Jan Gabriel Castañeda
For almost a decade, I have been involved with diverse human communities and their journeys towards a fuller experience of social justice, with a specific focus on psychological science and its role in LGBT people’s lives. My continuing hope is to engage in meaningful work and pursue a people-centered practice and scholarship.
Currently, I am a consultant at We Thrive Wellbeing and Consultancy Services (https://wethrivewellbeing.com), an organization composed of dedicated, compassionate, and highly-trained mental health professionals who provide services that create positive environments where people and communities can flourish. While our work has been diverse, one of my main contributions is making our work inclusive of diverse experiences of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Since 2013, I have been a member of the LGBT Psychology Special Interest Group of the Psychological Association of the Philippines, and it was here where my journey as an aspiring psychologist began. From 2016 to 2021, I was with ASEAN SOGIE Caucus, a human rights network advocating for the human rights of LGBTQ people in Southeast Asia. Since 2018, have been a board member of Youth Voices Count, a network of young LGBTQ people in the Asia-Pacific. I have worked within other spheres over the years, such as the UP Center for Women's Studies, the Pambansang Samahan sa Sikolohiyang Pilipino, and the Epidemiology Bureau of the Department of Health.
Currently, I am a consultant at We Thrive Wellbeing and Consultancy Services (https://wethrivewellbeing.com), an organization composed of dedicated, compassionate, and highly-trained mental health professionals who provide services that create positive environments where people and communities can flourish. While our work has been diverse, one of my main contributions is making our work inclusive of diverse experiences of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Since 2013, I have been a member of the LGBT Psychology Special Interest Group of the Psychological Association of the Philippines, and it was here where my journey as an aspiring psychologist began. From 2016 to 2021, I was with ASEAN SOGIE Caucus, a human rights network advocating for the human rights of LGBTQ people in Southeast Asia. Since 2018, have been a board member of Youth Voices Count, a network of young LGBTQ people in the Asia-Pacific. I have worked within other spheres over the years, such as the UP Center for Women's Studies, the Pambansang Samahan sa Sikolohiyang Pilipino, and the Epidemiology Bureau of the Department of Health.
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Papers by Jan Gabriel Castañeda
This project was led by The Trevor Project and the Psychological Association of the Philippines PAP LGBT Psychology Special Interest Group, the first formally recognized collective of psychologists and allied mental health professionals in Southeast Asia. The survey underscores the unique experiences and stressors that LGBTQ+ young people face. While these findings illustrate a number of mental health challenges among this group, they also offer valuable insight into the protective factors that may lead to better mental health outcomes for LGBTQ+ people.
For LGBTQ+ young people in the Philippines, anxiety, depression, and considering or attempting suicide remain far too common. However, the survey shows that accepting communities, supportive family members, and participation in religious practices, among other factors, were associated with lower rates of adverse mental health outcomes.
These findings give us a roadmap to beer understand the mental health and experiences of LGBTQ+ young people across the country, and what steps we can take as adults and allies to support these young people.
We hope that mental health care providers, policymakers, educators, and other youth-facing professionals and organizations use these data as a resource to help build the safe and affirming world that all young people – including LGBTQ+ Filipino young people – deserve
The publication was officially launched as part of a series of events organized during the ASEAN Civil Society Conference / ASEAN People’s Forum (ACSC/APF) held in the Philippines on 10-14 November 2017.
LGBTIQ groups’ engagements with the CEDAW reporting process have increased significantly in the most recent reporting cycles. Among the various issues raised in their reports to the CEDAW committee are the criminalization of homosexuality and transgender persons, the absence of legal redress mechanisms, the non-recognition of same-sex unions, the absence of legal gender recognition, the lack of comprehensive legislation defining discrimination against women, harmful cultural norms and practices, and violence against women.
This series of country briefings provide baseline information regarding SOGIESC in the engagements by civil society organizations’ (CSOs) with UN human rights, as well as inclusion of SOGIESC in reviews of human rights situations of selected countries in the region. The human rights mechanisms covered are the Universal Periodic Review, the treaty monitoring bodies, and UN Special Procedures. Twelve (12) countries are reviewed: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam, Timor-Leste, and China. Information used in these briefs are based on discussions with CSOs and individual activists, and a desk review of relevant UN documents. The objective is to provide baseline information for LGBTIQ activists to help maximize their engagement with UN human rights mechanisms.
