The Queer Pridecast

In this episode of The Queer Pridecast, we are joined by Vince Liban, an LGBTQ+ rights advocate based in the Philippines and the current convener for Pride PH. We discuss the current state of queer rights legislation and advocacy in the country. Liban analyzes the recent Josef vs. Ursua Supreme Court decision regarding property rights for same-sex couples, the 26-year legislative delay of the SOGIE Equality Bill, and the emergence of organized anti-gender opposition. The conversation also details the specific provisions of the Cagandahan Bill for intersex Filipinos and the Lived Identities Recognition Act (LIRA) for transgender individuals. CHAPTERS:00:54 - Supreme Court decision on same-sex property rights (Josef vs. Ursua) 03:20 - The 26-year delay of the SOGIE Equality Bill and government actions 06:33 - The Cagandahan Bill, the LIRA Bill, and legal gender recognition 11:00 - Exploring the rise of organized anti-gender opposition and its international funding 17:07 - The connection between global democratic spaces and local queer rights 19:50 - Navigating legislative hurdles and the future of the fight for equality Follow The Queer Pridecast on social media: Instagram: www.instagram.com/thequeerpridecastTiktok: tiktok.com/@thequeerpridecast

More than four in ten Americans personally know someone who is transgender, which means the majority of the country still relies entirely on the news for their introduction. But what exactly are those headlines teaching them? On this episode of The Queer Pridecast, we sit down with data journalist and media educator Kae Petrin to look in the mirror. As a co-founder of the Trans Journalists Association, Kae helped build the Trans News Initiative. This groundbreaking tool analyzed over 190,000 news articles spanning five years to uncover the hidden patterns, biases, and glaring blind spots in how the media covers trans communities. We break down the data to understand why the press is failing to tell the full story.Episode Chapters: 00:28 - Meet Kae Petrin and the Trans News Initiative 02:30 - Pop culture vs. Policy: Why the media focuses on "culture war" blowups06:44 - How journalists are using this data to fight for better stories in the newsroom 11:32 - Connecting the dots on the global network of anti-queer legislation 16:07 - The fatal flaw of "both sides" reporting in healthcare and science 20:50 - The 24/7 news cycle, layoffs, and the collapse of the newsroom apprenticeship model 25:26 - What's next? Expanding the initiative globally and to other news beats Follow The Queer Pridecast on social media: Instagram: www.instagram.com/thequeerpridecast Tiktok: tiktok.com/@thequeerpridecast

If you’ve spent any time on modern gay dating apps, you already know the feeling: the endless scrolling, the targeted ads, and the creeping suspicion that your digital social life has been entirely co-opted by corporate shareholders. On this episode of The Queer Pridecast, we talk about how the online spaces we use to meet, talk, and build community have been bought up by venture capital—and what it takes to reclaim them. Our guest is @donjackoghue (Calum Bowden), a Berlin-based anthropologist, tech researcher, and the founder of Meetmarket. Billed as a direct challenge to the dominance of platforms like Grindr and Sniffies, Meetmarket wants to radically rethink the business of digital intimacy. @donjackoghue sits down with us to explain the "gentrification of queer platforms," how the VC startup model inevitably leads to the "enshittification" of the user experience, and why ethical tech doesn't have to be boring.Episode Chapters:00:00:05 - The gentrification of queer platforms and the venture capital trap00:04:11 - What is "Steward Ownership" and how does it protect the app from corporate sellouts?00:06:51 - Building an ad-free experience with community-driven paywalls00:08:25 - How studying anthropology helps design better tech for human needs00:11:34 - Why standard apps are designed like slot machines to keep you hooked (and insecure) 00:15:52 - Decentralization, on-device encryption, and protecting queer users from surveillance 00:20:08 - Expanding digital intimacy: Bridging sex, flirting, and platonic chats00:23:08 - Ditching bots and spam with peer-to-peer verification00:25:34 - Making the app globally inclusive00:29:15 - So... is the ultimate goal to take Grindr down? Follow The Queer Pridecast on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thequeerpridecastTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thequeerpridecast

