Transnationalization in Sexual Politics: How the Transnational Influenced And
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Transnationalization in Sexual Politics: How the transnational influenced and shaped the work of local LGBT rights groups in the Philippines An undergraduate thesis Presented to The Faculty of the Department of Social Sciences College of Arts and Sciences University of the Philippines Manila In Partial Fulfillment of the requirements in Political Science 198 (Special Problems in Political Science) ALAVADO, Dianne Lyneth Calupitan 2008-66428 Dr. Jinky Leilanie Lu Adviser March 2012 Alavado, 2012 Page 1 College of Arts and Sciences University of the Philippines Manila Padre Faura St., Ermita, Manila II. APPROVAL SHEET This thesis entitled TRANSNATIONALIZATION IN SEXUAL POLITICS (How the transnational influenced and shaped the work of local LGBT rights groups in the Philippines), prepared and written by Dianne Lyneth Calupitan Alavado, in partial fulfillment of the requirements in Political Science 198 for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts in Political Science is hereby recommended for approval. ____________________________ Dr. Jinky Leilanie del Prado- Lu Thesis Adviser This thesis is hereby accepted and approved as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. _________________________________ Prof. Carl Marc Ramota, M.A. Chairperson, Department of Social Sciences Alavado, 2012 Page 2 III. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I present my undying gratitude for inspiring, helping and guiding me in finishing this study to the following people: To my blood family, immediate and extended, particularly to my Papa Danny, for staying strong and bubbly despite the storms we had to go through. To my siblings, aunts and uncles, especially Tito Topher, not only for the emotional and moral support but also the financial and material support that pulled me through this research; scathed but nonetheless victorious. To my thesis adviser, Dr. Jinky Leilanie del Prado Lu, for guiding me through the pages of this study and continuously instigating me to finish a substantial, coherent and relevant study. You are certainly one the best mentors in the university. To my college peer, the EU (European Union); Harvey, Blu, Mudir, Darl, Dianne, Geanne, Joyce, Monet, Danica, Isay, Kiss, Bev, Annj, Jeans, Gene and Mars, for being the brightest light of my college life, without your support, laughter, jokes, group discussions, etc, I fear I would not be graduating on time. To my thesis classmates, for the deadlines, sleepless nights and pressure times we all shared and actually survived. To my non-blood family: my OMAKE family (especially the “OldMAKE” and this year’s Execom, kakumei no tame ni, iie wo imasen!); the GABRIELA Youth (especially Eks, Ate Vian, Rio, Pallon, Ate Raya, Kamil and Charm, Abante Babae!); the POLIS people (to all the batches I have met, Vinculum Unitatis Vincit Omnia); and other individuals including Prof. Carl Ramota, Prof. Risa Jopson, Atty. Rowena Soriano-Dionisio, Prof. Lorenzo Tabin II, Daphane Olivar and Precious Ellenore Panganiban, for the support, inspiration, love and care. To Angelo Rosal, for transcribing the interviews, accompanying me, footing the fare, coercing me to meet the deadlines and more. A lot more. To my interviewees and fellow LGBT rights advocates, to whom I owe this study. And to the whole LGBT community in the Philippines. My appreciation and gratitude will extend beyond that time when we reach the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow; our equal rights and societal acceptance and respect. Alavado, 2012 Page 3 IV. Contents Page I. Title Page ................................................................................................... 1 II. Approval Sheet ................................................................................................... 2 III. Acknowledgements ................................................................................................... 3 IV. Contents ................................................................................................... 4 V. Abstract ................................................................................................... 5 VI. Introduction ................................................................................................... 6 VII. Research Questions and Objectives........................................................................... 7 VIII. Significance of Study................................................................................................. 7 IX. Scope and Limitations ...................................................................................... 8 X. Conceptual Framework and Review of Theories...................................................... 8 a. Conceptual Framework....................................................................................... 10 b. Operationalization of Terms............................................................................... 10 XI. Review of Related Literature..................................................................................... 14 XII. Methodology ................................................................................................... 25 XIII. Data Presentation ................................................................................................... 26 XIV. Data Analysis ................................................................................................... 41 XV. Significant Findings and Conclusion......................................................................... 49 XVI. Recommendations ................................................................................................... 51 XVII. References ................................................................................................... 52 XVIII. Appendices ................................................................................................... 56 Alavado, 2012 Page 4 V. Abstract Transnationalization in Sexual Politics is a study specifically made to show the effects/ impacts/ influences of the transnational (networks, organizations, concepts, etc.) to the local (groups, vernacular, advocacy, etc.), mainly focusing on the LGBT groups here in the Philippines and their relations beyond the nation’s boundaries. This study is strictly qualitative in nature, employing online and library research, key informant interviews and participant observations to reach factual and reliable conclusion. Alavado, 2012 Page 5 VI. Introduction For the past years, the field of sexual politics, especially that dealing with LGBTs, has witnessed an almost exponential growth both in visibility of their issues and attention bestowed upon them. Proof to this is the surfacing transnational character of sexual politics; involvement of international human rights networks and emergence of transnational social movement organizations of LGBTs, mostly engaged with regional work. They are becoming more and more visible due to the evolving features of contemporary politics where globalization created virtual connections between people and states, advancements in technology provided easier access to information as well as to its dissemination, diffusion of the value of human rights as fundamental to human development and the decreasing confidence on state-centric models that cannot explain transnational phenomena nor solve transnational issues which in turn leads to the recognition of new actors such as those studied in this paper. That said, this paper aims to find out whether the same phenomena can be observed here in the Philippines. The first part of this paper is dedicated to enumerating the research question, research objectives, scope and limitation of the study, significance of the study, review of the theories, conceptual framework and operationalization of basic concepts. These are to give the reader the basics on LGBT and transnationalization, equipping the reader with the basic background knowledge when it comes into this contemporary topic. The next part is a comprehensive review of related literature on the development of the LGBT movements started abroad with a part on Filipino LGBT rights movement. Next to this is the methodology employed by the study followed by the data presentation as culled from the KIIs and the POs, answering each objective per question. The fourth part is the data analysis with four subheadings on transnationalization, Alavado, 2012 Page 6 positive and negative effects/influences of transnationalization, and localization. The last part is composed of the significant findings, conclusion and recommendations. VII. Research question and objectives Research Question: How do transnational social movements and other human rights network affect domestic Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender human rights politics in the Philippines? Research Objectives: The objectives of this study are: (1) to recognize the relationship between developments in the global sexual politics (as illustrated by the so called transnationalization) to the domestic LGBT politics; (2) to give a brief summary on the current situation of LGBTs in the Philippines through the different organizations' findings; (3) and to operationalize what the organizations coin as “localization” or “indigenization” of transnational values for the benefit of their community work. VIII. Significance of Study The study is deemed significant for it is the only research on the relation of transnationalization through transnational networks and domestic LGBT rights politics through local LGBT groups. This research will contribute