- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✖ Banned
- Censorship
- ✔ No censorship
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Illegal
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✔ Legal
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✖ Not legally recognized
- Discrimination
- ✖ Illegal in some contexts
- Employment Discrimination
- ✖ Sexual orientation only
- Housing Discrimination
- Varies by Region
- Adoption
- ✖ Single only
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- Unknown
- Military
- ✔ Legal
- Donating Blood
- ✖ Banned (indefinite deferral)
- Conversion Therapy
- Varies by Region
- Age of Consent
- ✔ Equal
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Public Opinion
Recent surveys in Philippines have revealed a mixed response towards LGBTQ+ rights and issues.
OPPOSE
SUPPORT
Perception of LGBTQ+ People
Survey results from 11 LGBTQ+ Equaldex users who lived in or visited Philippines.
Overall
Perceived Safety**Survey results represent personal perceptions of safety and may not be indicative of current actual conditions.
Equal Treatment
Visibility & Representation
Culture
Services
History
Homosexual activity in Philippines is legal.
Current status
Legal
The only article that may apply to LGBT is Article 200 of the penal code which cites "serious sexual misconduct", but there were never any laws against homosexuality.
However it is still partially illegal in the Marawi city for its Muslim residents.
However it is still partially illegal in the Marawi city for its Muslim residents.
Same-sex marriage in Philippines is banned.
Current status
Since Aug 3, 1988
Banned federal law
Article 1 of an executive order titled "Family Code of the Philippines" defines marriage as "a special contract of permanent union between a man and a woman".
Censorship of LGBT issues in Philippines is no censorship.
Current status
No censorship
In the Philippines, there are very few instances of government censorship. One such incident from 2023 involved a drag performer, Amadeus Fernando Pagente (Pura Luka Vega), who was arrested by Manila police for failing to appear at a preliminary hearing on charges of “immoral doctrines, obscene publications and exhibitions, and indecent shows.” However, there were very few reports of incidents like this.
Right to change legal gender in Philippines is illegal.
Current status
Since 2007
Illegal
Filipinos who undergo gender re-assignment surgery are not permitted to change their legal gender per a supreme court ruling in 2007. Individuals with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH), a very rare gender disorder, are permitted to change their gender. Changing gender pending.
Gender-affirming care in Philippines is legal.
Current status
Since 1992
Legal
No laws ban or restrict GAC but practical limitations such as a lack of available doctors and services prove to be real challenges for transgender Filipinos.
Restricted
In 1976, Philippines legalized sterilization, which de facto meant legalizing sex reassignment surgery, however, medical records regarding transsexualism had to be obtained abroad.
Until 1976
Banned
Medical transition is not possible
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Philippines is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized
The Philippines does not recognize nor allow people to legally change "x" gender on their passports and other legal documents.
LGBT discrimination in Philippines is illegal in some contexts.
Current status
Since Sep 16, 2003
Illegal in some contexts
There are some local discrimination protections for LGBT people. Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) Equality Bill pending nationwide.
Until Sep 16, 2003
No protections federal law
Although certain regions of the Philippines have anti discrimination laws but they are not being widely and properly enforce nor followed. Though LGBT rights groups around the country demand the passing of the Equality Bill.
LGBT employment discrimination in Philippines is sexual orientation only.
Current status
Sexual orientation only
The Magna Carta for Public Social Workers assures protection from discrimination, including sexual orientation and sex, but does not specify gender identity. Some jurisdictions offer protections for sexual orientation and gender identity.
LGBT housing discrimination in Philippines is varies by region.
Current status
Varies by Region
Currently in Philippines, your protections for housing discrimination vary broadly based on which jurisdiction you live in. 8 out of 22 jurisdictions have laws protecting you based on sexual orientation but only 7 do for gender identity.
Same-sex adoption in Philippines is single only.
Current status
Single only
If you are part of the LGBTQ in the Philippines, you can only adopt if you are single.
Intersex infant surgery in Philippines is unknown.
Current status
Unknown
Blood donations by MSMs in Philippines is banned (indefinite deferral).
Current status
Banned (indefinite deferral)
Men who have had sex with men are never allowed to donate blood. Blood Donations by MSMs pending.
Equal age of consent in Philippines is equal.
Current status
Equal
In the Philippines, the age of consent is equal for all sexual activity.
LGBT Rights by Province
View the LGBT laws in each individual province of Philippines.
- Abra
- Agusan del Norte
- Agusan del Sur
- Aklan
- Albay
- Antique
- Apayao
- Aurora
- Basilan
- Bataan
- Batanes
- Batangas
- Benguet
- Biliran
- Bohol
- Bukidnon
- Bulacan
- Cagayan
- Camarines Norte
- Camarines Sur
- Camiguin
- Capiz
- Catanduanes
- Cavite
- Cebu
- Compostela Valley
- Cotabato
- Davao del Norte
- Davao del Sur
- Davao Oriental
- Dinagat Islands
- Eastern Samar
- Guimaras
- Ifugao
- Ilocos Norte
- Ilocos Sur
- Iloilo
- Isabela
- Kalinga
- La Union
- Laguna
- Lanao del Norte
- Lanao del Sur
- Leyte
- Maguindanao
- Marinduque
- Masbate
- Mindoro Occidental
- Mindoro Oriental
- Misamis Occidental
- Misamis Oriental
- Mountain Province
- Negros Occidental
- Negros Oriental
- Northern Samar
- Nueva Ecija
- Nueva Vizcaya
- Palawan
- Pampanga
- Pangasinan
- Quezon
- Quirino
- Rizal
- Romblon
- Sarangani
- Siquijor
- Sorsogon
- South Cotabato
- Southern Leyte
- Sultan Kudarat
- Sulu
- Surigao del Norte
- Surigao del Sur
- Tarlac
- Tawi-Tawi
- Western Samar
- Zambales
- Zamboanga del Norte
- Zamboanga del Sur
- Zamboanga Sibuguey [Zamboanga Sibugay]
- Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) (Region)
- Bicol (Region V) (Region)
- Cagayan Valley (Region II) (Region)
- CALABARZON (Region IV-A) (Region)
- Caraga (Region XIII) (Region)
- Central Luzon (Region III) (Region)
- Central Visayas (Region VII) (Region)
- Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) (Region)
- Davao (Region XI) (Region)
- Eastern Visayas (Region VIII) (Region)
- Ilocos (Region I) (Region)
- MIMAROPA (Region IV-B) (Region)
- National Capital Region (Region)
- Northern Mindanao (Region X) (Region)
- Soccsksargen (Region XII) (Region)
- Western Visayas (Region VI) (Region)
- Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX) (Region)
- Shariff Kabunsuan ()
Equality Rank
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#49 Barbados57
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#50 India57
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#51 Marshall Islands57
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#52 Philippines57
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#53 Croatia56
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#54 Japan55
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#55 Botswana55
#12
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Alternative names: Pilipinas (local name)