In celebration of IDAHOBIT (International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia), a crucial time to reflect on the ongoing fight for LGBTQIA+ rights and bodily autonomy, we sat down with Doctor Deano Reyes, the physician who oversaw the medical transition of international drag performer Marina Summers.As the medical director of Hara Clinic, a holistic gender and sexual health clinic, his work focuses strongly on transgender care through gender-affirming hormone therapy. In this episode, he discusses the challenges transgender Filipinos face today - from how some of them are forced to start DIY hormones because traditional medical spaces harbor prejudice, to the lack of standardized guidelines to care for trans people in the country.Episode Chapters & Timestamps:00:00:05 - Introduction: The evolution of transgender healthcare in the Philippines. 00:01:14 - Navigating gender-affirming care and coordinating transitions for high-performance artists like Marina Summers. 00:03:00 - Why routine safety monitoring (checking CBC, liver, and kidney function) is actually more critical than the hormones themselves. 00:06:00 - The harsh reality of DIY hormone therapy and the barriers that force individuals into self-directed care. 00:07:39 - Discussing WPATH's informed consent model and why mandatory psychological clearances act as harmful barriers. 00:10:37 - Hara Clinic's strict approach to adolescent care, the age 15 cut-off, and the absolute requirement for parental consent. 00:11:31 - The crucial role of extensive family counseling to help parents process and navigate their child's transition. 00:19:23 - The systemic lack of legal recognition and standardized medical guidelines for transgender individuals in the Philippines. 00:20:47 - Discrimination in traditional healthcare: Misgendering, prejudice, and doctors citing religious beliefs to deny basic care. 00:23:51 - How the recent pull-out of US AIDS funding has severely impacted local transgender health advocacy and slowed down NGO efforts. Follow The Queer Pridecast on social media: Instagram: www.instagram.com/thequeerpridecastTiktok: tiktok.com/@thequeerpridecast#TheQueerPridecast #IDAHOBIT #TransHealthcare #TransRights #LGBTQPhilippines #QueerPH #MarinaSummers #GenderAffirmingCare #HarahClinic #TransgenderHealth #InclusiveHealth #LGBTQIA

For many in the queer community, navigating the fitness world can feel like walking a tightrope between the desire to genuinely feel good and the immense pressure to look a very specific way. In this episode of "The Queer Pridecast", we had a chat with New York City-based certified personal trainer and nutrition coach Maksims Vishnakovs to untangle the complexities of gay body image, inclusive fitness, and sustainable health.Transitioning from a stressful corporate job to the fitness industry during the pandemic, Maksims brings a refreshingly grounded, science-based perspective to a space often clouded by polarized and unhelpful influencer advice. Eschewing the traditional "drill sergeant" mentality, he focuses instead on client education, dismantling toxic aesthetic standards, and fostering a genuinely safe, non-objectifying environment.Episode Chapters:00:03:01 – The Reality of "Goal Bodies"00:08:02 – Navigating Body Dysmorphia00:10:32 – Cultivating a Safe Space00:16:42 – The Art of Aging Well00:19:10 – Thriving as a Vegan Lifter

In this episode of The Queer Pridecast, we are joined by Jefferson Estela, a climate activist and member of the Loss and Damage Youth Coalition. Jep takes us inside COP30 in Belém, Brazil, sharing his firsthand experience as a queer delegate fighting for representation on the global stage.We discuss the historic formation of the Queer Intersectionalities working group and the fierce negotiations to keep "gender" and diverse identities in official climate texts, despite pushback from conservative nations. Jep also highlights why specific language matters—sharing powerful examples from Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) where vague terms like "family" excluded queer couples from vital aid.Join us as we explore why climate justice must be intersectional and how the queer community is taking up space to ensure no one is left behind.Follow The Queer Pridecast on Instagram: www.instagram.com/thequeerpridecast#TheQueerPridecast #lgbt #lgbtq #lgbtqia #lgbtpodcast #queerpodcast #COP30 #ClimateJustice #QueerRights #IntersectionalEnvironmentalism

In this The Queer Pridecast episode, Igor Chervinsky, an LGBTQ activist, sociologist, and PhD student, discusses the challenges faced by queer migrants and refugees, particularly those who are often rendered invisible by their legal status. He shares his personal experiences as an invisible refugee in France, the barriers to social integration, and the disconnect between government policies and the realities faced by asylum seekers. Igor emphasizes the importance of community support and the need for more effective integration programs to assist queer refugees in navigating their new environments.Keywords:LGBTQ, refugees, social integration, queer migrants, asylum seekers, France, discrimination, community support, housing rights, human dignity

