While the Philippines has a rich pre-colonial history featuring respected individuals of varying genders and sexual orientations, today, LGBTQ+ Filipinos both in the Philippines and overseas struggle with acceptance and how society perceives their identity. Factors such as religious beliefs, conservative family members, stereotyping, and lack of media representation were found to be some of these obstacles. Members of the LGBTQ+ Filipino diaspora experience a disconnect compared to their white counterparts and often face a dilemma between their Filipino identity and their LGBTQ+ selves.

This research was done to provide perspective on the challenges LGBTQ+ Filipinos face, both within and out of the home country–and what can be done to better understand the conflict they feel. Through conducting two surveys amounting to 61 respondents and four interviews, results showed that LGBTQ+ Filipinos struggle with white-centeredness in western LGBTQ+ spaces and discrimination from their Filipino families and communities due to religion and other traditional values. Ultimately they prefer to be around people of the same intersectional minority group and seek representation in order to be understood and dispel harmful stereotypes.

The findings of this research eventually lead to the conception of this project. You may read about them in the articles below!