Interviewed by L’Officiel Hommes Philippines for their June 2026 issue (in-print and on-line)! Happy Pride! 
Sharing some excerpts below.
“The idea that the Philippines is progressive on LGBTQIA+ rights doesn’t fully hold up when you look at the evidence,’” says assistant professor Xavier Javines Bilon of the UP Rainbow Research Hub Team. “We’re often seen as one of the most LGBTQIA+-friendly countries in Asia, but that perception tends to be rooted in cultural visibility, not in actual protections.”
…
Even conversations around LGBTQIA+ Filipinos can sometimes become incomplete. Research itself still reflects certain inequalities. “There are still significant gaps,” Bilon says. “Because asking about being LGBTQIA+ remains sensitive, and resources for understanding and addressing social problems are limited, research tends to focus on certain groups more than others.”
Several communities remain underrepresented in local research, including queer women, intersex people and transgender Filipinos. Many existing studies also focus heavily on trauma and discrim-ination, but don’t explore joy, leisure, relationships, creativity and long-term flourishing “There tends to be a focus on the struggles,” Bilon explains, “but understanding what allows LGBTOJA+ Filipinos to flourish is just as important.”
…
“LGBTQ+ people and groups are doing a lot, but we need more support and allies to attain a society that is free and just for evervone,” Bilon says. “We need to see concrete changes and we also need a shift in how society engages with these issues. We need more people willing to stand alongside LGBTQ+ communities, our government ensuring that the rights of everyone are protected and respected, and more investment in the organizations already doing the work on the ground.”
Full article here: https://www.lofficielph.com/culture/pride-philippines-lgbtq-rights.
