From Papa to Padre: An Analysis of LGBTQ Discourse in the Philippine Catholic Church During the Pope Francis Era
Robbin Charles M. Dagle
Ateneo de Manila University
Briane B. Dela Peña
Ateneo de Manila University
Pope Francis’ push for greater dialogue within the Church, as well as openness to the members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community have stirred numerous debates and conversations among Catholics worldwide. This paper asks whether this dynamism has become present in the Philippine Catholic Church hierarchy. Given the dearth of empirical proofs that determine the presence of such dialogic communication in the Church, the researchers thus seek to examine how LGBTQ issues are discussed by the Philippine Catholic Church under the leadership of Pope Francis, as well as look closely into emergent themes that arise from local articles on this matter. A thematic analysis of CBCP [Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines] News articles from July 2013 to December 2016 related to homosexuality was done to determine if polyvocality was present in local Church communication on the topic. The study found that there was little to no polyvocality in the examined articles related to homosexuality, which reflects the reiterative, hortative, and institutional communication of the Catholic Church.
Rainbow Guerrillas: Testimonial Narratives by LGBT of the Revolutionary Movement in the Philippines
Jervy C. Briones
University of the Philippines
Diliman
Jervy Briones is a college instructor. He finished AB History at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines and currently takes MA Philippines Studies at the University of the Philippines Diliman. His research interests revolve around social movements, Marxist/critical theory, and resistance literature.
Generally, the LGBT community in the Philippines is tolerated but not accepted as different forms of discrimination against the sector still exist. The founding of several LGBT organizations in Manila in the 1990s marked the emergence of the LGBT movement in the Philippines. The same decade also witnessed the recognition of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) on same-sex marriage which was a major development for the advancement of LGBT rights within the revolutionary movement. The significant number of LGBT members necessitated the movement to create programs that reject discrimination and empower this marginalized sector. In analyzing their participation in the armed conflict, I mainly utilized testimonial narratives by LGBT members of the New People’s Army (NPA) for they provide a first-person view and a rare glimpse on their lives as (1) LGBT and as (2) guerrillas in the countryside. I also reviewed related works on testimonio as a literary genre, CPP documents, and critical theory. The results found out that through testimonial narratives, as a counter-hegemonic instrument, LGBT members are resisting both socioeconomic marginalization and cultural discrimination under the Philippine state. More importantly, they see the national democratic revolution they are waging is not only against the country’s socioeconomic system but also against the culture of gender oppression.
Understanding Solemnized Same-Sex Relationship: A Case Study
Edson L. Vicente, MAT-SS
Sisters of Mary of Banneux, Inc.
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This qualitative research aims to understand the experiences of the solemnized same-sex couples on relationship satisfaction and determined whether this form of affinity can develop a satisfactory relationship.
Focusing on the eight couples who were solemnized by the LGBT affirming churches in the Philippines, this study found that first the participants of same-sex relationship had a similar culture with heterosexuals in the aspect of developing relationship. Second, there were issues that are unique in same-sex relationships such as family rejection and the shifting of relationships from monogamous to open-relationship which was very particular among male couples than females. Moreover, it was found that the participants of same-sex relationships have an effective way of resolving relationship issues such as converting the issue into humor to lessen the tension brought by certain problems. Lastly, emotional bond, sexual pleasure, similarities on interest and behavior, and material investments were the sources of relationship satisfaction in same-sex relationship.
The solemnized same-sex couples can create satisfying relationships, even in the face of discrimination. Although the social contexts for same-sex and heterosexual relationships differ, the factors affecting same-sex and heterosexual couples are remarkably similar.