page_title: LGBT rights in the Philippines
section_title: Local government ordinances
hierarchical_section_title: LGBT rights in the Philippines / Discrimination protections / Local government ordinances
context_page_description: The Philippines is ranked as one of the most gay-friendly nations in Asia. The country ranked as the 10th-most gay-friendly in a 2013 global survey covering 39 countries, in which only 17 had majorities accepting homosexuality. Titled "The Global Divide on Homosexuality", the survey conducted by the Pew Research Center showed that 73% of adult Filipinos agreed with the statement that "homosexuality should be accepted by society", up by nine percentage points from 64% in 2002. The high percentage of LGBT acceptance in the Philippines stem mainly from the historical acceptance and role of LGBT people in indigenous animistic anito religions before the advent of Islam in the late 14th century and Christianity in the early 16th century; as well as growing public awareness on LGBT discrimination. Despite this, LGBT people in the Philippines still experience discrimination and disadvantages in comparison to the heterosexual population.
  In the classical era of the islands, prior to Spanish occupation, homosexual individuals usually became babaylan, which are traditionally feminine shamans of the animistic religions.
context_section_description: Seven provinces prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. These are Albay (2008), Agusan del Norte (2014), Batangas (2015), Cavite (2014/18), the Dinagat Islands (2016), Ilocos Sur (2017), and Iloilo (2016). The province of Cavite previously prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation only, but enacted gender identity protections in 2018.
  Various cities, barangays and municipalities throughout the Philippines also have non-discrimination ordinances. The cities and towns of Angeles (2013), Antipolo (2015), Bacolod (2013), Baguio (2017), Batangas (2016), Butuan (2016), Candon (2014), Cebu (2012), Davao (2012), General Santos (2016), Ilagan (2019), Iloilo (2018), Malabon (2018), Mandaluyong (2018), Mandaue (2016), Marikina (2019), Orani (2019), Poro (2019), Puerto Princesa (2015), Quezon (2003/14), San Juan (2017), Taguig (2018), and Vigan (2014) ban sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination. 3 barangays also have such ordinances (Bagbag, Greater Lagro and Pansol; all three of which are in Quezon City), as does the municipality of San Julian (2014) in Eastern Samar.
  The city of Dagupan enacted an anti-discrimination ordinance in 2010, which includes sexual orientation as a protected characteristic. The anti-discrimination ordinance does not explicitly mention gender identity. However, the terms "sex", "gender" and "other status" could be interpreted as covering it. In 2003, Quezon City approved an ordinance banning discrimination against "homosexuals". In 2014, it amended that ordinance and banned discrimination against anyone on the basis of both sexual orientation and gender identity.
caption: Map of provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays in the Philippines that have sexual orientation or gender identity protections   Sexual orientation and gender identity protected   Sexual orientation protected   Does not protect sexual orientation and gender identity