'Die Beautiful' Film Opening In The Philippines

This is another film in which I wish the directors would have actually hired a trans woman or cis woman to play the trans protagonist Trisha instead of having another tired instance of a male actor play a trans woman

This film is also entered in the main competition for the upcoming Tokyo International Film Festival taking place from October 25-November 3



The film stars actor Paolo Ballesteros and is directed by Jun Robles Luna.   It tells the story of Trisha, a trans pinay who competes in the pageant world while living her life.

She expresses her wish to be dressed as Katy Perry for her funeral, and that sparks a clash between her conservative Filipino-Chinese family and her friends in the transpinay, drag and pageant world determined to carry out those wishes .

This movie is being released at a time in which a trans pinay in Rep. Geraldine Roman is serving in the Philippine Congress, and like us in the States, are dealing with murderous violence aimed at trans women as the Ashley Anne Reilly case demonstrates. .

Something else that concerns trans pinays as it does their American  trans feminine cousins is that a male actor is playing a trans pinay in a movie role.

They like us, are also increasingly concerned about how they are portrayed in the Philippine media and getting more vocal about it.

"Philippine show business is very much like Hollywood in its thinking of trans people and especially trans women," said Naomi Fontanos, the executive director of GANDA Filipinas. "Trans women characters almost always go to male leads based of course on the transphobic notion that trans women really are men in makeup and dresses."

"We've been trying to fight this damaging stereotype with some degree of success," she added.

While Ballesteros looks the part as Trisha and is known around the world and on Instagram for his gender bending makeup artistry, it's still past time for trans feminine characters to NOT be played by cis masculine actors.  Trans women are women, not men in dresses.  Reinforcing that stereotype is getting trans women in the Philippines and around the world killed.

If you're going to tell our stories and make money off of it, then we have every right to insist that you use a trans feminine actress.  If you can't find a trans feminine actress to play a trans feminine role, then use a cis woman.

But here's hoping that trans feminine actresses in the Philippines also start getting the opportunity to play trans feminine characters.
 

Rep. Geraldine Roman Handling Her Legislative Business

Back in May Geraldine Roman became the first out trans person elected to the Philippine Congress and only the sixth person internationally to become a member of that small sorority of trans national legislators.

It was a BFD when it happened, and it's still a BFD now.that she is now officially Congressmember Roman.

There has been recent debate in the Philippines concerning an anti-discrimination bill that would include sexual orientation and gender identity language, and she has been at the forefront, since she is now a legislator, of helping craft that legislation

Here's two videos that you need to watch.

The first is a privileged speech that starts at the 36:00 minute mark that she is making concerning the proposed bill.

The second is the Q&A she is engaged in with several legislators concerning the proposed legislation.

Enjoy it, and imagine it happening in the USA.

Someday we will have one of our own trans peeps elected to Congress, and I hope I'm still around to see that glorious day occur..
.
It's what we need to have happen in our US Congress and state houses across the nation in terms of electing trans people to our national and state legislatures to help write good laws and kill bad ones.

Thanks Rep. Roman for doing so with dignity and class.
 

Geraldine Roman Celebrates Her Historic Win!

"i'm elated, very, very happy. I'm also excited to work.  I realize that the burden is bigger because the stereotype of people around the LGBT (community) is we are frivolous, that we have nothing substantial to say, so I have to prove them wrong."
--Philippine Congresswoman-elect Geraldine Roman 

Geraldine B. Roman has made history with the help of the voters of the 1st District of her native Bataan province and followed in the footsteps of her mother Herminia and late father Antonino by being elected to the Philippine Congress.

That Roman family dynastic political pedigree helped her roll up 62% of the vote on her way to her groundbreaking win and allowed her to succeed her term-limited mother.

It's also an election victory that is being celebrated in the Philippine trans community and around the world, and by the congresswoman-elect.

"The politics of bigotry, hatred and discrimination did not triumph.  What triumphed was the politics of love, acceptance and respect, " she said in an AFP interview.

Roman is also eager to get to her legislative work.  She wants to silence her critics that she is a one issue politician who shouldn't be taken seriously, and realizes that as the first trans legislator in Philippine history she has a microscope on her..  

"I'm elated, very, very happy, Roman said. "I'm also excited to work.  I realize that the burden is bigger because the stereotype of people around the LGBT (community) is we are frivolous, that we have nothing substantial to say, so I have to prove them wrong."

