In 2005, a study of two nationwide surveys showed that one in every four Filipinos would not want to have lesbians and gay men as neighbors. The following year, 2006, and three years later, 2009, a government institution gave flesh to the negative attitude of many Filipinos towards gay community. The Commission on Elections shut the door on the LGBT community by denying party-list group Ladlad’s application for accreditation Ladlad twice.
The COMELEC explained that Ladlad was disqualified to run for 2007 elections because it failed to prove its nationwide membership, while its petition for 2010 elections was junked on grounds of morality.
The Supreme Court, however, intervened and gave Ladlad the go-signal to join the 2010 elections but the LGBT political party, whose advocacy equal rights among all Filipinos, failed to make it.
Over the years, the Filipino’s perception of the gay community has found expression in a number of ways – discrimination in terms of employment, bullying in schools, harassment in work places, and in some cases, grisly murders. Yet, despite the risks, a number of personalities have come out of the closet to be counted as part of a “growing” community in search of their own truths after years of living a lie.
Veteran broadcast journalist Cheche Lazaro tackles homosexuality and its forms in a two-hour documentary that weaves the points of view of people with same-sex attraction, their families, and the sectors that either support or reject them.
Former child star and singer Aiza Seguerra talks about her journey of acceptance, while comedian Ogie Diaz gives a peek into his 13-year blissful marriage that has produced four daughters.
A woman also narrates how science has transformed her to a man, while her conservative father looks back at how their family dealt with the situation. The story of a bisexual waiting for her ordination as a pastor will also be shown. A married lesbian couple on the other hand, shares their views about love and family, while eight old gay men tell their tales of joys and pains of being different.
Joining them are experts from various fields – a psychologist, geneticist, sex realignment doctor, human rights activist and priests. They all provide the context to a comprehensive and poignant story of a societal taboo in the midst of our changing times.
Don’t miss “Cheche Lazaro Presents” this Sunday (October 13), after “Gandang Gabi Vice” on ABS-CBN’s Sunday’s Best.
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