#BreakFreePH: Empowering Women of the 21st Century

written by Denver Castrodes

In time for the celebration of women’s month, TRANScend by LoveYourself, in partnership with SKPA Philippines, launched its first-ever transgender-focused online campaign dubbed as "#BreakFreePH". Besides celebrating women empowerment, the campaign aimed to promote transgender and sexual health among trans and ciswomen and Victoria by LoveYourself that offers gender-affirming and sexual health services.

Themed “Breaking the Gender Norms and Empowering Transgender People and Cisgender Women,” #BreakFreePH premiered on March 1 by releasing feature campaign videos and online posters on Transcend’s social media pages that focus on cisgender and transgender women empowerment as part of the celebration of the International Women’s Month.

Miss World 2013 Megan Young and Miss Trans Global 2020 Mela Habijan headline the first part of the campaign, which aims to debunk gender stereotypes and promote self-worth and empowerment among women. This consequently aimed to level off views and equal opportunities in all genders. It also discusses gender-related socio-political issues concerning all women like physical abuse, verbal assault, rape, hate crimes, psychological violence, and killings.

The #BreakFreePH campaign also focuses on major transgender issues and aims to provide correct information on Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy (GAHT), especially to transgender people. It highlights the importance of medically supervised transitioning and GAHT, the prioritization of sexual health among transgender people and cisgender women, It also promotes Victoria by LoveYourself, a community center that offers holistic services for transgender people and cisgender women but definitely, all genders are still welcome.

Several transgender champions, including HIV awareness and transgender advocate Janlee Dungca, Cebuana vlogger actress Alem Garcia, Fitness enthusiast and Trans man advocate Nick Escalderon were featured in the campaign as well.

Transcend by LoveYourself was formally established in 2020 to address the barriers and lack of services catered for the transgender community. This first started with the establishment of Victoria by LoveYourself, the first community center that offers holistic services for the transgender community. Then it extended to Paranaque City when Lily by LoveYourself was built, which is currently being run by transgender community leaders under the Decent Image of South Signal Association (DIOSSA).

The #BreakFreePH campaign is supported by LoveYourself, AHF Philippines, Pilipinas Shell Foundation Inc., SKPA Philippines, PhilHealth, Faberco Life Sciences Inc., Macare, World Health Organization, UNAIDS Philippines and Durex. Like and follow Transcend by LoveYourself on its Facebook (transcend.ly), Twitter (@ transcend_ly) and Instagram (@transcend_ ly) pages to access our campaign materials.