On Rights, Truth, and Democracy

"Our truth and our memory are our resistance. As LGBTQI people and as Filipinos, it is our duty to resist the institutional assault on truth and memory. In this critical juncture in our history, we must be at the forefront of the defense of truth, rights and democracy. We must continue telling our stories, living our truths and defending our history. Until anti-LGBTQI discrimination, harassment and violence become things of the past, we must never stop resisting. As progressive Filipinos, we have a crucial role to play in the next six or less years. Expect that the coming days will be difficult, but as long as we stand by and fight with our truth and our memory, we will win."

Last May 21, 2022, Pantay, TLF Share, and the ASEAN SOGIE Caucus organized Our Bodies, Our Lives, Our Rights, in commemoration of the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT). 

During the program, Mx. Venus Aves delivered a strong speech On Rights, Truth and Democracy. 

*See full transcription of her speech below.

On Rights, Truth, and Democracy (An IDAHOBIT 2022 Speech) by Mx. Venus Aves

First of all, I want to say that I am so happy to see my fellow activists in person after such a long time of just Zooming. We should thank PANTAY, TLF Share and ASEAN SOGIE Caucus for providing us with this opportunity to bond and connect again.

To be honest with you, I almost forgot that I would be speaking today. I didn’t prepare a speech, but as I was showering just minutes earlier, I tried to reflect on the importance of IDAHOBIT. IDAHOBIT is an annual commemoration. Commemoration. Of course, I then looked up the meaning of the word. A quick Google search would tell you that to commemorate is to recall and give respect to something. 

When we recall, we’re almost always talking about the past. So I asked myself, in commemorating homophobia, biphobia, intersexphobia and transphobia, are we also saying that they’re things of the past? We know that the answer is no. Hanggang ngayon, araw-araw tayong pinapahiya, binubugbog, binabastos at pinapatay just because of who we are. [Until now, we are humiliated, beaten, harassed, and killed everyday just because of who we are.] So how is IDAHOBIT or the act of commemoration relevant to LGBTQI Filipinos today? Why is it important to commemorate things that are still happening everyday in our lives?

I then recalled our political situation or the situation of rights, democracy and truth in our country today. There is a looming Marcos-Duterte presidency. They haven’t even been declared yet, but we can already see an institutional assault on truth and memory. Martial law may have ended in 1987, but it is not a thing of the past. We are still haunted by the ghosts of martial law. The wounds of those dark days are still fresh. The victims still do not enjoy the justice they deserve. We are still paying the debt incurred due to the Marcosian greed and corruption. Nevertheless, they are actively distorting our truth, our memory and our history as a nation. 

As LGBTQI people, we also know what it’s like to have our individual and collective truth and memory denied. Hindi ka babae. Hindi iyon diskriminasyon. Hindi na kailangan ng SOGIE Equality Bill. [You are not a woman. That's not discrimination. The SOGIE Equality Bill isn't needed.] Society actively denies our truth, our memory, our self-determination as individuals and as a community.

Our truth and our memory are our resistance. As LGBTQI people and as Filipinos, it is our duty to resist the institutional assault on truth and memory. In this critical juncture in our history, we must be at the forefront of the defense of truth, rights and democracy. We must continue telling our stories, living our truths and defending our history. Until anti-LGBTQI discrimination, harassment and violence become things of the past, we must never stop resisting. As progressive Filipinos, we have a crucial role to play in the next six or less years. Expect that the coming days will be difficult, but as long as we stand by and fight with our truth and our memory, we will win. Maraming salamat. [Thank you very much.]

About the Speaker

Mx. Venus Aves (she/they) Venus is a queer feminist and fourth year BA English Studies student at the University of the Philippines Diliman. She is working as a project officer at TLF Share, an NGO focusing on the health and rights of LGBTQI people, and as a communications intern at ILGA Asia, the Asian Region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA). They are a former Punong Babaylan or President of UP Babaylan, the longest-existing LGBTQI student organization in Asia.

The views and opinions expressed are those of the speakers and participants and, unless expressly stated to the contrary, do not reflect the opinion, position or official policy of Asia Society Philippines, its members, or its committees. Asia Society Philippines does not endorse or approve, and assumes no responsibility for the content of the information presented.