MANILA – On May 17, the International Day against Homophobia (IDAHO), adobo magazine launched its maiden Gender Issue.
IDAHO, also known as IDAHOT (International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia) and IDAHOBIT (International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia), was created in 2004 to draw the attention of policymakers, opinion leaders, social movements, the public and the media to the violence and discrimination experienced by LGBTI people internationally.
At an exclusive IDAHO event at the residence of the ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Philippines Marion Derckx, John van Dijk from the Philippines-Netherlands Business Council and Simoun Ferrer from the Philippine LGBT Chamber of Commerce hosted an enlightening panel discussion by John Nicholls, COO at HSBC Philippines; Fire Sia of the BPO industry; Randy Estrellado, Chief Operation Officer of Maynilad Water Services; and Dr. Mary Ann Sayoc, the chairperson of the Philippines-Netherlands Business Council and general manager of East West Seeds Philippines.
Also present were Brian Tenorio, chair and founder of the Philippine LGBT Chamber of Commerce; Evan Tan, advertising and events manager of Team Magazine and board member of the Philippine LGBT Chamber of Commerce; as well as Wanggo Gallaga, noted scriptwriter, AIDS survivor and advocate. All three authored articles for adobo magazine’s Gender Issue. Joining them at the event was Angel Guerrero, founder, publisher, editor-in-chief, and president of adobo magazine.
The panelists shared their experiences in discovering their gender, coming out, and fighting for equal rights. Nicholls shared how he discovered he was only one of two gay men in his small English village and how working abroad allowed him to find the man he would marry. Sia shared the need to find literature and role models for bisexuals. Estrellado shared how, despite having a military man for a father, he found the courage to come out and be himself. Sayoc revealed how human resources departments within corporation can promote gender sensitivity.
It was a night of solidarity and camaraderie for gender activists and allies. Every host, speaker, and attendee received a copy of adobo magazine’s Gender Issue.
The Gender Issue features the adobo Women Leaders 2017, the Philippine LGBT Chamber of Commerce and reveal the economy of inclusion and the business of diversity. It exposes “pink baiting:” the gender equivalent of “green washing” wherein brands feature advertising that promotes the inclusion of LGBTQ that make mainstream heterosexual audiences feel good, but don’t put their money where their mouth is and refuse to invest advertising budgets in LGBTQ publications and events.
adobo reveals the latest study on women, FilipinaNext, and explore the economic power of double income no kids (DINK), gay, and lesbian couples. The Gender Issue recalls the evolution of product design and advertising from gender stereotyping to empowerment and inclusion, critique the user experience design as well as the social impact of dating app Grindr, and explore Google Philippines native-inspired office.
The magazine profiles Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman, Philippine-American actor of the “When We Rise” television series Ivory Aquino, acclaimed comic book artist Tepai Pascual, J. Walter Thompson worldwide chief creative officer Matt Eastwood, and Mio Chongson, president and COO of Ace Saatchi & Saatchi, as our centerfold.
The issue reveals insights into Graphika Manila’s acclaimed speakers, reviews the book Broken Mirror and its revelations of spousal abuse within a Taipan’s traditional Chinese marriage as well as Team Magazine, the Philippine community’s only gay magazine.
Relevant and revelatory, adobo magazine’s Gender Issue was the perfect complement to the International Day against Homophobia.
