International Women's Day 2021: Interview with Dr Brenda

What are some issues faced by lesbian, bisexual and queer women (in Asia) that became more prevalent since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic?

There are so many issues, but for women in general. But because of the COVID pandemic, it is a different world that we live in now. Even if Asia has a great population that is within the poverty line, we are definitely connected online. And because many LBTI women tend to go online, we now experience misogyny and sexism and even online violence because of being women specifically being LBTQI women. And this is very frustrating, because we already, on top of experiencing some psychological anxieties because of what the pandemic has brought us, the kind of misogyny like transmisogyny and misogyny and sexism towards lesbians, intersex women, has, I think, exacerbated even more. 

Also, specifically, trans women and maybe other LBTI women who are engaged in sex work, even if not on the legal level are experiencing even greater prejudice during the time of the pandemic, because it's many of them are not any more able to do their their work online, because some of the customers may also not have the means of paying. But in whatever countries they live in, fundamentalist religion sometimes becomes a hurdle in doing their work. 

And then sometimes in social media, transphobic, queerphobic people from their respective countries or other places may actually come for them in terms of their identity and what they do. 

So these are just some, the lack of access for women to healthcare, because we may not have very comprehensive healthcare in the Asian region. The lack of recognition, particularly gender recognition in most Asian countries has become very problematic, the lack of equality union has also become problematic. And also the inability of these countries in Asia to really recognize cases of violence and oppression of women because of lacking anti-discrimination policies are lost in their respective countries. I can attest about that in the Philippines alone.

How have queer women protected themselves and uplifted each other in these trying times?

I think the presence of different women's organizations or, or at least organizations that have different identities in them that identify women's issues, such as, let's say ILGA Asia. ILGA does great work, and working with different women's groups in different parts of Asia and other parts of the world as well. 

And an LBTQI, or LGBTQI organizations in Asia, has also been also instrumental in bringing forward some of these issues, talking about some of these issues, especially during the pandemic. We've had a statement that we have drafted last year, and we've also contributed to a statement also citing the situations of women all around the world and ILGA Asia was able to respond and contribute to that. So that is what women can do. 

Allies as well as those who do not identified as women, they can do something for women too. Look around you and try to ask and research some of the bad experiences that women face in your respective countries. For example, the violence is never ending, you know. Over time, women experienced different forms of violence and the lack of psychological services in different countries in Asia, can also be very problematic. Maybe the culture of intervention may also be a challenge for many of us in Asia. 

So I recommend that the healthcare professionals look into how they can expand the services that they can provide women, especially those who are victims of violence and abuse, and oppression. We have to continue also working with legislators to advance the pending policies of our countries need, you know, like anti-discrimination legislation, or gender recognition, legislation, equality union legislations, and any specific legislations for women like reproductive health also—not just the legislation, but the implementations of these laws. I think we have to continually be proactive in battling our issues and protections.

Women’s excellence in leadership and effective decision-making in public life have been commended by many. What are notable women’s accomplishments during this global pandemic?

Well, of course, this year beyond Asia, it's very empowering to see the victory of Kamala Harris. In the vice presidential race in the US, Kamala is not really a perfect person, maybe there are people who are also citing some of her problematic presence in politics back in the day, there could be also queerphobic or to an extend trans-misogynist.

But that the thing is, when you also have a president who can somehow be considered as in a way an ally, and I think Biden, we have seen the work that they have been doing the past weeks the overturning the queer, misogynist and the homophobic and queer-phobic laws that were enacted by Donald Trump. I think if we give Kamala a chance, she is potentially going to be a queer ally for not just women, but for everyone. 

So that victory already, in a way, can make some some positive changes. Because before Biden and Harris, Trump and Pence were really undoing the headways that were done by Obama and Biden before. Also, we can look at the leadership of Jacinda Ardern, she has been celebrated that in New Zealand's case there, although, of course, they are not COVID-free yet. They're COVID cases are in a way controlled compared to many other countries in Asia. 

And that will show you that a woman can be a great leader, in handling such a very unknown experience like the COVID-19 pandemic. Even the president of Taiwan and also one of the parliament members, Audrey Tang. Audrey is herself a trans woman. So I think there are, since there are women in leadership, even in a very murky or very intricate political landscape like what Taiwan is in, we could commend them, for also have helping Taiwan be in a good if not really exactly in a bad situation in terms of the COVID-19 handling, because some of the worst cases around the world actually had men in men in the leadership positions. 

Not to make that comparison between men and women. But it shows you that there is no such thing as such a thing as gender, as a problem is causing the problem, or a better gender that can cause better solutions, but that women have the potential of helping if they are given the opportunities. And so there are now many examples. If we look locally, I am pretty sure there are many women leaders in the LGBTQI and women's movements in our respective countries in Asia, that for the past year have been working with the legislation in their countries in ensuring protection for women. And I know that because as lLGA Asia works with these organizations, many of them are women. So we can celebrate the amount of work that they have been doing the past year and beyond. 

What are common hopes and collective goals of women this year?

First of all, and very importantly, to the women around the world who still could not accept that queer women are women, specifically transwomen. Please, I hope this time, it's not just because it's 2021, but for the longest time, many queer women have suffered already oppression not just from men, but even from other women. And how do, how do we effectively and successfully put forward you know, the women's movement if we are exclusionary ourselves? So I think the first people who should be inclusive are women, because women have been fighting for inclusion for a millennia, already. 

So women's voices can be stronger if all voices of women are included. And not just queer women, but also other experiences of women like women with disabilities, different ethnicities, races. And so I hope that as women, we will really put our voices together, we will work as one, you know, let's listen to each other, and let's develop empathy. And most of all, let's not be discouraged if we are experiencing a backlash, or we're experiencing regression, even within the movement, I think this should remind us to keep going so that we can advance our rights and finally, experience a world where women will feel safer, and included. 

So Happy International Women's Day, not just today, but every day.