The Society of Transsexual Women of the Philippines (STRAP) is a pioneer transpinays (transgender/transexual Filipinas) rights advocacy and support organisation founded in 2002 to combat stigma and discrimination based on gender identity and/or expressions.
STRAP educates and equips its members to become more effective and empowered advocates of gender justice and equality. One of its main activities is raising public awareness through campaigns for the right to define one’s gender identity and expression. Examples of such campaigns include: International Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR); participation in the annual Pride March; and the International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia (IDAHO). We believe that transgender visibility through holding activities and events that promote empowering images of transpinays creates understanding within the society that we live in.
STRAP links with various government and non-government organisations, human rights and Transgender Lesbian Bisexual & Gay (TLBG) groups to ensure that transgender needs, issues, and concerns are properly understood, addressed and included in their diversity initiatives. Such partnership also allows STRAP to organise and be part of discussions, lectures, forums and symposia on gender identity and human rights, including its attendant legal, medical and political dimensions.
Want to find out more about the Human Rights situation of transgender people in the Philippines? Read STRAP’s submission to the 13th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review here.
To find out more about STRAP, head to their Facebook page or contact them via [email protected]
