[Script Info] Title: [Events] Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text Dialogue: 0,0:00:01.04,0:00:03.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was an eight-year-old kid\Nin the mid-1990s. Dialogue: 0,0:00:03.60,0:00:05.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I grew up in southern Philippines. Dialogue: 0,0:00:06.01,0:00:08.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,At that age, you're young enough\Nto be oblivious Dialogue: 0,0:00:08.32,0:00:10.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about what society expects\Nfrom each of us Dialogue: 0,0:00:10.41,0:00:13.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but old enough to be aware\Nof what's going on around you. Dialogue: 0,0:00:14.10,0:00:16.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We lived in a one-bedroom house, Dialogue: 0,0:00:16.40,0:00:17.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,all five of us. Dialogue: 0,0:00:17.81,0:00:20.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Our house was amongst clusters of houses Dialogue: 0,0:00:20.03,0:00:23.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,made mostly of wood\Nand corrugated metal sheets. Dialogue: 0,0:00:24.43,0:00:27.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These houses were built\Nvery close to each other Dialogue: 0,0:00:27.27,0:00:28.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,along unpaved roads. Dialogue: 0,0:00:29.48,0:00:32.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There was little to no\Nexpectation of privacy. Dialogue: 0,0:00:32.47,0:00:35.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Whenever an argument broke out next door, Dialogue: 0,0:00:35.70,0:00:37.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you heard it all. Dialogue: 0,0:00:37.11,0:00:41.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or, if there was a little ...\Nsomething something going on -- Dialogue: 0,0:00:41.24,0:00:43.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) Dialogue: 0,0:00:43.95,0:00:45.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you would probably hear that, too. Dialogue: 0,0:00:46.03,0:00:47.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) Dialogue: 0,0:00:47.81,0:00:50.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Like any other kid, I learned\Nwhat a family looked like. Dialogue: 0,0:00:51.51,0:00:54.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was a man, a woman,\Nplus a child or children. Dialogue: 0,0:00:55.18,0:00:57.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I also learned\Nit wasn't always that way. Dialogue: 0,0:00:57.76,0:01:00.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There were other combinations\Nthat worked just as well. Dialogue: 0,0:01:00.51,0:01:03.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There was this family of three\Nwho lived down the street. Dialogue: 0,0:01:03.26,0:01:05.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The lady of the house was called Lenie. Dialogue: 0,0:01:06.13,0:01:09.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Lenie had long black hair,\Noften in a ponytail, Dialogue: 0,0:01:09.22,0:01:11.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and manicured nails. Dialogue: 0,0:01:11.20,0:01:13.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She always went out\Nwith a little makeup on Dialogue: 0,0:01:13.42,0:01:15.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and her signature red lipstick. Dialogue: 0,0:01:16.02,0:01:18.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Lenie's other half,\NI don't remember much about him Dialogue: 0,0:01:18.50,0:01:21.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,except that he had a thing\Nfor white sleeveless shirts Dialogue: 0,0:01:21.09,0:01:23.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and gold chains around his neck. Dialogue: 0,0:01:24.11,0:01:26.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Their daughter was\Na couple years younger than me. Dialogue: 0,0:01:27.01,0:01:29.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, everybody in the village knew Lenie. Dialogue: 0,0:01:30.13,0:01:33.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She owned and ran what was\Nthe most popular beauty salon Dialogue: 0,0:01:33.04,0:01:34.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in our side of town. Dialogue: 0,0:01:34.76,0:01:37.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Every time their family\Nwould walk down the roads, Dialogue: 0,0:01:37.16,0:01:39.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they would always be greeted with smiles Dialogue: 0,0:01:39.61,0:01:43.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and occasionally stopped\Nfor a little chitchat. Dialogue: 0,0:01:44.68,0:01:46.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, the interesting thing about Lenie Dialogue: 0,0:01:46.70,0:01:50.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that she also happened to be\Na transgender woman. Dialogue: 0,0:01:51.49,0:01:55.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She exemplified one of the Philippines'\Nlong-standing stories Dialogue: 0,0:01:55.97,0:01:57.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about gender diversity. Dialogue: 0,0:01:58.65,0:02:04.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Lenie was proof that oftentimes\Nwe think of something as strange Dialogue: 0,0:02:04.23,0:02:06.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,only because we're not familiar with it, Dialogue: 0,0:02:06.49,0:02:10.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or we haven't taken enough time\Nto try and understand. Dialogue: 0,0:02:11.54,0:02:14.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In most cultures around the world, Dialogue: 0,0:02:14.35,0:02:17.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,gender is this man-woman dichotomy. Dialogue: 0,0:02:17.42,0:02:22.