For decades, they faced discrimination, rejection, and isolation, forced to hide their true selves in the shadows. But through it all, the pioneering LGBT elders of the Philippines, affectionately known as the “lolos and lolas,” persevered with unwavering resilience, paving the way for the hard-won progress and visibility enjoyed by the LGBTQIA+ community today.
Last June 20, a multi-agency effort by the government and the private sector took an important step in honoring and celebrating these unsung heroes, hosting the Rainbow Care Caravan – a multi-sectoral services event specifically dedicated to the older members of the LGBTQ+ population.
In a country where Pride Month events typically focus on protests and demands for equal rights, this was a long overdue recognition of the pioneers who weathered the worst of the discrimination and fought tirelessly, often in the face of total rejection, to live authentically.
Many of them grew up in a time when their sexual orientation was considered a mental illness and their relationships were treated as criminal acts. They had to face trauma, loneliness, and ostracization, simply for being true to themselves.
Indeed, the stories of the lolos and lolas are a powerful testament to the strength of the human spirit. Some, fearing the loneliness of old age, felt compelled to return to the closet and build traditional families. Others remained steadfastly out and proud, weathering rejection from their own families and communities.
Take Lola Amelia from Manila, for example, who at 72 years old still proudly wears her hair in a mullet “siyete” (seven) style. “Itinakwil ako ng aking pamilya nang lumabas ako bilang isang tomboy noong 1960s,” she recounts. (My family disowned me when I came out as a lesbian in the 1960s.) “Wala akong mapuntahan, walang malapitan. Pero tumanggi akong basta sumuko na lang. Ito ako, at hinding-hindi ako hihingi ng tawad kahit kanino pa.” (I had nowhere to go, no one to turn to. But I refused to back down. This is who I am, and I’ll never apologize for it.)
Lolo Juan from Pasay, now 81, shares a similar story of perseverance. After his parents kicked him out of the house as a young man for being gay, he spent years living on the streets, struggling to survive. “Iyon na yata ang pinakamasalimuot na yugto ng aking buhay,” he remembers. (It was the darkest time of my life.)
“Kailangan kong gawin ang lahat, gaya ng panghihingi ng limos o kaya’y mga ‘di karaniwang trabaho. Pero hindi ako nawalan ng pag-asa. Alam ko na balang araw, magiging maayos din ang mga bagay-bagay para sa mga taong katulad ko,” he added. (I had to do whatever I could to get by – panhandling and odd jobs. But I never lost hope. I knew that one day, things would get better for people like me.)
And better they have. Today, the Philippines enjoys a degree of LGBTQIA+ visibility and legal protections that would have been unimaginable to the lolos and lolas in their youth.
Quezon City under Mayor Joy Belmonte now hosts an annual Pride celebration, and the government even offers a yearly ceremony for LGBTQ+ couples to have their relationships officially recognized.
Yet despite these advances, the needs of the LGBTQIA+ elderly remain largely overlooked. Many still face poverty, isolation, and a lack of access to healthcare and social services tailored to their unique experiences and challenges.
This is where the Rainbow Care Caravan comes in – a concerted effort by the government, NGOs, and community organizations organized by the Philippine Information Agency-National Capital Region (PIA-NCR) to provide much-needed resources and support to the lolos and lolas. From food and medical assistance to social activities and counseling, the event aims to let this resilient generation know that they are seen, valued, and cared for.
“We’re standing on the shoulders of giants,” said PIA-NCR staff John Lester Naguna. “The struggle and suffering our lolos and lolas endured paved the way for the progress we see today. You can say that they can be considered as true pioneers of our movement.”
“They spent their lives fighting for us, and now it’s our turn to fight for them,” Naguna added. “We owe them a debt of gratitude that can never fully be repaid. But we can start by making sure they spend their golden years with the dignity, security, and love they deserve.”
As the Rainbow Care Caravan unfolds, the lolos and lolas in attendance can be seen laughing, dancing, and embracing one another – a joyful, celebratory sight that stands in stark contrast to the hardships of their past.
For once, the spotlight is on them, the trailblazers who weathered the storm so that future generations could march proudly into the light. (JLN/PIA-NCR)
