Statement of the Problem

While it is claimed that the Philippine society has become tolerant and accepting
of transgender community, the fact cannot be denied that many transgender men
and women continue to experience discrimination in various social settings.
Although there is already recognition of the transgender community, in actuality
and in terms of legal protection, there is still not a single national legislation that
specifically address this kind of discrimination from which this marginalized
sector of the society continuously suffers. Up to the present, there is still no
particular national law that proscribes and penalizes situations and practices in
which discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity
happens. There is no law that specifically protects the transgender community
and guarantees their rights as citizens of the Republic of the Philippines and their
rights as human beings.

Because of this, many transgender men and women continue to be exposed to

unjust treatment and inequality in various social institutions including the school,
workplace, business establishments and even the family. Hate crimes also
continue to be suffered by members of the transgender community leading to
their loss of dignity, if not life, without any legal protection.

It is the hope of our group to put an end to this situation of non-protection and
neglect by proposing that there should be legal gender recognition for
transgender people in the Philippines. The fundamental rights and human dignity
of the transgender community should be upheld towards the attainment of a
more inclusive society where all citizens, regardless of sexual orientation and
gender identity are equal.