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's this immovable, nonnegotiable,\Ndistinct classes of individuals. Dialogue: 0,0:02:23.48,0:02:26.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We assign characteristics\Nand expectations Dialogue: 0,0:02:26.08,0:02:29.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the moment a person's\Nbiological sex is determined. Dialogue: 0,0:02:30.67,0:02:32.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But not all cultures are like that. Dialogue: 0,0:02:33.25,0:02:35.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Not all cultures are as rigid. Dialogue: 0,0:02:35.73,0:02:38.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Many cultures don't look\Nat genitalia primarily Dialogue: 0,0:02:38.58,0:02:40.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as basis for gender construction, Dialogue: 0,0:02:40.81,0:02:46.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and some communities in North America,\NAfrica, the Indian subcontinent Dialogue: 0,0:02:46.60,0:02:49.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the Pacific Islands,\Nincluding the Philippines, Dialogue: 0,0:02:49.82,0:02:53.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,have a long history\Nof cultural permissiveness Dialogue: 0,0:02:53.06,0:02:55.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and accommodation of gender variances. Dialogue: 0,0:02:56.31,0:02:57.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As you may know, Dialogue: 0,0:02:57.52,0:03:01.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the people of the Philippines were under\NSpanish rule for over 300 years. Dialogue: 0,0:03:02.40,0:03:05.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's from 1565 to 1898. Dialogue: 0,0:03:05.79,0:03:08.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This explains why everyday\NFilipino conversations Dialogue: 0,0:03:08.42,0:03:10.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are peppered with Spanish words Dialogue: 0,0:03:10.63,0:03:15.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and why so many of our last names,\Nincluding mine, sound very Spanish. Dialogue: 0,0:03:16.67,0:03:20.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This also explains the firmly entrenched\Ninfluence of Catholicism. Dialogue: 0,0:03:22.03,0:03:24.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But precolonial Philippine societies, Dialogue: 0,0:03:24.99,0:03:26.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they were mostly animists. Dialogue: 0,0:03:27.82,0:03:32.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They believed all things\Nhad a distinct spiritual essence: Dialogue: 0,0:03:33.02,0:03:37.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,plants, animals, rocks, rivers, places. Dialogue: 0,0:03:38.64,0:03:40.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Power resided in the spirit. Dialogue: 0,0:03:41.24,0:03:46.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Whoever was able to harness\Nthat spiritual power was highly revered. Dialogue: 0,0:03:47.22,0:03:50.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, scholars who have studied\Nthe Spanish colonial archives Dialogue: 0,0:03:50.96,0:03:55.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,also tell us that these early societies\Nwere largely egalitarian. Dialogue: 0,0:03:56.18,0:03:58.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Men did not necessarily\Nhave an advantage over women. Dialogue: 0,0:04:00.00,0:04:03.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Wives were treated\Nas companions, not slaves. Dialogue: 0,0:04:03.91,0:04:07.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And family contracts were not done\Nwithout their presence and approval. Dialogue: 0,0:04:08.29,0:04:10.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In some ways, women had the upper hand. Dialogue: 0,0:04:11.80,0:04:16.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A woman could divorce her husband\Nand own property under her own name, Dialogue: 0,0:04:16.41,0:04:18.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which she kept even after marriage. Dialogue: 0,0:04:18.98,0:04:21.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She had the prerogative\Nto have a baby or not Dialogue: 0,0:04:21.98,0:04:23.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then decide the baby's name. Dialogue: 0,0:04:24.76,0:04:29.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But the real key to the power\Nof the precolonial Filipino woman Dialogue: 0,0:04:29.34,0:04:32.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was in her role as "babaylan," Dialogue: 0,0:04:33.24,0:04:37.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a collective term for shamans\Nof various ethnic groups. Dialogue: 0,0:04:37.68,0:04:40.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They were the community healers, Dialogue: 0,0:04:40.09,0:04:43.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,specialists in herbal and divine lore. Dialogue: 0,0:04:44.16,0:04:45.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They delivered babies Dialogue: 0,0:04:45.47,0:04:47.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and communicated with the spirit world. Dialogue: 0,0:04:48.68,0:04:50.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They performed exorcisms Dialogue: 0,0:04:51.49,0:04:54.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and occasionally, and in defense\Nof their community, Dialogue: 0,0:04:55.77,0:04:57.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they kicked some ass. Dialogue: 0,0:04:57.52,0:04:59.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) Dialogue: 0,0:04:59.71,0:05:02.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And while the babaylan was a female role, Dialogue: 0,0:05:02.60,0:05:06.