"I want to inspire everybody.  There are many factors for discrimination: On the basis of gender, age, educational attainment, creed.  So to all people who experience discrimination, I want to inspire them."

But Roman in addition to wanting to be an inspiration to her fellow TBLG Filipinos to consider running for office, also recognizes that she has a constituency that starts in the 1st District of Bataan.  If she wants to serve the full nine years she can under the Philippine Constitution and accomplish her legislative agenda, she has to focus on her legislative district constituents back home first.

While she has vowed to work on repealing the 2001 ban that make it nearly impossible for transpinays and trans pinoys to change their names and gender markers as she was able to do in the 1990's, she also wishes to continue her family's three generational commitment to helping the poor.  She wants to see as part of her legislative platform more poor students nationwide get scholarships.

"Equality is not only in terms of gender but also in terms of socioeconomic status.  To be rich or poor should not matter. Whether educated or not, people should have the same opportunities so I'm going beyond gender to include more issues," said Roman .

She also wants to as part of her legislative agenda push for an anti-discrimination law that ensures equal treatment in the workplace, schools, commercial establishments and government offices.

When Congresswoman-elect Roman does get inaugurated, as the first trans person elected to the Philippine Congress, the sixth worldwide to her national legislature and the second in the Asia-Pacific region, she will be one of the freshman legislators who will be watched by the her nation and the world.

As a member of the international trans family, I hope she's successful at not only silencing her critics and getting her proposed agenda turned into law, but she's successful in turning those critic into allies..

I also hope that Roman's success goes a long way toward breaking down stereotypes about what transpinays and transpinoys can do to help build that inclusive Philippines everyone wants.

Geraldine Roman Elected To Philippine Congress!

It's official!   You can now call her Congresswoman-elect Roman!  
49 year old Geraldine Roman has made Philippine and world trans history by becoming the first out trans person elected to the Philippine Congress!

She was favored to win her race thanks in large part to her mother preceding her in the First District of Bataan House seat and serving for nine years, and her father being also a political heavyweight in their native Bataan region.

She didn't disappoint on election day.

With 95% of the vote counted, Roman is cruising to a comfortable win over her opponent Danny Malana in their First Legislative District of Bataan race to get her first three year term as a Philippine congress member

Dindi Tan, a trans advocate in the Philippines and a former board member of the QC Pride Council there, is just as excited about the historic election of Roman as much of the international trans community is.

She is hopeful that Roman's election to the Philippine Congress results in more positive changes LGBT rights wise in her nation

"For a country that has yet to catch up with the significant LGBT rights developments and inroads around the world, the election victory of Congresswoman-elect Geraldine Roman is an inspiration by itself for a community that has long yearned for its own voice in the halls of Philippine Congress,"said Tan.  

"Her election is a breath of fresh air and is welcomed with great optimism by the Philippine trans community. Her being the first openly trans woman voted into Congress is a clear testament that the tide is slowly shifting to our favor. For the longest time, the Philippine LGBT community has persevered in lobbying for a national law on anti-discrimination. It has taken us 16 long years and counting. We hope that with the election of young blood political movers like Roman, we are rest assured that the lobby will take on an easier path," Tan continued.

"While we celebrate her victory, we also give meaning to the political statement that her election entails-- that politics in the Philippines is slowly becoming more and more embracing of the LGBT agenda. By breaking the glass ceiling in politics, she has paved the way for others like us. We look forward to working with her in Congress and in pushing for more gender-inclusive policies and the advancement of the rights of LGBT people."  

"This is such a history-in-the-making for the LGBT movement on this side of the globe,." added Tan. 

Roman is now part of an elite sorority of out trans feminine politicians internationally who have been elected to their national legislatures that includes Georgina Beyer (NZ), Vladimir Luxuria (Italy), Anna Grodzka (Poland), Michelle Suarez Bertora (Uruguay) and Tamara Adrian (Venezuela)

In her remarks to me concerning this historic win, Naomi Fontanos, the executive director of GANDA Filipinas was also excited and optimistic about the upcoming term of Congresswoman-elect Roman.

"Yes. I am very happy that herstory was made today with Ms Geraldine Roman winning the congressional race in Bataan. While it is radical that she is the first openly out transwoman to be elected in Philippines Congress,she is also undeniably a product of a political dynasty that has dominated local politics in Bataan for a long time.' said Fontanos.

