A Guide to the Intersex Literary Diaspora in the Philippines Narratives of Inclusion, Advocacy, and Strategic Action

 

1. Introduction

 

1.1. Executive Summary

This report provides an in-depth analysis of the burgeoning intersex literary diaspora in the Philippines, a movement that is as much about legal and social advocacy as it is about artistic expression. The term "literary diaspora" is interpreted broadly to encompass not only written works but also a growing body of cinematic and visual narratives that are foundational to the intersex community's struggle for recognition and inclusion. The analysis establishes that these narratives, whether a landmark legal decision, a children's book, or a feature film, are not merely reflections of lived experience but are active agents of change, strategically deployed to challenge long-standing stigma and drive policy reform.

Key contributors to this movement include Jeff Cagandahan, whose historic Supreme Court case established a legal precedent for self-determination and whose children's book, Ang Aking Espesyal na Regalo, addresses the roots of prejudice. The report also examines the work of Meredith Talusan, a transnational literary voice whose memoir, Fairest, provides a crucial model for understanding the intersectional complexities of identity. Complementing these are cinematic works such as the film Metamorphosis and the documentary I Exist, which have proven to be potent tools for public education and empathy-building. Despite this progress, the community faces significant barriers, including systemic legal and medical discrimination, a lack of access to life-saving medications, and a pervasive societal "invisibility issue." The report concludes with a multi-faceted set of recommendations for policy, community-building, and public education, proposing a clear roadmap for achieving a more noticeable and protected presence in Philippine society.

 

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Intersexuality in the Philippines ; A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding, Inclusion, and Advancements

 

Introduction: Embracing Human Diversity

 

A. What is Intersex? Defining a Natural Variation

 

Intersexuality is an umbrella term encompassing individuals born with physical, hormonal, or genetic features that do not align with typical binary notions of male or female bodies. These variations can manifest across a wide spectrum of characteristics, affecting sexual anatomy, reproductive organs, hormonal patterns, and/or chromosomal patterns. It is important to recognize that intersexuality is not a singular condition but rather a diverse range of biological differences. Many intersex individuals are not born with atypical genitalia, and some variations may not become apparent until puberty or even later in adulthood. The very use of "umbrella term" and "spectrum" to describe intersex variations highlights that rigid binary sex classifications are insufficient to capture the full breadth of human biological diversity. This understanding moves beyond a simple definition, emphasizing the inherent limitations of societal structures built upon such narrow categories.

It is crucial to distinguish intersexuality from sexual orientation and gender identity. Being intersex pertains to one's biological sex characteristics, which are innate physical attributes. This is distinct from sexual orientation, which describes who an individual is attracted to, and gender identity, which is a person's deeply felt, internal sense of self as male, female, both, or neither. Intersex individuals possess the same range of sexual orientations and gender identities as non-intersex people; an intersex person may be heterosexual, gay, lesbian, bisexual, asexual, a woman, a man, both, or neither.

Contrary to common misconceptions, intersex variations are not rare occurrences. Experts’ estimate that up to 1.7% of all births globally involve intersex traits. This prevalence rate makes being intersex almost as common as having red hair. This significant statistic challenges the perception of intersexuality as a rare "disorder" or abnormality, instead framing it as a common, natural biological variation. Such reframing is fundamental to reducing stigma and fostering broader societal acceptance. When something is understood to be as common as a visible trait like red hair, it becomes difficult to maintain a narrative of "abnormality," thereby serving as a powerful tool for destigmatization and promoting public understanding.

 

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Press Release: Include "Intersex" in the definition of "sex" in Proposed Anti-Discrimination Law.

 

INTERSEX PHILIPPINES
Ph.: 09192550910    
Email: intersex.philippines@gmail.com

 

PRESS RELEASE

Include ‘intersex’ in definition of ‘sex’ in proposed anti-discrimination law - Intersex Philippines

CITY OF MANILA, MAY 15, 2021 - Intersex Philippines, the pioneering organization for intersex people in the Philippines, is calling for the inclusion of "intersex" in the definition of "sex" in the proposed anti-discrimination law that is now being tackled in Congress.

The organization released its position ahead of the International Day Against Homophobia, Bi-phobia, Intersexism and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) this May 17, a global event that aims to raise awareness of LGBTQIA human rights violations, and stimulate interest in LGBTQIA rights work worldwide.

On May 11, the House Committee on Human Rights started discussing the scope of the pro-posed "comprehensive" anti-discrimination law. Reportedly, due to the urging of House Minority Leader Rep. Bienvenido Abante (6th District, Manila City), the panel agreed to exclude "intersex" in the definition of "sex" to avoid confusing people about the assigned sex at birth.

"This decision would promote only the binary understanding of ‘sex’ as a concept, which is both incomplete and unscientific," said Jeff Cagandahan, Co-founder of Intersex Philippines. "This decision would also render the law ineffective as far protecting intersex people, thereby turning back the clock on the progress of intersex rights in the country."n

Had the panel chosen to include "intersex" in the definition of "sex", it would have paved the way for legal recognition of intersex people in the country. The move would have also backed the 2008 Supreme Court decision that biological parameters cannot be neatly divided into two categories of men and women.

In 2008, in the case of Republic of the Philippines v. Jennifer Cagandahan, the Supreme Court of Philippines delivered a landmark judgment recognizing the right of intersex people to eventually determine their gender.

