LGBTQIA+ Narratives: A Plea to Dismantle Outdated Gender-Based Norms
by Airi Martin and Regina Shane Lopez
The books are outdated.
With the continuous emergence and introduction of unfamiliar genders, it seems that unjustifiable discrimination also heightens, especially from those whose eyes are closed—persistently blind from society.
The Philippines may have ordinances to protect the well-being of the LGBTQIA+ community, but appears to fall behind in ensuring comprehensive protection and equality for all.
Republic Act No. 11313 or Safe Spaces Act of 2018 mandates schools to designate an officer-in-charge to receive complaints regarding violations of the law, and shall ensure that the victims are provided with a gender-sensitive environment both respectful to the victims’ needs and conducive to truth-telling.
In spite of laws with objectives to further protect the rights of LGBTQIA+ community, discrimination lies deep rooted in society—trampling the dignity of those identifying with genders unnatural and unfamiliar to tradition prevails still, even deemed as not humanly.
However, it is evident how this issue chooses no place. Even Bulacan State University (BulSU) is no stranger to gender-based discrimination.
The heat of discrimination
An engineering student and senator of BulSU Student Government (SG), Kien Ramos, 22, admits that she has been bruised from gender-based discrimination in and out of campus in many forms.
Ramos recalls times where she was called derogatory nicknames inside the university such as ‘Raul’, a name commonly used by FIlipinos to mock; ‘mister’, and generally, misgendering her even after correcting them.
“'Yung guard, tinawag niya akong 'mister', then nakita niya na I'm wearing makeup. I'm wearing [a] tube top, I'm wearing [a] cropped top, then cinorrect ko na siya once, then sabi ko ‘Kuya, miss po’, then paulit pa niyang sinabi na ‘Mister, paayos naman mister’,” Ramos shared.
On the other hand, Coco Caparas, chairperson of the newly established Gender Equity and Sensitivity Committee (GESC), also disappointedly described a disturbing experience she had in a restroom, when three women waited for her to leave the comfort room.
“Yung tumitig sa ‘kin nu’ng nag-CR ako diyan [CAL building]. I know it’s from CS [College of Science] kasi nakita ko sa ID lace nila, ta’s parang nag-CR kasi ako ro’n tapos ‘yung time na ‘yon tinitigan lang nila ako. Tatlo sila ta’s hinintay nila ako lumabas bago sila pumasok. I mean, what was the reason?” Caparas said.
Another student-professor issue that angered the BulSU LGBTQIA+ community is the reported case of Ann Valencia in September, a transgender student from CS, who was purposefully misgendered and disrespected by her professor.
The said professor also condemned her cross-dressing, despite the freedom of students to express their gender identity inside school parameters found in Article II, Section 13 of Magna Carta of Students.
All the while, Melvin*, a College of Social Sciences and Philosophy (CSSP) student and member of BulSU Bahaghari, admitted receiving reports of student-professor gender discrimination instances.
“Hindi lang naman siya sa student-based, maski sa professor and student relationship [ay] meron talaga. ‘Pag sa student to professor, hindi siya napag-uusapan masyado. Kasi nga professor ‘yon; anong laban ng estudyante ro’n ‘di ba? Yon kasi ‘yung naisasantabi ng current administration ngayon,” he stated.
According to him, they immediately reported the issue to the SG, who also condemned the actions of the faculty member.
Due process
“First, kinundena natin 'yung professor na nag-gender based discrimination sa kaniya, so, through her post, shinare natin s'ya, para sa gayon, mai-share natin kung ano ba 'yung stance natin do'n sa nangyari na 'yon,” Ramos shared.
At the same time, BulSU SG President—founder of GESC, ‘a consultative and policy-making committee’ as promised by her—Arianna Marie De Jesus further explained the actions they took when the case involving Valencia emerged.
“The first step that we took was to create a narrative report, na acknowledged dapat ni complainant,” she stated.
