complaining parents who accuse the butch lesbian partners of kidnapping,18 police have arrested butch lesbians19 even if both lesbian partners are of legal age and in consenting relationships, in some instances, intimidating and forcing the couples to separate.20 RECOMMENDATIONS:  It is recommended that the PNP exercise due diligence in ensuring that all police officers across ranks and positions are trained in issues relating to sexual orientation and gender identity and how to handle cases involving crimes against LBT persons.  Police training needs to be sustained to ensure that good practices are monitored and constantly updated.  Training curriculum for police recruits should include sexual orientation and gender identity and issues of LBT persons. 2b. Discrimination in Health Care (Article 12) The Department of Health (DOH) has inadequately and consistently failed to promote and protect the sexual and reproductive health and rights of people with nonheteronormative needs. LBT persons’ sexual health needs are still absent in the overall comprehensive reproductive health program.21 For instance, stigma against LBT persons negatively impacts services for HIV prevention and treatment. Transgender women are lumped together with men having sex with men (MSM), which reflects myths and stereotypes about transgender women.22 Clearly, there need to be guidelines and training for delivery of LBT-responsive and LBT-friendly health services. RECOMMENDATION:  It is recommended that the DOH issue a directive for non-discriminatory health care services, including awareness training and protocols for proper implementation of LBT sensitive health care. 18 Kidnapping is under “Crimes Against Liberty,” Article 267 on “Kidnapping And Serious Illegal Detention”, An Act Revising the Penal Code and other Penal Laws, the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines, accessed February 15, 2013. 19 Lim, Anne, “GALANG: a movement in the making for the rights of poor LBTs in the Philippines”, Srilatha Batliwala, 2nd edition, Changing Their World, AWID Women’s Rights, 2011, http://www.awid.org/sites/default/files/atoms/files/changing_their_world_2_-_galang_rights_of_poor_lbts_in_the_philippines.pdf, 9. 20 “Kwentong Bebot Lived Experiences of Lesbians, Bisexual and Transgender Women in the Philippines,” Violence: Through the Lens of Lesbians, Bisexual Women and Trans People in Asia, OutRight Action International, March 2014, https://www.outrightinternational.org/content/violence-through-lens-lbt-people-asia, 188; 21 The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law (RPRH Law or Republic Act 10354) and the Implementing Rules of RA 10354 do not mention the rights of LBTs; The 2nd Consolidated Report on the Implementation of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 only mentions lesbians in the context of gender-based violence. 22 Case studies of Rainbow Rights, Inc. 8

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