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The other Darna: asserting significant lesbian visibility

This was the theme of the 2005 National Lesbian Symposium that was held at UP Bahay Kalinaw, Diliman, Quezon City last April 21 to 22. Organized by the Women’s Education, Development, Productivity and Research Organization (WEDPRO), the activity was formally opened by their Board of Trustees, and Aida Santos, a known lesbian activist from the 1980s.

After the First National Lesbian Rights Conference in Cavite 9 years ago, the symposium provided a venue for lesbian activists to reflect on the achievements after that conference in 1996. Likewise, the sharing of literature and other study materials by lesbians is hoped to contribute to the collection of Philippine Literature on lesbian concerns. Varied paper presentations included a brief description of the Anti-Discrimination Bill which is now in Congress, Sexual and Reproductive Rights, Organizing and Sustaining Lesbian Organizations, Legal Instruments and Mechanisms Affecting Lesbians.

“We need to document our stories. We need to articulate our political agenda. We need to help transform society. We need to struggle against all forms of social injustices. We need to bring our struggles into the stream of the women’s liberation movement. And as we do these, we need each other”, Santos said in her speech.

Another highlight in her opening speech was Santos’ remarks about the contributions of century-old struggles by our “foremothers” of the 1800s/1900s, independent women like Leona Florentino “ whose unconventional life and literary praxis made her a lesbian suspect,” and the great contributions of the women’s liberation movement in achieving what we have now as lesbian activism.

Baguio-based LESBOND through spokesperson Julie Palaganas, in their paper entitled “Lesbian Activism Finds Its Voice: Thirteen Years of Lesbian Organizing” underscored the need for homosexual issues to be addressed as a social issue, and therefore should be an integral agenda of the women’s and people’s movements. She cited the actual process of how lesbian rights and issues became integrated into the Innabuyog-Gabriela Cordillera program of action, and even recognized in the wider people’s movement in the region led by the Cordillera People’s Alliance.

Indeed, after decades of sporadic and collective efforts of lesbian organizations, advocates and activists who have worked for a common goal have achieved a level of lesbian visibility. We are now witnesses and participants to public fora discussing lesbian issues. There are actually television programs positively portraying homosexuals, and there has been a remarkable increase in Philippine literature on lesbian concerns. Lesbian organizations are sprouting, academic undertakings on lesbian issues are encouraged and there are breakthroughs in the legislative agenda. The lesbians continue efforts at greater visibility and relevant participation in social transformation.

Delegates representing lesbian organizations from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, from different sectors of society, from varied political colors and persuasions came together for this event: Lesbians for National Democracy (LESBOND), Women Supporting Women Committee (WSWC), Lesbian Advocates Philippines (LEAP), Women’s Legal Bureau (WLB), Center for Women’s Research (CWR), Indigo, UP Sappho, Alliance of Progressive Lesbians of the Philippines (PROLES), Soul, Can’t Live In the Closet (CLIC), LINK-Davao, Lunduyan, Akbayan, Gabriela Women’s Party (GWP), Progressive Gays of the Philippines (PRO-GAY), The Rainbow Rights Project, Lagablab, CebuPride, former members of the defunct The Lesbian Collective (TLC), other individuals and advocates. #

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