As the country observes Transgender Awareness Week (November 13–19), leading trans advocacy groups have called on lawmakers, media organizations, and the public to confront the persistent violence faced by Filipino trans women.
The Society of Trans Women of the Philippines (STRAP), Ladlad Partylist, and Verde Creatives issued a united appeal this week, framing the observance not as a symbolic commemoration, but as “a frontline against systemic violence” that continues to claim the lives of transpinays.
Violence Beyond Death
For advocates, one of the most disturbing issues is the way trans women are erased even in death.
According to the coalition, many transpinays live with constant fear—one member described it bluntly: “I’m scared every damn day.” That fear, they said, is intensified by what happens after these deaths—how media describes the victims.
On November 17 at 2 p.m., the groups will hold a roundtable discussion titled “Media, Misgendering, and Memory: How Stories of Transfemicide Are Told.” The event aims to challenge how killings of trans women are reported in the Philippines, particularly when victims are deadnamed or misgendered.
Advocates argue that misreporting becomes the “final act of violence”—a denial of identity rooted in the country’s lack of Legal Gender Recognition (LGR) laws.
The discussion also leads into the upcoming Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) on November 20, when trans communities worldwide honor those killed by anti-trans violence.
Legislative Silence and Stalled Protection
The coalition linked local media erasure and hate crimes to long-standing gaps in policy.
The SOGIESC (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics) Equality Bill, which seeks to ban discrimination against LGBTQIA+ Filipinos, has stalled in Congress for more than 20 years. Advocates say this legislative vacuum sends a damaging message—one that emboldens discrimination and violence.
“We should not be defined by our bodies nor our sexual orientation and gender identity define our capabilities, skills and strengths,”
— Ms. Bemz Benedito, Chair of Verde Creatives and former Ladlad Partylist congressional nominee.
Benedito stressed that the movement is not asking for special treatment—but for equality, safety, and recognition of dignity.
A Call From Awareness to Accountability
The coalition activities form part of STRAP’s “Buckle Up for Transgender Awareness Week” series, supported by allied spaces such as Dark Roast Coffeehouse in Maginhawa, Quezon City.
Alongside the roundtable, the week will host workshops on harm-reduction for DIY gender-affirming hormone therapy, a learning session for trans women and trans men, support groups, and a Transgender Awareness Night.
These programs highlight what organizers call the community’s resilience—building solutions and safe spaces even as institutions lag behind.
The Demands
STRAP, Ladlad, and Verde Creatives presented four urgent actions they want from government and media:
Immediate passage of the SOGIESC Equality Bill
Enactment of Legal Gender Recognition laws for trans and intersex Filipinos
Mandatory ethical media guidelines, including proper names and pronouns and restrictions on sensationalized reporting
Inclusion of trans women under Anti-Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) frameworks and campaigns
“Transgender rights are human rights,” the statement read. “This truth is absolute.”
Beyond Mourning
As the country marks the Transgender Day of Remembrance, advocates stressed that honoring the dead must translate into protecting the living.
“Our purpose transcends grief,” the coalition declared. “We forge rage into strategic decisions, into unstoppable mobilization.”
The groups also issued a message to allies and decision-makers. Supporters were urged to stand with the movement, while government and institutions were warned that silence and delay would not go unchallenged.
“You can acknowledge our truth, implement justice, listen and act now—or we will dismantle every obstacle you create,” the statement concluded.
The unified call from STRAP, Ladlad, and Verde Creatives underscores a central point: for transpinays, the fight for recognition is not symbolic—it is a matter of survival.