She then remarked that the narrative reports are highly powerful in solidifying the case. “I think it is also important for the Student Government to help the complainant, na magkaroon, or makapag-acquire ng Affidavit of Witness para mas ma-solidify ‘yung papers n’ya kapag nai-file na ‘to.”
The SG President also emphasized the vitality of identifying laws violated, which in Valencia’s case was R.A. 11313, and MCOS with regards to the Safe Spaces Act.
“Ngayon, sinend namin ‘yung narrative report na ‘to sa various offices such as the Office of the Student Affairs, and nag-send din kami sa local admin,” she added.
According to De Jesus, they immediately came to higher offices to secure Valencia’s tenure, one being the Office of the President to inform them of such gender related issues taking place inside the university.
Meanwhile, SG Senator Althea Jana Trinidad explained that there are cases that remain unresolved at the local level, unable to progress into a higher jurisdiction. "Mahirap para sa akin mag-handle, kasi madalas hindi ako in-allow na iakyat ko ‘yung complain sa higher offices," she confessed.
Mental health
Oftentimes, victims either do not speak of their discriminative experience, or do not seek help from others due to the stigma latched onto it, said Dr. Anna Liza E. Mercado, Head of BulSU Guidance and Counseling Services Center.
“Stigma, discrimination, na kapag nag ask ako ng help—regardless kung ano man [ang] concern, ta’s ‘pag sinabing ‘guidance office’ parang it’s a sign of weakness,” she explained.
Alongside the fear of judgment, these discriminatory issues—may it be microaggressions to harassment, does not end in a sense of disrespect and feeling unseen, but greatly affects one’s academic performance as well.
As Caparas stated, “S’yempre nakakaapekto ‘yon, ‘yung environment sa mental health nila, sa pag-aaral nila, sa lahat na syempre alam naman natin na kung walang safe space, hindi magfa-function nang maayos ‘yung mga students.”
She even shared moments wherein she felt discouraged to attend classes. “Ako before nati-trigger ‘yung gender dysmorphia ko, gano’n, sa mga choices nila sa classroom na s’yempre ako minsan nagkakaroon ako ng thoughts na, ‘hala ayoko na pumasok’.”
Caparas also emphasized that a safe campus not only about gender, but in all aspects, is vital for the performance of the students.
“Maaapektuhan siya psychologically or mentally. ‘Yung attention span niya, hindi makaka-focus sa academics. Kasi iisipin niya ‘yon, ‘yon ‘yung trauma na mentally naka-implant ‘yan na uulit-ulit,” Melvin expressed.
With this, Dr. Mercado encourages victims of gender-based discrimination to ask for guidance to supportt them, “Kapag pumasok ang bata dito, open arms. Walang restriction—we do not look at gender.”
Moreover, as guaranteed by GADC, “We at GADC condemn actions like this. S’yempre, hindi ito okay lalo na sa isang academic community kung saan students are being educated to become humane. We had been working hard to make people aware of the impacts of discrimination.”
To the roots
As they carry the responsibility of serving the students, the issue of gender-based discrimination has creeped through the cracks and made its way to the branches.
Bahaghari recently set up a stand for Lavan letters—letters for the Senate to pass the SOGIE Bill, wherein they also have incoming projects regarding its passage.
On SG’s future plans, Caparas of SG’s GESC stated, “Nagka-craft kami ng ordinance regarding sa transgender non-conforming na ordinansa para sa university and ‘yon, open naman kami pa sa mga iba pang ordinances na p’wede pa namin gawing hakbang para rin malabanan ‘yung mga gano’ng diskriminasyon sa loob na hindi lang for LGBT, pero para rin sa kababaihan at sa lahat.”
She also added that they are currently working on completing the local chair per college
to better localize the new committee and expand their reach, which De Jesus also confirmed.
