offering help and
  recruited Dana to partner

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Global Partnership

• Global LGBTF Committee Envisions a Manila Launch
• Enlisted Onil and Dana as local leaders
• Requested funding from Executive Sponsor
• Brainstormed event ideas based on US experiences
• Leveraged internal communication channels to
  promote event
• Utilized LGBTF website as a place to host
  information, and drive engagement

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Local Leadership

• CHOOSING A SOCIAL EVENT
• Consulted with senior site officer
• Low cost for US even though it was high for
  Manila
• Offered a great place to eat/drink for free
  giveaways and gifts
• Location would be orientation and gender neutral,
  
• Chose Saturday to accommodate shifts
• Kick things off with something fun and social
  opportunity to network
• Sets up an atmosphere where members will want to
  give back
• Event budget was 1,500 and engaged 50 people
• PUBLICIZE!
• Utilized posters, email blasts, Facebook, word of
  mouth
• Employees had to join the network to get an
  invite to the party
• CHALLENGES
• Associating with the LGBTF Network and what that
  means
• FOLLOWING UP
• Philippines network quickly grew to over 130
  largest in the world

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Global Partnership

• Onil and Dana joined the global steering
  committee
• Success in The Philippines helping to make a case
  for the rest of Asia
• Serving as a model for future network launches
• Share the story at Out and Equal in 2011
• Next step grow relationships with LGBTF network
  at other multi-national firms in The Philippines

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KEY TAKEAWAYS
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Making it Happen in The Philippines

• Set goals and expectations
• Recruit a senior executive on the groundand get
  that person TALKING!
• Poll your colleagueswhats likely to get their
  attention?
• Make it appeal to everyone, not just LGBT
  employees, and pick the right time
• Identify budget resourcesmake a business case
• Start the relationship by setting up gratitude
• Provide long distance support and encouragement
• Publicize use a website
• Follow upkeep them engaged

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DISCUSSION AND QUESTIONS