"This is a historic moment though, and I want to focus on the many good things that Ms Roman can bring to the Lower House of the Philippine Congress. I laud the fact that she has openly stated that she would make legal gender change part of her legislative agenda," she added.

Roman is the sixth out trans person worldwide to have accomplished that feat, and the second in the Asia-Pacific region after Georgina Beyer of New Zealand, who was the first out trans person in the world to do so in 1999..

And while Congresswoman-elect Roman is officially representing her constituents in the 1st Legislative District of Bataan, she is also by default the defacto representative of all TBLG people in the Philippines as well.

Congratulations Congresswoman-elect Roman!.   May you be successful in representing not only the voters of the 1st Legislative District of Bataan, but also your Filipino TBLG siblings across the country.

TransGriot Update: Roman won her race in a landslide:  106,315 votes to 64,643 votes for her opponent Danny Malana  

Will The Philippine's Geraldine Roman Become The World's Sixth Trans National Legislator?

In November 1999 Georgina Beyer made news that electrified trans kind and gave hope to trans people dreaming of holding elective office in their respective nations across the globe when she was elected to the New Zealand Parliament.   The Labour party member served until September 2005 representing the Wairarapa electorate, and was the world's first ever trans parliamentarian.

Beyer was followed by Italy's Vladimir Luxuria in 2006, Poland's Anna Grodzka in 2011, Uruguay's Michelle Suarez Bertora in 2014 and last year Tamara Adrian in Venezuela.

It's an exclusive sorority of trans national legislators, and we have news coming out of the Philippines that another trans feminine politician on the verge of making history in 49 year old Geraldine Roman..

National elections are taking place in the Philippines on Tuesday, May 10 (Monday, May 9 on our side of the IDL), and Roman is running for a congressional seat in the 1st district in Bataan where she grew up.

But Roman is not your average political candidate. Besides being a proud transpinay, she has some advantages that make her an odds on favorite to become the first trans person elected to national public office in the Philippines.   Roman is not only a member of current President Benigno Aquino's ruling Liberal Party, but she comes from a powerful dynastic political family.   Her mother has represented Bataan's 1st district in the Philippine Congress for nine years, and her father was a powerful politician in that predominately rural province.

Roman transitioned over two decades ago, speaks three European languages, holds two masters degrees and worked in Spain as senior editor of the Spanish News Agency before she returned home to the Philippines four years ago to care for her ailing father.

'My life has not been a secret. I grew up here. People know me. (Gender) only becomes an issue when you try to keep it a secret," Roman said in a recent interview.  "It's nothing bad. I never hurt anyone in the process. I'm so happy so why should I be ashamed?"

She hopes that her election if it happens, will send a powerful message that aids in the Philippine fight for TBLG human rights.  

"My loyalty is to the first district of Bataan.  But that somebody of my condition is going to enter Congress for the first time is a statement that even transgender people can serve our country and should not be discriminated against."

Should Roman win her race, she would not only become the first trans person elected to office in the Philippines and the sixth worldwide, she would be the second in the Asia-Pacific region after Georgina Beyer.

Best of luck to Ms. Roman, and hope she's successful in making Philippine and international trans history on Tuesday. (Monday our time)

Pemberton Found Guilty In Jennifer Laude Murder

It took a while, but a verdict has finally been reached in the Jennifer Laude murder case in the Philippines.

The good news is that US Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Pemberton has been found guilty of killing Laude by the Olongapo Regional Trial Court.  The bad news it was for homicide instead of first degree murder.

Looks like he parlayed the 'trans panic' defense into reduced charges and time in jail.  He was sentenced to 6-12 years in a Philippine prison for it with credit for time already served.

WTF?  Pemberton admitted during his August testimony that he choked her unconscious after finding out that she was trans feminine during a sexual encounter in a motel on October 11, 2014.   He claimed Laude was alive when he left her in the hotel room, but she was found with her head dunked in a toilet bowl.

Laude's mother Julita stated in an interview that while she is pleased the verdict detailed everything that happened that night, she was not pleased about the sentence and hoped Pemberton would be found guilty of murder.

But she said, "The important thing is he will be jailed."

Yeah, but I'm still not happy Pemberton is only getting 12 years for killing one of our sisters.