Recognizing the existence of intersex people, the Supreme Court said: “The current state of Philippine statutes apparently compels that a person be classified either as a male or as a female, but this Court is not controlled by mere appearances when nature itself fundamentally negates such rigid classification.”

With this, Cagandahan said that the House panel should recognize this judgment and review its position.

"In excluding ‘intersex’, the House panel is missing a golden opportunity to affirm intersex rights," Cagandahan said. "Intersex Philippines calls upon the members of the House Committee on Human Rights to reconsider their decision and expressly prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex characteristics."

Cagandahan added: "The current legislative discourse in the House reflects a flawed under-standing of basic concepts related to intersex status. Inclusion of ‘intersex’ would not only make the definition of ‘sex’ as inclusive, but also convey an evolved understanding of the concept."

Various legal developments related to this have been happening around the world, and Cagandahan believes these should help guide the House representatives.

Principle 31 of the Yogyakarta Principles, for instance, clearly states that States must make available a multiplicity of gender marker options. As of 2021, several countries worldwide introduced some form of non-binary gender recognition, next to the standard options of "male" and "female". Non-binary/"third" gender options (mostly ‘X', ‘other’ or ‘diverse’) have already been introduced through legislation or case law in countries like Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Canada, Denmark, Germany, India, Malta, Nepal, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan and a number of US States.  

"In Philippines, intersex people continue to face discrimination and stigma due to heteronormative understanding of ‘sex’. Ending the binary normativity of the official sex/gender registration framework is necessary to protect the human rights of intersex people and to ensure their inclusion," said Cagandahan, who is now lobbying for the House to actually include intersex people to "actively consult with intersex-led organizations and groups to ensure the law is both comprehensive and effective.”

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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

JEFF CAGANDAHAN
Officer-in-charge, Intersex Philippines
Ph.: +639155159819
email: jeffcagandahan@yahoo.com

Ano nga ba ang Intersex?

Ang "Intersex" ay isang pangkalahatang katawagan na ginagamit para sa iba't ibang mga kondisyon kung saan ang isang tao ay ipinanganak na may isang reproductive o sexual na anatomy na tila hindi kagaya sa mga karaniwang babae o lalaki. 

Halimbawa, ang isang tao ay maaaring ipinanganak na lumilitaw na babae sa labas, ngunit ang pagkakaroon ng pang lalaking anatomy sa loob ng katawan o kabaligtaran. O kaya, maaaring ipanganak ang isang tao na may mga maselang bahagi ng katawan na tila nasa pagitan ng karaniwan na lalaki at babae. 

Halimbawa, ang isang babae ay maaaring ipanganak na may kapansin-pansin na malaking klitoris, o kulang sa pagbubukas ng vagina, o isang batang lalaki ay maaaring ipanganak na may kapansin-pansin na maliit na titi, o may isang eskrotum na hinati upang ito ay nabuo na tulad ng labia. O ang isang tao ay maaaring ipinanganak na may mosaic genetics, kaya ang ilan sa kanyang mga selyula(Cells) ay mayroong XX chromosomes at ang ilan sa kanila ay XY.

Kahit sabihin na tayo ay intersex bilang isang inborn na kalagayan, ang intersex anatomy ay hindi palaging lumabas o nakikita kapanganak. Minsan ang isang tao ay hindi alam kahit sa sarili nila na sila ay intersex hanggang siya ay umabot sa edad ng pagdadalaga/pagbibinata o puberty, o kaya ay naghahanap ng  kasagutan sa kanyang sarili. Minsan ang isang intersex ay namamatay na lamang sa anumang sakit o kaya sa katandaan na hindi man lang niya nalaman na siya ay isang intersex.

Ano ang ibig sabihin nito?

 Ang Intersex ay isang kategorya na itinayo sa lipunan na sumasalamin sa tunay na biological na pagkakaiba-iba. Upang mas mahusay na maipaliwanag ito, maihahalintulad natin ang spectrum ng sex sa spectrum ng kulay. Walang tanong na sa likas na katangian ay may iba't ibang mga wavelength na isinasalin sa mga kulay na karamihan sa atin ay nakikita bilang pula, bughaw, orange, dilaw. Ngunit ang desisyon na makilala, sa pagitan ng kulay kahel at pula ay ginawa lamang kapag kailangan natin itulad ng humihingi tayo ng isang partikular na kulay.
Sa parehong paraan, ang kalikasan ay nagbibigay din ng spectrum ng anatomy at sexuality. Ang mga suso, penises, clitorise, scrotum, labia, gonads, lahat ng ito ay magkakaiba sa laki at hugis at morpolohiya. Ang tinatawag na "sex" chromosomes ay maaaring mag-iba o may  konting pagkakaiba sa karaniwan.
Ngunit sa mga kultura ng tao, ang mga kategorya ng sexualidad ay pinasimple sa lalaki, babae, at kung minsan ay intersex, upang gawing simple ang mga pakikipag-ugnayan, maipahayag ang kaalaman at nadarama ng bawat isa sa atin upang  mapanatili ang kaayusan.

Kaya ang kalikasan ay hindi magpapasya kung saan ang kategorya ng "lalaki" ay nagtatapos at ang kategorya ng "intersex" ay nagsisimula, o kung saan ang kategorya ng "intersex" ay nagtatapos at ang kategorya ng "babae" ay nagsisimula. Ang tao ang nagpapasiya. Sa ngayun, kadalasang mga doctor lamang ang magpapasiya kung ang isang bagong panganak ay lalaki o babae depende sa nakikitang kasarian na maihahalintulad sa babae o sa lalaki.