You can access all country briefings here: https://aseansogiecaucus.org/images/resources/publications/Country%20briefing%20papers%20-%20Civil%20society%20engagement%20with%20the%20UN%20human%20rights%20mechanisms%20on%20SOGIESC%20in%20Southeast%20Asia.zip.
In the recent years, a dramatic increase of HIV epidemic was seen in the Philippines particularly among key populations who are at greatest risk which include males who have sex with males (MSM), female sex workers (FSW), and injecting drug users (IDU). Responding to the need to target these key populations in the country’s HIV prevention programs, the Epidemiology Bureau of the Department of Health (EpiBureau-DOH) conducts the Philippine Integrated HIV Behavioral and Serologic Surveillance or IHBSS every two years to monitor the magnitude and prevalence of HIV and STI, and to determine behavioral factors associated with HIV and STI transmission.
Supplementing the quantitative data derived from MSM respondents of the 2013 IHBSS, this study was commissioned by the EpiBureau-DOH to provide an in-depth qualitative data focusing on factors to condom use, HIV testing, and access to services among males who have sex with males (MSM). In summary, a total of 105 in-depth interviews were conducted with MSM participants from the 21 cities of the 2013 IHBSS. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. Individual and collective analysis of the dataset produced thematic maps of the drivers and barriers behind condom use and HIV testing. Force field analysis was also used to compare the strengths of the drivers vis-à-vis barriers.
Drivers to condom use. The external factors that drive MSM to use condoms are: (1) access to condoms, (2) situational “it depends” factors, and, (3) the influence of others. Internal factors that drive MSM to use condoms are: (1) level of knowledge or awareness, (2) fear and perceived risk, (3) deliberate planning, (4) personal habit or routine, (5) personal motivations, e.g. “to be ‘clean’” (maging malinis), and, (6) perception that one’s sexual partner is “unsafe” or “unclean” (hindi safe o hindi malinis).
Barriers to condom use. External factors that bar MSM from using condoms are: (1) lack of access to condoms and lubricants, (2) lack of information about condoms and lubricants, (3) situational “it depends” factors, (4) the influence of others, and, (5) love or a romantic relationship. The internal factors that bar MSM from using condoms are: (1) lack of knowledge or awareness, (2) lack of perceived risk, (3) lack of deliberate planning, (4) the physical motivation for sexual pleasure, (5) the spontaneity of sex or the “heat of the moment”, and (6) the perception that one’s sexual partner is “clean” (malinis) or “safe”.
Drivers to HIV testing. The external factors that drive MSM to get an HIV test are: (1) access to HIV testing, (2) HIV testing at venues, (3) work/school requirement, and, (4) the influence of others. The internal factors that drive MSM to get an HIV test are: (1) social awareness, (2) perceived risk, and, (3) validation of negative HIV-status.
Barriers to HIV testing. The external factors that bar MSM from getting tested for HIV are: (1) inaccessibility of HIV information and HIV services, (2) lack of information about HIV and HIV services, (3) stigma and lack of social support, and, (4) unethical behaviors at HIV testing centers. While internal factors that bar MSM from getting tested for HIV are: (1) lack of knowledge about HIV and HIV services, (2) lack of perceived risk, and (3) fears.
Findings of the study led to a development of models and recommended strategies. These may guide program implementors in providing more comprehensive and effective services for promoting condom use and HIV testing among males who have sex with males or MSM.
This project was led by The Trevor Project and the Psychological Association of the Philippines PAP LGBT Psychology Special Interest Group, the first formally recognized collective of psychologists and allied mental health professionals in Southeast Asia. The survey underscores the unique experiences and stressors that LGBTQ+ young people face. While these findings illustrate a number of mental health challenges among this group, they also offer valuable insight into the protective factors that may lead to better mental health outcomes for LGBTQ+ people.
For LGBTQ+ young people in the Philippines, anxiety, depression, and considering or attempting suicide remain far too common. However, the survey shows that accepting communities, supportive family members, and participation in religious practices, among other factors, were associated with lower rates of adverse mental health outcomes.
These findings give us a roadmap to beer understand the mental health and experiences of LGBTQ+ young people across the country, and what steps we can take as adults and allies to support these young people.
We hope that mental health care providers, policymakers, educators, and other youth-facing professionals and organizations use these data as a resource to help build the safe and affirming world that all young people – including LGBTQ+ Filipino young people – deserve
The publication was officially launched as part of a series of events organized during the ASEAN Civil Society Conference / ASEAN People’s Forum (ACSC/APF) held in the Philippines on 10-14 November 2017.