Geena's Upcoming GenderProud Philippines Tour

Ever since model Geena Rocero came out as a trans woman during a favorably received March 31`TED talk last year, she has been on a mission to fight for trans human rights around the world.

I've had the pleasure of meeting Geena, talking to her regularly about that mission and spending quality time with her at last year's Philadelphia Trans Health Conference and a White House event last July.

After a May 11 visit to the UC-Santa Barbara campus for an event there, she's once again leaving on a jet plane headed back home to the Philippines.

Rocero will be there for a three week GenderProud tour in conjunction with local Philippine trans organizations from May 16-June 1 to talk with the Philippine transgender community.

"There's nothing more beautiful than being your full authentic self and saying it publicly, being in the public eye," said Rocero in an interview.



"I hope the trans community could feel that their stories matter, they need to be heard, and you're enough. You're a beautiful person by pursuing your truth, you are courageous, you should know that," she said.

While she has been part of the heightened visibility the trans community has seen in the past year that exploded after her coming out TED talk, she is quite aware of the fact that visibility can only go so far.and doesn't necessarily mean equality.

It's why she's in the Philippines for the next three weeks doing a series of events, and why she says she will continue to tell her story until she no longer has to.

Jennifer Laude Case Update 3

The new year brings some updated news in the Jennifer Laude case, and the clock is ticking on it.. 

Under the Visting Forces Agreement between the US and the Philippines, the case nust be resolved within a year.   The prosecution filed murder charges against Joseph Pemberton back on December 15.

The trial proceedings have also been halted at the request of the Pemberton defense team by the Olongapo regional trial court has suspended proceedings for up to 60 days.

The Pemberton camp wants the US Justice Department to review the probable cause finding that led to the murder charge.

NCIS investigators discovered Pemberton's fingerprint on one of the condom wrappers found at the scene of the crime.. 

Pemberton before he was raken into custody aboart the USS Peleliu told a fellow marine the he had attacked Laude after discovering she was a transwoman and allegedly said to that marine: “I think I killed a he/she.”   Pemberton was subsequently transferred from the USS Peleliu docked in Subic Bay to be held in a US facility in the Philippine run Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

There's also some controversy involving the judge  handling the case, Roline Ginez-Jabalde.   Harry Roque, the Laude family attorney,  is going to file a motion seeking the removal from this case of the judge.

The reason?   Judge Ginez-Jabalde was a law school classmate of Rowena Garcia-Flores, Pemberton's attorney

Earlier in the proceedings the court rejected the Laude family’s motions for live media coverage of the hearings, and to transfer Pemberton to a regular Philippine jail.   

Stay tuned to these TransGriot pages for continued updates on the Laude trial, because like our transpinay sisters in the Philippines and transpeople around the world, I'll be watching this case to see if justice was served.

Damn, Another Transpinay Murdered

Jennifer Laude isn't even in her grave a week and here I am discussing the death of another trans pinay.

Mary Joy Añonuevo, 55,

55 year old Mary Joy Anonuevo was found October 21 stabbed 33 times all over her body in the basement of the Koozy Resto BarDamn,  she owned

Residents heard screaming at 11 PM the previous night and called police.

It was discovered the bar had been left open, four empty beer bottles and glasses were left on the bar, and a tablet, jewelry, and an undetermined amount of cash were missing.

Police are investigating it as a robbery, but friends of Anonuevo and local advocates suspect this is a hate crime because of the brutality level of the killing.

And so do I.

It's past time the Philippine legislature sends the message that anti-trans hatred and crimes aimed at the trans community there are unacceptable.

And I know my trans brothers and trans sisters there will not rest until justice is served in Mary's care either.

Jennifer Laude Case Update 2

There have been mutiple developments in the Jennifer Laude case since my last update, so let me catch you up with what's happening. 

First up are the ongoing protests demanding that PFCf Joseph Pemberton, the accused killer of Laude be turned over to Philippine authorities to ensure justice for Jennifer. 

And yes, there is a precedent for the US military turning its personnel who have committed crimes in host nations to those nations to face justice there.   Two US sailors were handed over to Japanese authorities in 2013to be prosecuted for the robbery and rape of a woman on Okinawa.

I'm definitely down with that program because if Pemberton did the crime on Philippine soil and killed a Filipina  citizen, he needs to be tried for it on Philippine soil.  

