Drafted by the Society of Trans Women of the Philippines (STRAP) and endorsed by Transmasculine Philippines, the Pioneer Filipino Transgender Men Movement (PFTM), and Relentlessly Chase, the bill provides a clear and accessible pathway for Filipinos to legally change their name and gender marker in official documents. Advocates hailed it as a groundbreaking initiative that addresses long-standing gaps in Philippine law.
Why the Simplified Legal Gender Recognition Bill Matters
Currently, there is no national law in the Philippines that allows transgender and gender-diverse individuals to update their legal documents to reflect their lived identities. This absence of legislation has left many transgender Filipinos vulnerable to discrimination, exclusion, and systemic barriers in education, employment, healthcare, housing, access to public services, and political participation.
As Six Bernardo, Chief of Operations at Transmasculine Philippines, powerfully stated:
“We fight for legal gender recognition or LGR because when the law refuses to see us, it becomes easier for others to ignore, exclude, or harm us. Recognition is a form of protection.”
Without legal gender recognition, many trans and nonbinary Filipinos face constant misrecognition and systemic erasure. According to Arjhay Puod of Pioneer FTM:
“An enacted legal gender recognition law will enable the Philippine government to fulfill its obligation to uphold the right of every Filipino to determine and enjoy their gender identity and live with dignity.”
Voices of Support and Solidarity
The event featured a keynote message from Commissioner Faydah Maniri Dumarpa of the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines (CHR), who affirmed the Commission’s full support for the bill:
“The Commission welcomes this proposed legislation because it is grounded on the living experiences of trans Filipinos and advances a clear, rights-based process for amending legal name and gender markers in official documents. As Gender Ombud, the Commission will closely monitor and support the progress of the LGR Bill in line with our mandate to promote and protect human rights.”
Dumarpa also reaffirmed CHR’s solidarity with LGBTQ movements in the Philippines and celebrated STRAP’s leadership in pushing forward this legislation.
Testimonies and Roundtable Discussions
The launch was not only a legislative milestone but also a community gathering of trans voices. Trans youth and community leaders shared heartfelt testimonies about the harm caused by misrecognition in schools, workplaces, and healthcare systems. Their stories underscored how lack of legal recognition reinforces stigma, inequality, and exclusion.
A roundtable discussion titled “Call Us By Our Names: Why Legal Recognition Matters” brought together legal experts and grassroots leaders including Claire Padilla (Engenderights), Six Bernardo (Transmasculine Philippines), Luis Abesamis (UP CWGS), Vashti Ortego (STRAP), and Rocky Rinabor (Pioneer FTM). They emphasized that the Simplified LGR Bill is both practical and transformative, offering protection against discrimination while affirming the humanity of transgender and nonbinary Filipinos.
As Vashti Ortego, lead drafter of the bill and Executive Director of STRAP, declared:
“This bill is envisioned to be the most appropriate model for the Legal Gender Recognition of trans and gender diverse people in the Philippines. It says to every trans and nonbinary Filipino: we are here, we belong, and the law must recognize our truth.”
A Call to Action for Trans Rights in the Philippines
The coalition of advocates is now calling on members of the Philippine Congress to champion the Simplified Legal Gender Recognition Bill and help create a society where trans and gender-diverse people are respected, protected, and empowered.
Supporters are encouraged to visit www.supportlgr.org to learn more about the campaign, sign the petition, and explore ways to get involved—whether through online rallies, donations, or amplifying the voices of trans advocates.
The launch of the Simplified LGR Bill is more than a policy proposal—it is a movement for justice, dignity, and equality. For transgender and gender-diverse Filipinos, this bill represents the hope of a future where their identities are affirmed not only socially but also legally. It is a call for the Philippines to step forward into a more inclusive and human-rights–centered society.
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