LGBTQIA+ Community Legal Guidebook in the Philippines

In the Philippines, despite being considered one of the most LGBTQIA+ friendly countries in the region, the absence of comprehensive national anti-discrimination laws and legal recognition for same-sex marriage is leaving many vulnerable.

This has been sorely felt by civil society organisations advocating in this space, many of whom are experiencing increasing levels of reprisal through tactics like ‘red-tagging’, which subject them to harassment, surveillance and prosecution under the country’s Anti-Terror and Human Security Acts.

The Thomson Reuters Foundation works to strengthen the resilience of civil society by raising awareness of emerging legal threats like these. This Guidebook is designed to be a practical tool, offering a summary of existing laws and protections, actionable steps for responding to discrimination, arbitrary arrest, or red-tagging, and best practices for safe advocacy.

Through TrustLaw, the Foundation’s global pro bono legal network, we connected Filipino NGO Mujer-LGBT Organization with legal experts at SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan to develop the resource.

We hope that it will empower the LGBTQIA+ community in the Philippines to better understand their rights, protect themselves and to confidently seek justice.