Pemberton was formally charged on Wednesday with Laude's murder as US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said: “We will continue to cooperate fully with the Philippine law enforcement authorities in every aspect of the investigation.”

Pemberton was also put on blast by the German fiance of Laude, Marc Sueselbeck.  He also put the German Embassy in Manila on blast for not processing Jennifer's visa in a timely fashion and stated in an interview that if they had done so, she'd be alive now.

Pink News is reporting that Senator Bam Aquino is now calling for the passage of the Anti-Discrimination Act of 2014 in the wake of Jennifer's murder and a rise in anti-TBLG crimes.

“We should impose heavier penalties so that these discriminatory and inhumane acts will be eradicated.”said Sen. Aquino.  He pointed out Laude's murder was not an isolated case, and that action needed to be taken to halt that rise n hate crimes.

“This number will continue to rise unless we do something about it immediately,” he added.

Under the new bill, persons found guilty would be fined from P100,000 ($2230) to P500,000 ($11,151) and could potentially face imprisonment of up to 12 years.

Stay tuned, because there are lots of interesting developments that are flowing from the senseless murder of our transpinay sister.

Jennifer Laude Update

In the latest news concerning the murder of our transpinay sister Jennifer Laude, the US marine suspected of killing her is still in custody on the USS Peleliu as the calls get increasingly louder for  calls for Joseph Pemberton to be handed over to Philippine authorities for his crime.

The Peleliu and 3000 US Marines and sailors had been in the Philippines to conduct joint exercises with the Philippine armed forces.   While the rest of the US naval ships participating in the joint exercises were allowed to leave Subic Bay, the Peleliu is still in port pending the investigation of the Laude murder.

In Manila protests occurred in front of the US Embassy there as the demands that PFC Pemberton be handed over to Philippine authorities grow louder.

And I agree.  He committed the crime on Philippine soil, so he needs to face justice in the Philippines for it    We'll have to stay tuned to see if he does.

Transpinay Killed In Philippines

The murderously rough week internationally for trans women continues with word that a US Marine has been detained and being investigated for the murder of a transpinay.

26 year old J (not using the male name) Laude was found by a Celzone Lodge employee after midnight Saturday night strangled with her head slumped in the toilet at the hotel in Olongapo City.

M. Gelviro, a 22 year old transpinay friend of Laude, stated in an interview the pair met the Marine at a local bar at 10:55 PM, and accompanied her and the Marine to the hotel.   Laude asked the friend to leave because she feared they would be outed as transpinays.

The suspect was described as a white male age 25-30, standing between 5'8"-5'10" in height with a marine style haircut.

The US Embassy in the Philippines said in a broadcast statement, “We are aware of the situation and express our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased. We are also aware that there are allegations that a foreigner, including possibly a US national, was involved in the incident. We are currently looking into these allegations and working closely with the PNP (Philippine National Police) to take all necessary steps to help identify the suspects,” it said.

The unnamed Marine in question is assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines from Camp Lejeune, North  Carolina.  He is  being held on board the USS Peleliu pending an investigation by NCIS.  

The amphibious landing warship arrived as part of a US troop presence for the PHIBLEX 15 military exercises in conjunction with the Philippine military, and the Peleliu has been at  Subic Bay for a port call. 

Condolences to the family of Ms. Laude, and here''s hoping that Philippine authorities and NCIS quickly sort out what happened in this case and that justice is expeditiously served.

TransGriot Update:  It has come to my attention that the name of the victim in this case is Jennifer Laude Sueselbeck.    The Marine being detained on the USS Peleliu is PFC Joseph Pemberton

GenderProud Twitter Chat Tonight

Tonight a Twitter chat sponsored by GenderProud will happen that will discuss an interesting topic.

Over the last decade we have seen the Philippines emerge as one of the Asian-Pacific challengers to Thailand's status as the most trans friendly nation in the region. 

Manila is the home of the Amazing Philippine Show and the Amazing Philippine Beauties pageant is a televised national event.  Philippine cultural traditions allow trans and gender variant kids to transition early.  There have been moves in several cities toward passing non-discrimination laws covering LGBTQ people in that nation, and the Philippine Congress is also pondering passage of legislation to protect the human rights of LGBTQ Filipinos.    

But at the same time, despite the efforts of STRAP, GANDA Filipinas and other LGBT orgs in the nation, there continue to be troubling reports of anti-trans and LGB discrimination still happening in the Philippines. 