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there were also, in fact,\Nmale practitioners in the spiritual realm. Dialogue: 0,0:05:06.93,0:05:11.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Reports from early Spanish chroniclers\Ncontain several references Dialogue: 0,0:05:11.33,0:05:16.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to male shamans who did not conform\Nto normative Western masculine standards. Dialogue: 0,0:05:17.07,0:05:18.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They cross-dressed Dialogue: 0,0:05:18.85,0:05:21.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and appeared effeminate Dialogue: 0,0:05:21.06,0:05:22.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or sexually ambiguous. Dialogue: 0,0:05:23.15,0:05:25.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A Jesuit missionary named Francisco Alcina Dialogue: 0,0:05:25.62,0:05:28.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,said that one man\Nhe believed to be a shaman Dialogue: 0,0:05:28.64,0:05:30.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was "so effeminate Dialogue: 0,0:05:30.79,0:05:34.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that in every way he was\Nmore a woman than a man. Dialogue: 0,0:05:35.41,0:05:36.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All the things the women did Dialogue: 0,0:05:37.94,0:05:39.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he performed, Dialogue: 0,0:05:39.51,0:05:41.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,such as weaving blankets, Dialogue: 0,0:05:41.34,0:05:43.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,sewing clothes and making pots. Dialogue: 0,0:05:45.03,0:05:47.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He danced also like they did, Dialogue: 0,0:05:48.47,0:05:50.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,never like a man, Dialogue: 0,0:05:50.36,0:05:51.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whose dance is different. Dialogue: 0,0:05:52.91,0:05:56.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In all, he appeared\Nmore a woman than a man." Dialogue: 0,0:05:58.23,0:06:03.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, any other juicy details\Nin the colonial archives? Dialogue: 0,0:06:04.09,0:06:05.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thought you'd never ask. Dialogue: 0,0:06:05.39,0:06:07.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) Dialogue: 0,0:06:07.72,0:06:09.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As you may have deduced by now, Dialogue: 0,0:06:09.77,0:06:13.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the manner in which these\Nprecolonial societies conducted themselves Dialogue: 0,0:06:13.16,0:06:14.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,didn't go over so well. Dialogue: 0,0:06:15.29,0:06:18.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All the free-loving,\Ngender-variant-permitting, Dialogue: 0,0:06:18.13,0:06:20.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,gender equality wokeness Dialogue: 0,0:06:20.22,0:06:24.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,clashed viciously with the European\Nsensibilities at the time, Dialogue: 0,0:06:24.36,0:06:28.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so much so that the Spanish missionaries\Nspent the next 300 years Dialogue: 0,0:06:29.02,0:06:31.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,trying to enforce their two-sex,\Ntwo-gender model. Dialogue: 0,0:06:32.78,0:06:37.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Many Spanish friars also thought\Nthat the cross-dressing babaylan Dialogue: 0,0:06:37.28,0:06:41.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,were either celibates like themselves Dialogue: 0,0:06:41.09,0:06:43.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or had deficient or malformed genitals. Dialogue: 0,0:06:44.18,0:06:46.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But this was pure speculation. Dialogue: 0,0:06:46.96,0:06:52.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Documents compiled between 1679 and 1685,\Ncalled "The Bolinao Manuscript," Dialogue: 0,0:06:52.69,0:06:55.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,mentions male shamans marrying women. Dialogue: 0,0:06:56.43,0:06:59.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Boxer Codex, circa 1590, Dialogue: 0,0:06:59.92,0:07:03.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,provide clues on the nature\Nof the male babaylan sexuality. Dialogue: 0,0:07:04.58,0:07:08.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It says, "Ordinarily they dress as women, Dialogue: 0,0:07:09.78,0:07:11.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,act like prudes Dialogue: 0,0:07:11.80,0:07:13.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and are so effeminate Dialogue: 0,0:07:13.68,0:07:16.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that one who does not know them\Nwould believe they are women. Dialogue: 0,0:07:17.59,0:07:20.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Almost all are impotent\Nfor the reproductive act, Dialogue: 0,0:07:21.47,0:07:27.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and thus they marry other males\Nand sleep with them as man and wife Dialogue: 0,0:07:27.47,0:07:28.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and have carnal knowledge." Dialogue: 0,0:07:30.20,0:07:34.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Carnal knowledge, of course, meaning sex. Dialogue: 0,0:07:35.66,0:07:38.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, there's an ongoing debate\Nin contemporary society Dialogue: 0,0:07:38.27,0:07:41.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about what constitutes gender\Nand how it should be defined. Dialogue: 0,0:07:41.53,0:07:43.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My country is no exception. Dialogue: 0,0:07:43.85,0:07:48.