From Deviant to Bakla, Strong to Stronger: Mainstreaming Sexual and Gender Minorities into Disaster Risk Reduction in the Philippines

Abstract

Disaster risk reduction (DRR), and indeed development at large, has traditionally been reluctant to acknowledge and accept the issue of gendered and sexual diversity in its mainstream policy design and practice. Recent forays into mainstreaming gender and sexual minorities into DRR have, however, highlighted the crucial role that these minorities play in bigger development aspirations of participation and empowerment. This debate article explores the notion of ‘queering development’ in DRR, and by drawing upon a recent DRR project in a rural area of the Philippines that is at high risk of natural hazards, we suggest a new framework for conceptualizing and ‘doing’ DRR.

Keywords:

• sexuality
• gender
• disaster risk reduction
• participation
• queer theory

Notes on contributors

Alice McSherry is a graduate student from the School of Environment at The University of Auckland. Her research focuses on issues of environmental health and exploring alternative tools for mainstreaming peoples' participation in health and development.

Eric Julian Manalastas is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Psychology, University of the Philippines Diliman and former deputy director of the UP Center for Women's Studies. His research focuses on sexual health behaviours and in LGBT psychology. More details are available from: http://pages.upd.edu.ph/ejmanalastas

J. C. Gaillard is Associate Professor at the School of Environment for The University of Auckland. His research and practical work focuses on marginalised groups in disasters and developing participatory tools to foster their participation in disaster risk reduction. More details are available from: http://web.env.auckland.ac.nz/people_profiles/gaillard_j/

Soledad Natalia M. Dalisay is an Associate Professor with the Department of Anthropology, University of Philippines Diliman. Her research interests include gender and sexuality, and the anthropology of disaster.

Notes

¹‘Tomboy’ in the Philippine context meaning lesbian.