The question this Twitter chat will ponder tonight starting at 8 PM EDT will be 'Is The Philippines LGBT Friendly?' with GenderProud's Geena Rocero.  

#GenderProud @rappler Twitter Conversation should be an interesting discussion, and if you can take part in it, may be worth your time to do so. 

Geena Goes Home

Geena Rocero is on a trip back home to the Philippines in which she is doing media appearances and interviews, speaking to local transpinay leaders and talking up Gender Proud, her international trans rights organization she founded that successfully raised over $15K in a recently concluded indiegogo campaign.

The New York based model came out as trans in a widely applauded TED talk and subsequently founded Gender Proud.

The nascent international trans organization has the mission of advocating for the ability of trans, intersex and gender variant people around the world to have legislation in their various nations allowing them to easily change documentation to reflect the persons they are now without surgical intervention .

And yeah, I get the pleasure of chatting with Geena from time to time. I'm looking forward to spending some quality time with this busy lady the next time I'm in the New York area or wherever our paths cross.. 

Before hitting the Philippines, Rocero spent some time in Hong Kong talking to local activists there who are also working hard to clean up the documentation laws there and build on the trans marriage win of Ms W.. 




She's handling her activist business.   And as you can see by the video, she's doing the trans education in her birth nation and looking fabulous while doing so. 

And thanks for giving Naomi Fontanos that hug for me.

Naomi Testifies At Philippine Congress Hearing

Y'all know I have much love for my transpinay sister Naomi Fontanos, who is the Executive Director of GANDA Filipinas.

Was thrilled to hear she spoke at a December 5 (Philippine time) Philippine House of Representatives hearing as a resource person.  It was for a Committee on Women and Gender Equality (CWGE) hearing on proposed national anti-discrimination measures.   Multiple bills have been filed in the Philippine Congress to protect the human rights of our LGBTQ brothers and sisters in that nation

I'm exceedingly proud of Naomi, our transpinay and transpinoy sisters and brothers, and our allies there who have worked tirelessly for years to make this day happen.  

Let's hope and pray the arc of the moral universe is bending toward justice and human rights for our trans cousins in the Philippines.   Let's also hope that their testimony legislators heard opened hearts and minds, leads to legislative passage and heralds the beginning of a marvelous 2014 human rights wise for all of us around the world. 

Here's what Naomi had to say about it courtesy of her FB page:

Spoke at Philippine Congress in a hearing on anti-discrimination legislation and was overjoyed that more than one bill to protect the rights of Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Filipinos had been filed in the House of Representatives.

I was happy, too, that representatives from the Civil Service Commission (CSC), the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), and the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other agencies expressed their full support to end all forms of discrimination in the Philippines. This, certainly, did not happen overnight and is the product of the hard work of activists and allies who came before us. I am grateful to them for making this moment possible. I also want to thank activists of the present time who work tirelessly and sometimes anonymously but always lovingly to make sure that those who will come after us will have, hopefully, a better quality of life.

Dios mabalos sa indo gabos! Maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat! Thank you all so very much!

***

 Your trans cousins here in the States and around the world hope that the better life you're working towards for you and future generations happens sooner rather than later.

Miss Philippines Universe Entry Deadline Passes With No Trans Applicant

If I had to put money on which national pageant organization would be the first to have an out trans woman on the Miss Universe stage representing their nation, the Philippines would be in my top three. 

The others in case you're wondering are Thailand and Brazil. 

I say that because as me and my homegirl like us Naomi Fontanos are well aware of and discuss from time to time, the Philippines and Thailand take their beauty pageants seriously.  

Those two nations are also home to the most prestigious and internationally renowned trans pageants for their local trans women in Miss Tiffany Universe in Thailand and the Amazing Philippine Beauties.

Jenna Talackova brought the glass pageant ceiling down and took out the odious 'natural born women' rule that was used to bar transwomen from competing in Miss Universe system pageants.

Since then the Miss Universe franchise pageants are being given extra scrutiny from inside and outside the trans community to determine if any 18-27 year old trans women exercise their option to enter and attempt to win their national pageant and qualify for Miss Universe 2013.

Jenna made it to the Top 15 in Miss Canada Universe 2012 a few months ago.  Kylan Wenzel was one of 229 contestants who recently attempted to win the always tough Miss California USA pageant.

