philippines

Restricted Access to Public FacilitiesMany of the LBT women we interviewed recalledbeing physically barred from entering a publicspace or being compelled to leave after they hadentered. This was particularly evident in relationto transgender women being denied access towomen’s areas in gender-segregated washroomsand trains with special carriages designated forfemales and parents with young children.Svetlana, transgender respondent:Well, one time I was not allowed to stayin the female section in the LRT (LightRailway Transit) … also in public toilets,sometimes I do get a lot like, ‘You go tothe male area.’In order to avoid humiliation, some of thetransgender women interviewed said theywould try to gain access to toilets when no onewas looking, use gender-neutral toilets or simplyavoid using public toilets altogether. Mae,transgender respondent, said:I had a dialogue with the HR [humanresources] manager. He told me that …there are other female employees thatare not comfortable [with me using thewomen’s room] and [they] would complainabout … transgender female in thefemale lounge.State DiscriminationMost of the transgender women we interviewedhad experienced harassment and discriminationwhen they applied for passports and otherdocuments for international travel. The offenderswere usually processing officers at Department ofForeign Affairs offices.Transgender woman Madelene:I was already hungry because I was thereas early as 6am, or maybe 5am. Then,when you reach the end of your queue,they would delay you because you’re awoman, but when they see your gender,male... [they say] ‘Oh, it’s really necessary,ma’am, because we have a memorandum...that transgenders should look likemen in their passport photo.’Police officers and members of the militarywere also responsible for harassing, bullying andridiculing transgender women. In some instance,respondents said they were arbitrarily detained,and asked or ordered to provide sexual favors.They said desk officers often neglected or tauntedthem. Alyssa, a transgender respondent, said... when I go to government agencies,I could feel sometimes the governmentemployee … will make fun of you... I cansee them laughing in front of me... Kindof weird you’re in the government, youshould be acting like a good person servingthe public, but instead you’re makingfun of the people.Impact Of ViolenceAnd DiscriminationThe LBT women interviewed for this researchproject said their experiences with discriminationand violence had psychological consequences,including sadness, clinical depression, fear ofrejection, fear of relationships, self-doubt, selfblameand resignation. Some respondents alsoreported anger, paranoia, aggressiveness towardsthemselves and their partners, and a heightenedsense of combativeness.Kel, lesbian respondent:It’s like, ‘Why is it like this? Why is this happeningto me? Why do I have to go throughall of these? Am I being punished?’Svetlana, transgender woman:I learn to be more careful … paranoid22VIOLENCE: Through the Lens of Lesbians, Bisexual Women and Transgender People in Asia