In early 2025, media headlines reported a “youth epidemic” as HIV cases in the Philippines surged, averaging 57 new cases a day. Some coverage blamed dating apps, young people, and queer communities, stoking public fear. But is this the full story?In this episode of The Queer Pridecast, we go beyond the numbers to unpack what’s really happening with two experts on the frontlines of HIV prevention.We explore how expanded testing is behind the surge, how media framing can fuel stigma, and what structural and community-level responses are underway to build a more humane, person-centered HIV system in the Philippines.TIMESTAMPS02:10 – Mark & Rod on stigma in media reporting08:39 – Are people more complacent about HIV? 12:30 – Community HIV testing16:08 – Rod on #telePrEPph and rural PrEP access24:00 – Consent laws, policy bottlenecks, and social work28:10 – Final thoughts: reframing HIV with compassionAbout the Guests:Mark Angelo C. De Castro is a Filipino development worker with experience in HIV program implementation, community-based service delivery, and organizational capacity building. He is currently completing his Master of Arts in Development Studies at Batangas State University–The National Engineering University, while serving as Strategy Manager at Sustained Health Initiatives of the Philippines at SHIP.Mark has led and supported multi-level initiatives focused on differentiated service delivery (DSD), key population outreach, and community-led HIV interventions. In his role, he provides technical oversight on strategy, monitoring and evaluation, training coordination, and stakeholder engagement—ensuring programs are responsive to community needs and grounded in real-time data. His work bridges implementation realities with systems thinking, particularly in partnership with local government units, health facilities, and community-based organizations.Rod Olete, MSc, RN, is a Filipino public health practitioner, registered nurse, and implementation researcher specializing in HIV prevention, behavioral science, and person-centered care. He is currently pursuing his PhD in Public Health at National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan and works as a Technical Writer for Grants and Research at SHIP.Rod leads several national and regional projects advancing equitable and person-centered HIV services. He is the Principal Researcher of #telePrEPph, a nationwide program expanding access to PrEP for Filipino LGBTQ+ communities through differentiated service delivery. He also leads PsySE-HCPN, a pilot program that strengthens the capacity of HIV care providers and builds intersectoral networks to deliver integrated psychosocial and socioeconomic (PsySE) support for people living with HIV.Discover moreSHIP: Sustained Health Initiatives of the Philippines https://www.ship.ph#telePrEPph Program Info & Booking https://linktr.ee/sailteleprepFind HIV Testing Centers in the Philippines https://www.theredwhistle.com/hivtesting

In this episode of The Queer Pridecast, intimacy coordinator, actor, and director Missy Maramara shares how consent and safety are being reimagined in Philippine performance spaces. She describes how intimacy direction empowers actors to set clear boundaries and work collaboratively when staging intimate scenes.Missy talks about adapting this practice for Filipino culture, using metaphors and local language to build understanding and trust. She reflects on queer identity, coming out, and how representation onstage can affirm people who are still discovering themselves).Throughout the episode, she reminds us that authentically existing is already political and that care, communication, and creativity are important in the entertainment industry. Follow The Queer Pridecast on Instagram: www.instagram.com/thequeerpridecast#TheQueerPridecast #lgbt #lgbtq #lgbtqia #lgbtpodcast #queerpodcast

In this episode, we speak with journalist and author Sadiya Ansari about her recent reporting on the experiences of queer migrants in Kenya. Sadiya produced the short documentary “Why LGBTQ+ refugees no longer want to stay in Kenya” and wrote an in-depth report for Context News, examining the challenges LGBTQ+ refugees face after fleeing persecution in their home countries.In our conversation, Sadiya discusses the social, economic, and legal barriers that queer migrants encounter in Kenya — including discrimination in housing, employment, and access to protection. She also reflects on the broader patterns of migration and displacement, and how systemic factors contribute to ongoing insecurity for LGBTQ+ refugees.Sadiya Ansari’s work focuses on human rights, migration, and diaspora communities. You can learn more about her projects at sadiyaansari.com.Read her full report for Context News here: context.news/socioeconomic-inclusion/long-read/weve-lost-so-many-lives-lgbtq-refugees-are-giving-up-on-kenya#TheQueerPridecast

In this episode, we dive into the topic of queer representation in cinema with our guest, film critic, curator, actor, and multimedia lecturer Jason Tan Liwag. We talk about the controversial “Emilia Perez,” an Oscar-recognized film that has ignited debates about the portrayal of queer narratives in mainstream cinema. Jason uses his extensive background to discuss the significant challenges these stories face, from breaking away from restrictive stereotypes to achieving nuanced, authentic representation.We expand the conversation to examine how films like “Emilia Perez” are interpreted across different cultural and temporal contexts, highlighting the impact of societal norms and viewer perspectives. This discussion illuminates the evolving role of cinema in advocating for LGBTQ+ rights and its influence on public perceptions of queer identities.For anyone interested in the intricacies of film criticism or committed to LGBTQ+ advocacy, this episode provides a critical examination of the points where cinema intersects with societal change. Tune in for an insightful and thought-provoking exploration of how films continue to challenge and reflect our views on queer representation. Follow The Queer Pridecast on Instagram: ⁠instagram.com/thequeerpridecast⁠Follow Jason at Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/jasontanliwag

