Divorce is forbidden. Abortion is a crime. Same-sex marriage is not allowed, and queer Filipinos enjoy few legal protections. But in signs of progress that contradict the moral panic in the US, drag queens are finding mainstream acceptance in the Philippines, which happens to be one of the largest majority Catholic countries in the world.
While they may still be lip syncing for tips, Filipino drag queens are moving from the shadows of gay bars and comedy venues to to new clubs devoted to drag, which attract a majority cis straight female audience.
Queens are also landing marketing contracts with major brands from MAC Cosmetics to Samsung phones!
Filipino drag queens see their performance not just as an artistic expression, but as a political statement supporting LGBTQ rights. By being authentically themselves, without suppressing their queerness or trying to pass as straight, they hope to change conservative culture.
Gender Diversity in the Philippines
The country has long conceived of gender beyond the male/female binary; “bakla” is a Tagalog word that connotes a third gender identity, and has been variously translated as gay, hermaphrodite, transgender, queer and third sex, as Foreign Policy explains.
“Bakla” is used in reference to men, who might wear women’s clothing and makeup or adopt flamboyant mannerisms.
Records from the Spanish colonial era, in the 16th century, describe “asog,” or men would would socially transition to women. The asog would dress as women, be treated as women by peers, and marry men. The asog were not only accepted, they were respected members of society.
There is much more to the story of gender diversity in the Philippines than this. One place to explore further is this interview with Filipino essayist and translator Alton Melvar M Dapanas in Global Voices.ย
How Drag is Transforming Filipino Culture
Spanish colonization eroded acceptance of nonbinary and gender variant identities.
The Catholic Church continues to exert a a strong influence over attitudes.
As a result of these influences many queer Filipinos face societal and family pressure to conform to gender norms or repress their sexual identities. Some are even pressured to attend conversion therapy by unaccepting family members.
Against this cultural backdrop, a new generation of drag artists are embracing themselves โ and their authenticity is winning fans.
As more cis, straight Filipinos are exposed to drag, either by watching local queens or by RuPaul’s Drag Race, their beliefs are changing.
The growing acceptance of drag demonstrates a shift towards greater inclusivity and diversity โ one that will hopefully help the Philippines usher in more legal protections for its LGBTQIA citizens.
There is a trickle down effect for travelers.
When countries become less LGBTQ-friendly, gay travelers might postpone a visit. Less inclusive rules and attitudes have us second-guessing our comfort and safety.
Gay travel to Florida has dropped by 80% in the wake of DeSantis’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill, according to TravelWeek. LGBTQ travelers are voting with our dollars, and we increasingly don’t want to visit a state that put a target on our backs.
When countries and states become more LGBTQ-friendly, gay and lesbian travelers are more likely to visit.
Broader societal acceptance of LGBTQIA identities means that queer travelers can be ourselves. We don’t have to hide or downplay our gender expressions to fit in.
We get to experience more of the culture, without having to hide who we are.
I have always wanted to visit the Philippines. On my honeymoon, I was SO CLOSE in neighboring Vietnam. It would have been a short flight…
But I didn’t feel comfortable visiting while Duterte’s government was disappearing and murdering citizens in a so-called war on drugs.
I didn’t want my tourist dollars to support his government.
Now, Duterte is gone and cultural norms seem to be shifting. A majority of Filipinos have support for LGBTQIA rights.
While the laws have not yet caught up to public opinion, I’m thrilled that the Philippines is an increasingly attractive destination for queer travelers…and it’s still on my bucket list for someday!
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