In addition, the SG President believes as a former class mayor herself, “Malaking role rin ang pine-play kasi ng class mayors pagdating dito. Ngayon, kapag si student kasi ay hindi well-empowered, or hindi s’ya ma-empower ng sarili niyang klase, para magkaroon s’ya ng tapang na i-voice out ‘yung karanasan niya,” which she followed up with saying that this is what kills the case.
Now in the words of Iesu Rex Judiel Cruz from the College of Criminal Justice Education, “May Magna Carta na, may BulSU Bahaghari na, at may bagong committee sa ilalim ng SG para protektahan ang mga biktima ng ganitong kaso ng diskriminasyon, pero hangga’t nananatili sa status quo at conservative side ang admin, we'll never see the beauty of having a gender sensitive and accepting community.”
Touching on the topic of regulations and Magna Carta of Students, there seems to be a conflict between the latter and BulSU's student handbook, as supported by De Jesus’ words. “Actually co-relative din kasi ‘yung pagtatatag ng IRR ng Magna Carta dito e. Kasi sa Magna Carta kasi, nu’ng ginamit ko s’ya during the case of Ms. Ann Valencia, it was kinda vague.”
With this, she said that she has been working on getting the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) to finally implement gender sensitive school regulations, and for the MCOS to take full effect and recognition.
“Mahalagang hindi siya ikulong sa student government lang [‘yung work] kasi unang-una, ang proseso ay dinadaluyan ng lahat ng sector ng university lalo ng administration at local administrations natin tsaka ng relative offices,” De Jesus added.
Furthermore, she assured the students in terms of better school policies, “Magkaroon tayo ng comprehensive policies, na hindi rin bubunggo sa student handbook.”
However, for the BulSUans, still, the issue is yet to creep towards the administrative roots, as they might seem to be speaking, but very quietly that of a whisper.
Unending battle
The LGBTQIA+ community has undergone several injustices a lifetime, and worse, even institutions supposedly instilling humanity remains unsafe.
Nonetheless, Ramos expressed her pride for her co-members: “Actually those LGBTQ members na nakakaranas ng discrimination, masasabi ko sa [kanila], they are strong. Kasi nakakaya nila na even though nadi-discriminate sila day by day or time by time, pero nakukuha pa rin nilang i-manage kung ano ba talaga 'yung dapat nilang gawin.”
“Happy ka kasi eto ka, lumalaban ka para sa sarili mo hindi para sa opinyon ng ibang tao. ‘Yung hindi ka nagpapadikta,'' Melvin stated, encouraging LGBTQIA+ members to keep being themselves despite constantly being under wounding criticism.
“Kapag hindi kami kumilos, hindi kami lumaban, naisasantabi kami,” they added, “Hangga’t nandito ang BulSU Bahaghari sa pamantasan, lalaban tayo, lalaban kami, ipaglalaban namin kung ano ba talaga ‘yung karapatan namin,” with conviction, he ended the interview.
Furthermore, GADC motivates all students to know themselves. “We shall continue to educate and instill awareness in the community about issues and concerns about the group. To better understand them, people around should be informed about their own individual SOGIE-SC.”
“Kapag patuloy na hinahamak at nilalagay sa panganib ang estudyante dahil siya ay nagpapakasiya, sakit iyon ng school na dapat puksain,” Cruz uttered.
With all that being said, the general public are still not in favor of having the LGBTQIA+ members to be one of us, and they are not willing to learn about Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression or known as the SOGIE Bill, being firmly entrenched in religious beliefs.
Despite the deep respect students hold for professors, guards, fellow students, and administrators, there are still instances within the open-minded environment like Bulacan State University where some individuals still inflict harm and express disrespectful sentiments towards LGBTQIA+ members who openly express their unheard stories.
When will the BulSU Administration take accountability of the never-ending cycle of discrimination?
*Not their real names
Airi Martin is a freshman staff writer of Pacesetter. She is a first-year industrial engineering student from the College of Engineering.
Regina Shane Lopez is a freshman staff writer of Pacesetter. She is a first-year legal management student from the College of Criminal Justice Education.