LGBTIQ groups’ engagements with the CEDAW reporting process have increased significantly in the most recent reporting cycles. Among the various issues raised in their reports to the CEDAW committee are the criminalization of homosexuality and transgender persons, the absence of legal redress mechanisms, the non-recognition of same-sex unions, the absence of legal gender recognition, the lack of comprehensive legislation defining discrimination against women, harmful cultural norms and practices, and violence against women.
This series of country briefings provide baseline information regarding SOGIESC in the engagements by civil society organizations’ (CSOs) with UN human rights, as well as inclusion of SOGIESC in reviews of human rights situations of selected countries in the region. The human rights mechanisms covered are the Universal Periodic Review, the treaty monitoring bodies, and UN Special Procedures. Twelve (12) countries are reviewed: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam, Timor-Leste, and China. Information used in these briefs are based on discussions with CSOs and individual activists, and a desk review of relevant UN documents. The objective is to provide baseline information for LGBTIQ activists to help maximize their engagement with UN human rights mechanisms.
You can access all country briefings here: https://aseansogiecaucus.org/images/resources/publications/Country%20briefing%20papers%20-%20Civil%20society%20engagement%20with%20the%20UN%20human%20rights%20mechanisms%20on%20SOGIESC%20in%20Southeast%20Asia.zip.
In the recent years, a dramatic increase of HIV epidemic was seen in the Philippines particularly among key populations who are at greatest risk which include males who have sex with males (MSM), female sex workers (FSW), and injecting drug users (IDU). Responding to the need to target these key populations in the country’s HIV prevention programs, the Epidemiology Bureau of the Department of Health (EpiBureau-DOH) conducts the Philippine Integrated HIV Behavioral and Serologic Surveillance or IHBSS every two years to monitor the magnitude and prevalence of HIV and STI, and to determine behavioral factors associated with HIV and STI transmission.
Supplementing the quantitative data derived from MSM respondents of the 2013 IHBSS, this study was commissioned by the EpiBureau-DOH to provide an in-depth qualitative data focusing on factors to condom use, HIV testing, and access to services among males who have sex with males (MSM). In summary, a total of 105 in-depth interviews were conducted with MSM participants from the 21 cities of the 2013 IHBSS. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. Individual and collective analysis of the dataset produced thematic maps of the drivers and barriers behind condom use and HIV testing. Force field analysis was also used to compare the strengths of the drivers vis-à-vis barriers.
Drivers to condom use. The external factors that drive MSM to use condoms are: (1) access to condoms, (2) situational “it depends” factors, and, (3) the influence of others. Internal factors that drive MSM to use condoms are: (1) level of knowledge or awareness, (2) fear and perceived risk, (3) deliberate planning, (4) personal habit or routine, (5) personal motivations, e.g. “to be ‘clean’” (maging malinis), and, (6) perception that one’s sexual partner is “unsafe” or “unclean” (hindi safe o hindi malinis).
Barriers to condom use. External factors that bar MSM from using condoms are: (1) lack of access to condoms and lubricants, (2) lack of information about condoms and lubricants, (3) situational “it depends” factors, (4) the influence of others, and, (5) love or a romantic relationship. The internal factors that bar MSM from using condoms are: (1) lack of knowledge or awareness, (2) lack of perceived risk, (3) lack of deliberate planning, (4) the physical motivation for sexual pleasure, (5) the spontaneity of sex or the “heat of the moment”, and (6) the perception that one’s sexual partner is “clean” (malinis) or “safe”.
Drivers to HIV testing. The external factors that drive MSM to get an HIV test are: (1) access to HIV testing, (2) HIV testing at venues, (3) work/school requirement, and, (4) the influence of others. The internal factors that drive MSM to get an HIV test are: (1) social awareness, (2) perceived risk, and, (3) validation of negative HIV-status.
Barriers to HIV testing. The external factors that bar MSM from getting tested for HIV are: (1) inaccessibility of HIV information and HIV services, (2) lack of information about HIV and HIV services, (3) stigma and lack of social support, and, (4) unethical behaviors at HIV testing centers. While internal factors that bar MSM from getting tested for HIV are: (1) lack of knowledge about HIV and HIV services, (2) lack of perceived risk, and (3) fears.
Findings of the study led to a development of models and recommended strategies. These may guide program implementors in providing more comprehensive and effective services for promoting condom use and HIV testing among males who have sex with males or MSM.