I'm going to ask a question that isn't really related to the topic but I've been wondering about this for a long time.

I'm Filipina-American and my mom says people are more accepting of gays there, but I wonder about how true that is? Is it because no one talks about it?

Well, I think we're more tolerant in the sense that we don't have that 'gay people are going to hell' mentality and being a gay Catholic or Christian is not viewed as an inherent contradiction.

I don't think LGBT people are taken seriously yet though. Just look at what happened to "Ang Ladlad" when it ran for the party-list elections. And Danton Remoto, the founder of Ang Ladlad, the man with these credentials was deemed a nuisance candidate, while they let the likes of Richard Gomez and Cesar Montano (credentials: actors) run.

And in terms of visibility we are WAY behind. I remember reading about how MTRCB was angered after ABS aired the wedding of Desiree del Valle to another girl (and she is still considered straight *rolls eyes*).

But there has been progress, esp in indie films. But they are exceptions and getting cheap laughs by exploiting gay characters is still all too common.

My personal experience has been mixed but leaning towards the positive. I'm in the closet so my perspective is mostly from obsevation. My family has been very accepting of our gay relatives. In school, it was mostly positive as well. The most homophobia I've seen is now in med school but only in the form of cheap homophobic jokes which people only do behind someone's back (no direct harassment). And the good thing is, most of them are ok with gay people and stop and say sorry when you call them out. I guess the homophobic jokes just became 'in'.

I agree..haha..right! There is, a bit of "gay people go to hell" mentality nudging around. Good thing it is still manageable.lol! it is accepted but not that much...bUt somehow we are taking it one-step at a time but those are giant steps I can say. At least, sparks of hope are getting rekindled of which by far gets LGBT people going and going even if it gets tougher and tougher.

btw oreocheesecake, I've been trying to search the outskirts of Recto, Divi and where-ever I could feel its almost a reach away but I was always unsuccesful! harsh.. I could always give you a heads-up if I ever happen to finally grab one..please do the same.. please..please.. =)

Very interesting thread... :)

I've been in and out of the closet the past 14 years and I've to say that times are, indeed, a-changin'.

I've written a paper on it in high school back in '96, and barely year after, in college, my friend did a paper on it as well and there had been many changes already.

Interestingly, there are more positive exposure in the media (except for that TV show with Karel and ERich and the whole Desiree Del Valle brouhaha). The broadsheets and magazines have been discussing lesbianism more openly -- and more comfotably as well. More people are aware of The L Word, more people, especially college age lezzies, are coming out of the closet, and more people are open to the idea of bisexuality.

However, I'd have to say that there are still some resistance to lesbians/lesbianism in general. More people are tolerant of it but many are still struggling with acceptance.

I'm 28 but my family only acknowledged my being a lesbian the last 2 years. I can see their struggles with it (my dad calls my girlfriends just "friends") but at least I no longer have to lie about who I'm with and where I am.

The two lesbians bars that existed in the past couple ofyears have closed down but there are a number of party/event organizers who thrive in the exclusive party scene. Sadly, there is a division among lesbians in age and social background. Some observers say that upperclass to upper middle class (and sometimes even middle middle class) lesbians are less into the butch-femme stereotyping thus, making lesbian existence seem less prevalent -- when in truth, it's just harder to tell who's gay. As for age, some older older lesbians and some much younger lezzies (hmm, highschoolers?) may be more into the butch-femme role playing stereotype, making it easier to identify who's gay.

The upside here is that more people are aware of lesbians around them. More people are accepting it, albeit slowly.

Oh by the way, The L Word Season 1 was aired middle of 2007 in 2nd Avenue (what used to be a cable channel, now it's on UHF). Although the story made no sense with all the bleeps and cuts, it's a start. ;)

I envy you..=) well not much but I do.. well its because I haven't  told yet my folks about my gay life! haha.. Quick que! how'd you do it? I mean, how was it coming out to your folks? darn.. I can't get the right term but it's not that I'm anxious or afraid, actually thinking att his moment about outing myself to my parents quite gives me excitement and rush. lol!  I'm just 21 but I would like to come into terms with everything about mylife this early, my gay-pride to start with. I'm already living a happy life being one, just outside our house though and I wanted it to extend up to the very space of my bed..=n_n=

haha.. I get it.. before I was into that notion about role playing but turned out didn't worked for me and my partner. There was this one time that my partner finally got the time to pick me up after work hours and that's the first time I was to introduce her to my colleagues. After the get to know part, one of my peeps thought that it was I who's the butch.haha... Only seeing my partner cleared out that I am not. But not really into role-play, I wanted my partner who she'd like to comfortably be, same with me I guess..

Yeah, but I think they already stopped airing it. I was no longer able to catch on the time slot I used to see it then. Don't know what happened..is it still being aired?