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some countries like Australia,\NNew Zealand, Pakistan, Nepal and Canada Dialogue: 0,0:07:48.61,0:07:52.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,have begun introducing nonbinary options\Nin their legal documents, Dialogue: 0,0:07:52.51,0:07:55.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,such as their passports\Nand their permanent resident cards. Dialogue: 0,0:07:56.06,0:07:58.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In all these discussions about gender, Dialogue: 0,0:07:58.57,0:08:00.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think it's important to keep in mind Dialogue: 0,0:08:00.45,0:08:04.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that the prevailing notions\Nof man and woman as static genders Dialogue: 0,0:08:04.95,0:08:07.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,anchored strictly on biological sex Dialogue: 0,0:08:07.91,0:08:09.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are social constructs. Dialogue: 0,0:08:10.13,0:08:14.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In my people's case,\Nthis social construct is an imposition. Dialogue: 0,0:08:16.27,0:08:20.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was hammered into their heads\Nover hundreds of years Dialogue: 0,0:08:21.00,0:08:25.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,until they were convinced that their way\Nof thinking was erroneous. Dialogue: 0,0:08:26.84,0:08:30.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But the good thing about social constructs Dialogue: 0,0:08:30.10,0:08:31.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is they can be reconstructed Dialogue: 0,0:08:32.57,0:08:34.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to fit a time and age. Dialogue: 0,0:08:35.65,0:08:37.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They can be reconstructed Dialogue: 0,0:08:37.06,0:08:40.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to respond to communities\Nthat are becoming more diverse. Dialogue: 0,0:08:41.36,0:08:43.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And they can be reconstructed Dialogue: 0,0:08:43.58,0:08:46.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for a world that's starting to realize Dialogue: 0,0:08:46.28,0:08:51.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we have so much to gain from learning\Nand working through our differences. Dialogue: 0,0:08:52.27,0:08:53.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When I think about this subject, Dialogue: 0,0:08:54.70,0:08:56.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think about the Filipino people Dialogue: 0,0:08:56.57,0:09:00.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and an almost forgotten\Nbut important legacy Dialogue: 0,0:09:00.17,0:09:02.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of gender equality and inclusivity. Dialogue: 0,0:09:03.22,0:09:09.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think about lovers who were\Nsome of the gentlest souls I had known Dialogue: 0,0:09:09.34,0:09:11.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but could not be fully open. Dialogue: 0,0:09:11.58,0:09:16.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think about people\Nwho have made an impact in my life, Dialogue: 0,0:09:16.13,0:09:20.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who showed me that integrity,\Nkindness and strength of character Dialogue: 0,0:09:20.69,0:09:22.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are far better measures of judgment, Dialogue: 0,0:09:23.80,0:09:26.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,far better than things\Nthat are beyond a person's control Dialogue: 0,0:09:26.61,0:09:30.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,such as their skin color, their age Dialogue: 0,0:09:30.26,0:09:31.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or their gender. Dialogue: 0,0:09:32.87,0:09:36.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As I stand here today,\Non the shoulders of people like Lenie, Dialogue: 0,0:09:37.80,0:09:41.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I feel incredibly grateful for all\Nwho have come before me, Dialogue: 0,0:09:42.50,0:09:46.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the ones courageous enough\Nto put themselves out there, Dialogue: 0,0:09:47.76,0:09:50.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who lived a life that was theirs Dialogue: 0,0:09:50.59,0:09:54.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and in the process, made it a little\Neasier for us to live our lives now. Dialogue: 0,0:09:55.68,0:09:58.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because being yourself is revolutionary. Dialogue: 0,0:10:00.37,0:10:04.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And to anyone reeling from forces\Ntrying to knock you down Dialogue: 0,0:10:04.96,0:10:08.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and cram you into these neat little boxes\Npeople have decided for you: Dialogue: 0,0:10:10.29,0:10:11.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,don't break. Dialogue: 0,0:10:12.14,0:10:13.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I see you. Dialogue: 0,0:10:14.04,0:10:15.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My ancestors see you. Dialogue: 0,0:10:16.38,0:10:20.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Their blood runs through me\Nas they run through so many of us. Dialogue: 0,0:10:21.96,0:10:26.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You are valid, and you deserve\Nrights and recognition Dialogue: 0,0:10:28.74,0:10:30.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just like everyone else. Dialogue: 0,0:10:32.08,0:10:33.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you. Dialogue: 0,0:10:33.27,0:10:36.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)