A very short history of the Pinoy Gay

People who have no sense of beginning and history lack proper
identity and direction in the future. They are plunged into chaos

for not knowing who they are or who they were. Never in our history

was a gay mentioned, that’s understandable since we have a very

obscure perception of history. The weather turns the papers

and documents brown and unreadable, termites chump on our books,

and we have a faulty memory. Much more for us gays, left in the dark,

not knowing how our gay ancestors managed their crises.

So for now, ‘til a serious, enlightened researcher worked on our glorious past, I’m making this very short history of the Pinoy gay.

Not much record was left during the pre-Hispanic Philippines. But we can never say that not a single gay existed that time. In their counterparts in ancient Greece and Rome, gays enjoy a prestigious stature. They were teachers, artists, warriors and even emperors. Not to mention that their idyllic love survived for us to be inspired now. So imagine, in this romantic tropical paradise where men are shirtless, sweaty and muscular from toiling the soil or cutting the mountains to make terraces, it was very likely that a Pinoy became attracted to his fellow dude. Ancient Pinoy gays could have cruised the forests with their dudes, enjoyed nature at its beauty while becoming one with their lover. Of course, we’re not sure how the society in those barangays treated gays, but hey, in the pre-colonial period men and women enjoy equal rights. Much could be the same with gays.

Then in 1565, the islands were invaded and claimed in the name of some mad king from Iberian Peninsula. They brought Catholicism, a corrupt form of government, and convinced the natives to wear thick clothes inappropriate in the tropics; not to forget their greatest contribution --- conservatism and a strict sense of tradition. To come out is like presenting yourself to the Inquisition. So during this period we may assume that only the rich, like the sons of some hacienderos in far flung provinces, has the guts to come out of the closet. Imagine an elite gay riding in a horse and beholds a hunk tenant cutting sugarcanes or harvesting rice. Now wouldn’t that be a beautiful sight? It’s like a typical Pinoy movie line “Langit ka… lupa ako…”

Then after a struggle with Spain, US had bought the islands in a midnight Christmas bazaar in Paris for US$20 million. When they landed in Manila, no doubt gays preferred the tall, fair complexioned guys called Americans over their countrymen. After crushing what Americans call “Philippine Insurrection”, they had a firm grip on our country. For 40 years, cute soldiers and hunks roam our streets. Maybe gay population explosion started this time.

But the scene was interrupted when the Japanese forced the Americans out and drove women and gays to work to their brothels. Gays might have suffered a lot under the Japanese, who have their own homosexual inclinations like in the movie, Gohatto (Taboo, 1999). But with combined force of the Filipinos and Americans, they were plushed out of the country. Then the Americans left our war-torn country with their gay lovers and they lived happily ever after.

Hey, wait a minute… I’m just exaggerating.

So the real history begins. In the 1950s, the middle class became robust paving the way for more gays to come out. We have become a significant sector, though politicians refuse so. Gay rights activists flourished, founded societies and organizations, and lobbied for recognition and equal rights.

In the modern times, in the advent of Internet, mobile phones, etc., gay dating became common. Online sites like guys4men.com became popular, Yahoo messenger and MLRC chatrooms became venues for gays to meet, away from prying eyes and prejudice. The Pinoy gay became a significant influence in the country’s entertainment, arts, fashion, academe, science and technology. Yet, this “sector” has always been marginalized and unheard in our government with its apparent failure to protect gays from discrimination.