Regardless of its predominantly religious society, the Philippines still hosts a massive LGBTQ+ community consisting of all kinds and all ages.

And with the recent rise of its drag industry, Filipino queer culture continues to be amplified and embraced more than it did in the past years! The Philippines recently had two drag reality competitions and the local club scene itself thrives off its performers. But even with these going on, prejudice and homophobia unfortunately remains to this day. Yet, with the likes of the Philippines’ Golden Gays, these issues are of course, never enough to push them off their feet.

HOW IT STARTED AND HOW IT’S GOING

Justo Justo was a writer and activist for LGBTQ+ rights in the country, during a time when it was still complex to even talk about it. But he made sure to always speak openly about the country’s HIV crisis and in 1975, he established The Home for the Golden Gays, a care facility for homless and elderly gay men. In this community, you were not only given refuge but also encouraged to embrace your true gender identity.

When Justo passed in 2012, his family evicted the Golden Gays. They were scattered all throughout Manila and while some were fortunate enough to be taken in by other shelters or their relatives, some remained homeless because of how unsafe they felt in men’s dorms. Today, Justo’s close friend of 20 years Ramon “Mon” Busa heads the Golden Gays as their president.

THE GOLDEN LINING

Since most jobs in the country do not allow the elderly impoverished to apply, some of the lolas (as they collectively call themselves) who live in the Golden Gays House, work in beauty salons or in the streets as sweepers and vendors. But for the longest time, they have survived evictions, a burning incident, the COVID-19 pandemic and being ignored by local governments through donations, outreach programs, sponsors and even occasional drag shows during the weekends! 

The Golden Gays seem to shine the brightest when they’re wearing colorful wigs, rich red lipstick and flaunting their sparkly gowns. And this is because as Filipinos, the lolas thrive on good ‘ol pageantry. They lip-sync, dance, perform magic tricks while also cross-dressing to either embody new characters or impersonate beloved icons, a concept that’s long been part of the Philippines’ queer history and is evident today through commercially-acclaimed drag shows.

It’s through organized events like these that help the lolas earn money for at least a week’s worth of groceries. And while their shows aren’t as refined as the modern drag shows of today, the group always makes use of the little resources they already have. Shaky knees and back pains can’t stop them from putting their best faces forward! It’s because of these kinds of struggles, and the absence of traditional family, that prompted the Golden Gays to create their own support system with each other.

WHAT THE FIGHT IS FOR

Just like their founder, the Golden Gays use every ocassion as an opportunity to speak about the country’s AIDS crisis. The Philippines has seen the largest increase in HIV/AIDS diagnoses in Asia during the past five years. According to the Department of Health, half of the six cities where a pandemic is expected to occur are in Metro Manila, with men between the ages of 15 and 24 making up the majority of this group. 

This is why the lolas want to ensure young gay people that they are capable of living clean and healthy lives despite such circumstances. “Respect yourself and you will receive the respect you deserve… You can be beautiful at any age”, says president Ramon. 

In addition to that, the lolas also contribute in demanding financial assistance for those like them. According to government statistics, at least 20% of Filipinos live below the poverty line, earning less than 200 PHP a day and more than half of Filipinos 60 and older do not receive a pension, which immediately qualifies them as being in poverty. 

The issue is even more heavy for most members of the Golden Gays, who were unable to obtain employment when they were younger due to stigma against the LGBTQ+ population in the Philippines. But they remain resilient, not just for themselves but for the future generations of queer people.

THE POT OF GOLD

It’s situations like these that fuel the fire to which the Golden Gays gain from. Surviving alone in urban places is as big of a struggle as surviving rejection from communities you were supposed to belong to. The harsh reality is that most Filipinos tend to value and tolerate queer folk as long as it benefits them, not so much when they are old and in need of care.

But the Golden Gays themselves choose to see the what’s at the end of the rainbow. Even with no permanent residence, the non-profit pursues its mission of promoting safe gay retirement and building social acceptance. After all, real queens aren’t defined by glitz and glamor, rather on how they care and provide for their community.

You can support the Golden Gays by visiting their official website. And for more content like this, make sure to follow So BakLA by One Down Media: YOUR go-to source for Filipino Queerness & LGBTQ+ culture!