As of this writing 19 women have already qualified for Miss Universe 2013  with more national pageants yet to be conducted including the Miss USA 2013 one in June.  

There won't be a trans contestant at Miss USA 2013 because all 50 state pageants and the Miss District of Columbia one have been conducted, so the first trans Miss USA contestant is on hold until 2014..   

But moving to the Philippines.   They had Janine Tugonon finish as a first runner up in the 2012 Miss Universe competition and Kevin Balot bring the 2012 Miss Universal Queen title back to this pageant mad nation from Thailand. 

24 year old Miriam Jimenez was a semifinalist in that same 2012 Miss International Queen trans pageant, and there were unconfirmed rumors that she had entered Binibining Pilipinas that were posted on several blogs.

But when the January 22 deadline passed to submit entry forms they turned out to be false.  Ms. Jimenez sad to say won't be competing this year.

I was hoping the rumors were true along with many of my transpinay sisters and girls like us around the world, but looks like it's also wait until 2014 to see if a transpinay steps up and attempts to enter Binibining Pilipinas.

And in the meantime, still more than a few nations like Singapore who opened their pageant doors to trans contestants who haven't conducted their national pageants yet.   

Happy 10th Anniversary STRAP!

The Society of Transsexual Women of The Philippines and I have in common wishing to see trans people in our nations and around the world gain human rights coverage and respect.  

I wanted to make sure I gave STRAP a well deserved shoutout on the occasion of its tenth anniversary year and didn't want to wait until December to write this post

STRAP is one of the premier trans rights organizations in the world and it has grown exponentially since its December 2002 founding by four transpinays, Sass Rogando Sasot, Dee Mendoza, J.A. and Veronica Deposoy in Manila.

It is now ably run by its current chairwoman Naomi Fontanos and her leadership team and has expanded its reach from being a Manila-centric organization to one which is gradually spreading across the Philippines educating and empowering people along the way on a variety of issues, making allies and working in partnership with other organizations in the Philippines and beyond.  

In addition to being well respected in international human rights circles and the Asia-Pacific Rim, it is also forging links with local transpinoy organizations to better coordinate their drive for trans human rights legislation that benefits all transpeople in their homeland.

Happy 10th birthday STRAP and may you have many more.
.

STRAP Leads The Way In The Philippines Trans Pageant Debate

As I've pointed out a few times in blog posts and am quite aware of, the Philippines is a serious pageant loving nation. 

It is also the home of the Amazing Philippine Beauties pageant, one of the world's premiere beauty pageants for trans women.

STRAP chair Naomi Fontanos and I have had conversations in the wake of the latest Miss Universe contests when we were done catching up on each other's lives and talking shop in which we discussed those pageants with ESPN sports analyst like precision. 

So it didn't surprise me that the Talackova flap would make its way across the Pacific to the Philippines where there is discussion and heated debate building in that nation about the opening up of the Miss Universe system pageants around the world next year to trans women.    

The STRAP women and their allies are leading the way to insure that the debate in their nation is a reasoned, informed and educated one and not one that devolves into being founded on ignorant stereotypes and faith-based disinformation about trans women.

Check out the videos to see what I'm talking about.   The report is in English, Naomi pops in to speak a few minutes into the first one.




Part 2


Naomi also had an appearance on a local television news show Wednesday night Philippines time (Tuesday on our side of the International Date Line)  in which she was paired with former Miss Philippines and 1999 Miss Universe 1st runner up Miriam Quiambao who is opposed to transwomen competing in the pageant.

According to a comment posted on Fontanos' FB page:. 

1999 Bb. Pilipinas (Miss Philippines) & Miss Universe 1st Runner-up Miriam Quiambao. Miriam does not believe that transgender women are women and should join the Miss Universe.

In a tweet, she asked, "What ever happened to the essence of a woman?" Well, for me the essence of a woman goes beyond her reproductive capacity. Women are multidimensional beings and should not be reduced to a singular aspect of themselves. The essence of being a woman is her existence, the truth and reality of her life that she herself has shaped.

And to piggyback on your eloquent comment sis, gender is between your ears, not your legs.

STRAP is considered one of the premiere trans rights organizations on the planet, and in their 10th anniversary year they are proving once again why they are held in such high esteem by international trans activists around the world.