In August 2022, a study* came out and identified the prevalence of problematic drug use among transgender women and cis men having sex with men. A third of the survey participants were identified to have problematic drug use, with greater odds of substance abuse observed for those who engaged in sex work, had positive or unknown HIV status, had low HIV education, and displayed hazardous drinking.  While we know anecdotally that recreational drug use among the queer community exists, this study is one of the rare research that explored the prevalence of drug abuse among Filipino LGBTs. Arguably, the drug war that former president Duterte launched may have caused more stigma against those who use drugs, and steered policies towards away from harm reduction.  In this episode, recorded in June this year, I interviewed Dr. RJ Naguit, where we discussed the incidence of drug use in the Filipino LGBT+ community, the misconceptions around drug use, and how drug decriminalization might offer a better path to help people, including Filipino queers.   *Restar AJ, Quilantang MIN, Surace A, Ogunbajo A, Chan R, Adia A, Cu-Uvin S, Operario D. Characterizing Problematic Drug Use Among Transgender Women and Cisgender Men During the Emerging HIV Crisis in the Philippines: Implications for Policy Research. AIDS Educ Prev. 2022 Apr;34(2):116-130. doi: 10.1521/aeap.2022.34.2.116. PMID: 35438540; PMCID: PMC10442844.

We can't deny how beauty standards affect how we interact and are accepted in different social circles. But for the LGBTQ+ community, the relationship with these ideals can be even more complex. Many queer folks already feel pressure to conform to gender norms, and mainstream beauty standards often reinforce those expectations. We'll explore this topic with our guest, Laura Verallo de Bertotto, diving into how beauty standards impact society, especially the LGBTQ+ community. Laura is the CEO of VMV Hypoallergenics, an internationally awarded, family-owned skincare company from the Philippines distributed worldwide. VMV has published 75 clinical studies in peer-reviewed journals, making its approach to skincare research-based. Laura was awarded as a PLDT SME Bossing in 2015, and in 2006, she was recognized as one of Marie Claire Philippines’ 10 Women of the World. Laura previously worked in branding in Manhattan, attended the University of California at Berkeley’s Ph.D. program in Ethnic Studies, and has a B.A. and M.A. from Brown University, focusing on critical theory, race, gender, power, resistance, postcolonial studies, and postmodern culture.

What connection does the queer liberation have with the ongoing climate crisis? And will building a more vital, interconnected community help create a more sustainable world for queer individuals? In this The Queer Pridecast episode, Isaias Hernandez, an environmentalist, creative, and the creator of "the Queer Brown Vegan" (/instagram.com/queerbrownvegan & tiktok.com/@queerbrownvegan), talks about queer ecology and how the climate crisis is also a queer issue. #TheQueerPridecast #queerpodcast #lgbtqpodcast #queerperspectives #lgbtqiap #lgbtpride #lgbtphilippines #filipinoyoutuber #climatecrisis #climatejustice #lgbtqpride #queer #socialjustice

What does it take to be an effective queer advocate? In this episode, trans actress and outspoken LGBT+ advocate Mela Habijan talks about brands going beyond representation of queer people, and what she learned about getting cancelled on social media. #filipino #gayrights #podcast #queer #lgbtphilippines #lgtbq #pride #queerpodcast #filipinoyoutuber #queerwomen

In this episode, I got to talk to my mentor and friend, Jessica Zafra. Jessica is an accomplished writer and arguably one of the defining voices in modern Philippine literature. Without a doubt, her sharp, witty essays have made her a popular name in the queer community. Here, we discussed how she has grown from the Jessica of her "Twisted" essays, what she thinks about cancel culture, and why it's been a privilege to have stayed mostly away from social media.

Social media has significantly impacted the global queer community by providing platforms for advocacy, support, and visibility. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Threads, and X amplify activists' voices, help build supportive networks, and raise awareness of LGBTQ+ issues. That matters, especially in areas where rights are under threat. However, they also bring challenges like online harassment and misinformation. Despite these challenges, social media remains a vital tool in advancing queer rights worldwide. The guest for this episode is Enrique Anarte, a journalist and TikTok creator specializing in LGBTQ+ rights and European politics.