Bakla (Philippines)

In the Philippines, a baklà (bɑklɑ̆) is a male person who is exclusively attracted to men. Baklas are often considered a third gender, and many (but not all) baklas display feminine mannerisms and dress as women. Some actually identify themselves as women.

Baklas are socially and economically integrated into Filipino society, and are considered an important part of society^{[citation needed]}. The stereotype of a bakla is a parlorista, a cross-dresser who works in a beauty salon. Some Filipinos disapprove of baklas, usually for religious reasons.

Etymology

In modern Filipino language it now means either "effeminate man" or a homosexual. The word is derived from the ancient alphabet of the Philippines, where the character for "ba" meant female and "la" meant male.

Other slang terms for bakla include bading, bayot, badaf, beki, binabae, baklush, tukla, jokla, pa-girl, effem, and beklu.

Gender

Baklas generally dress and act like women. Some grow their hair long, get breast implants, and make other changes to look more like women. Some go so far as to undergo sex reassignment surgery, but this is uncommon.

Bakla are considered a third sex. J. Neil C. Garcia recalls a childhood song that lists four distinct genders: "girl, boy, bakla, tomboy" (In the Philippines, tomboy refers to a lesbian).

Culture

For being a minority, baklas have had a remarkable impact on Filipino society^{[citation needed]}. In the second edition of the now-defunct gay lifestyle magazine Icon Magazine, editor Richie Villarin quoted one of the magazine's advertisers as saying "We cannot remain oblivious to your market".

Baklas have also been instrumental in the opening of several prominent night clubs in the Philippines.

Beauty pageants

Miss Gay Philippines is a beauty pageant for baklas. The participants model swimsuits and dresses, as in other beauty pageants worldwide. Many of the baklas that participate in this contest actually resemble female models that participate in non-gay beauty contests.

Though the “Miss. Gay Philippines” pageant is the biggest pageant of this kind in the Philippines, many smaller pageants like this are held on a smaller scale during annual town celebrations called fiesta and are not uncommon throughout the Philippines.

Swardspeak

Main article: Swardspeak

Baklas have created a special language that they use with each other, called swardspeak. It is used by both masculine and feminine baklas. Swardspeak incorporates elements from Filipino, English and Spanish, and is spoken with a hyperfeminized inflection. It was widespread and popular until the 1990s, but is now considered unfashionable in most parts of Manila.

Legal status

Same-sex marriage is not recognized in the Philippines, preventing many baklas from getting married. Legislation attempting to legalize same-sex marriage in the Philippines has been presented to Congress, but none have passed thus far.

Social status

In almost every city and town scattered across the culturally diverse islands of the Philippines there is at least one bakla (in general many baklas) living a normal life, accepted (at least by some) as a member of the third sex. As a matter of fact, a few prominent social icons are also baklas — most recognizably Boy Abunda, who is a talk show host and has been featured in many TV commercials. It is undeniable, according to Garcia, that the bakla is accepted by most of Filipino society.

The general acceptance of the bakla’s sexuality does not, however, imply that baklas are considered equal to the other sexes. Garcia states that the ordering "girl, boy, bakla, tomboy" implies “[The differing gender’s] hierarchal positioning relative to each other”. Although Filipino society is surprisingly tolerant of baklas, there is an implied superiority of the “traditional” sexes over the other two.

Even though there is a “hierarchy of the sexes” in the Philippines, baklas have not only become recognized and accepted by most of society, they have become an integral part it. They have found niches where they excel. Many baklas — the parlorista, for example — own or work at beauty salons and are considered more meticulous and detail-oriented than women who are employed as hairdressers.

Religion

The Philippines is predominantly Roman Catholic. The Roman Catholic Church views same-sex sexual activity as "intrinsically disordered". This condemnation of homosexuality presents a problem for the baklas. Because baklas are part of a Catholic-dominated society, some Filipinos are not accepting of their presence. Others, however, consider baklas an important part of society. Baklas belonging to Catholic families, especially devout Catholic families, often battle their feelings of same sex attraction their whole adolescent lives. While some baklas are told to abandon their homosexuality because of religion others are encouraged by either parents or friends to embrace it.

Baklas who are Christian, but not affiliated with Roman Catholicism, face varying degrees of acceptance based on which sect they are affiliated with. These minority religions generally, but not exclusively, provide more tolerance and acceptance of gays, at least doctrinally, than the Catholic Church (much like the minority religions in the United States.) The Philippine Independent Church, which is affiliated with the Episcopal Church of the United States of America, is known for its progressive stance.

The other minority which is made up of non-Christian religions such as Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and others also present a range of doctrinal views. Islam vehemently opposes homosexuality doctrinally and are not tolerant of homosexuals. Hinduism and Buddhism on the other hand generally frown upon homosexuality but are tolerant of gay men, including baklas.

See also

• LGBT in the Philippines