MAXIM: Featuring gays and lesbians

Mocha (front woman of Mocha Girls has been a photo blogger for MAXIM last February. I have seen Mocha and Hershey kiss on-stage but I haven't seen them in a sexy cover shoot like this. It's the first ever Gay and Lesbian issue of Maxim.

In the said issue, you'll expect:

Gays nightout at Classmate
This is about Boy Abunda with other four famous gay men holding a roundtable discussion of gay issues inside a VIP room in Classmate. Boy Abunda was joined by Danton Remoto (writer and activist), Puey Quiñones (fashion designer), Mojo Jojo (Magic 89.9 DJ) and Carlo Tadiar (a magazine editor).

The Curious Case of Binibini Gandanghari
A mock cover of Bebe will appear in the magazine including an open letter addressed to Bebe Gandanghari.

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LGBT Representation in Philippine Congress

I attended a forum sponsored by Rainbow Rights which was about LGBTs possible representation in the upcoming National Elections last March 21. The main speaker was Atty. Luie Tito Guia, a renowned election expert. It was attended by different representatives of LGBT groups in the Philippines and this was also one way to strategize on how the LGBT can be represented in Congress as a party list group.

Atty. Guia gave a brief background on the political set up in the Philippines and the history of the party list representation in Congress. The party list system in the Philippines was made possible through the Republic Act 7941 or the Party List System Act.

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Giving Voice to the PINK Vote

Giving Voice to the PINK Vote

Where: Ishmael Bernal Art Gallery (at the back of UP Cine Adarna/ Film Center, across the lagoon and beside the UP Carillon)
Time: 1:00-4:00 pm
Guest Speaker: Atty. Luie Tito F. Guia (a renowned election law expert)

LGBTs must be represented in Congress!

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My Thoughts About the BB Gandanghari Bloggers Event

I'm sorry that it took me some time to blog about my thoughts about this event when it has already been a week since this happened. The good thing was I was able to at least live blog about it but as promised, my thoughts will be to follow.

To kick off things here, I would like to say that I appreciated the fact that P.O.C (Philippine Online Chronicles) set up an event like this. This was Bebe Gandanghari's way to reach out to the bloggers since she has been visible online. The event was ok but I really couldn't say that it achieved something. Yes, she was liked by everyone (and suddenly became fan boys and girls) butI am saying this because I believe that the LGBT agenda wasn't highlighted. It became some sort of a 'fans day' or a 'press con' for an upcoming movie. I am glad that some of my fellow bloggers (even though they're not "one of us") asked relevant questions that actually highlighted the LGBT issues such as discrimination. It was Mark and I who opened up the LGBT issues and I was even wondering if some of the people there knew what LGBT was. Maybe I was looking for something that I couldn't find and I expected it to become an avenue for it. But, I my expectations were too much. I know that total acceptance of the LGBTs is very impossible in the Philippines (and even the world) but at least some of us bloggers were able to open it up. I actually appreciated Mark in being honest about being one of the homophobics and meeting BB in person sort of opened up his mind a little bit though I know homophobia is not totally gone. This has become a some sort of achievement for me. ;)

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Live Blogging at the BB Gandanghari Blogger Meet Up at Mag:Net High Street

I am the currently at the Bebe Gandanghari Blogger meet up at Mag:Net High Street. The event is sponsored by P.O.C (Philippine Online Chronicles). Bloggers get the chance to ask questions to her, no holds barred.

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Ellen de Generes: A Lesbian Icon Now an Endorser of Cover Girl Make Up

It was surprising that Ellen de Generes, one of the leading lesbian icons in popular American television, is now an endorser of Cover Girl make up. I think that this is a breakthrough in the field of advertising for me. Gone are the days when it is imperative (and expected) that supermodels and popular celebrities like Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, Julia Roberts, etc.. should endorse 'feminine products'. Ellen is the irony of being 'feminine' and she just outwitted everyone with the commercial.

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UNEQUAL UNDER THE LAW: Transgender Women in the Philippines

In celebration of International Women's Month, the Rainbow Rights Project in partnership with the University of the Philippines' Paralegal Volunteers Organization (UP PVO), the Ang Ladlad Partylist, and the Society of Transsexual Women of the Philippines (STRAP) would like to invite you to the forum

UNEQUAL UNDER THE LAW: Transgender women in the Philippines

Speakers:
Pau Fontanos (Ang Ladlad, STRAP)
Sass Rogando Sasot (Ang Ladlad, STRAP)

Reactors:
Atty. Carol Austria
Atty. Bing Guanzon

March 10, Tuesday, 1-4 pm
UP College of Law
1st Floor, Sarmiento Room

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