Quezon City, Philippines — The Society of Transsexual Women of the Philippines (STRAP), the pioneer support group and human rights advocacy organization of transpinays (transgender/transsexual Filipinas), sent a letter of commendation to the Psychological Association of the Philippines (PAP) for its statement on Nondiscrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression released on 27 October 2011.

In its commendation letter, STRAP expressed its hope that the PAP’s statement “will just be one of the many steps it will take to bring the practice of psychology out of the darkness that views a person’s sexual orientation and gender identity as a condition that needs to be treated, cured or suppressed into the light of affirming the agency of every human person and their capacity to self-determine their gender and sexuality.”

“We hope as well that the PAP’s statement will reflect a psychological practice in the Philippines that strikes a balance between science and humanity, a psychology that adds to and does not take away from every Filipinos’ right to lead meaningful, happy and fulfilling lives free from the stigma of psychopathology,” STRAP’s statement added.

In response, Dr. Carring Taroja, current PAP president said that she would endorse STRAP’s commendation letter to the PAP Board of Directors. “Guided by the organization’s vision and mission statement and the PAP Code of Ethics, PAP, as an organization, would like as much as possible to make clear positions (and to make these positions known) on certain psychological issues that impact not only its members but Philippine society as well,” she added further.

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Naomi Fontanos
Chairwoman
Society of Transsexual Women of the Philippines (STRAP)
http://www.tsphilippines.com
http://www.facebook.com/strap.manila
strapmanila.blogspot.com

The Society of Transsexual Women of the Philippines (STRAP) is the pioneer human rights advocacy and support organization of transpinays (transgender/transsexual Filipinas). We seek to improve the public understanding of transsexualism, campaign for the right to define one’s gender identity and expression and work towards building a supportive  community amongst transgender/transsexual Filipina girls and women and a society free from transphobia and discrimination.