In the mid-20th century, as the world emerged from the tumult of a global war, an entire generation demanded a way of life defined not by those in power, but on their own terms. Their dissenting attitude gave birth to what American writer Theodore Roszak called the “counterculture,” a term he coined in 1969 in response to a widespread movement rejecting paternalistic society, and a defining ethos of the Rolling Stone brand.
Arguably, no group embodies this countercultural spirit more than the LGBTQIA+ community, who for decades — and even centuries before Roszak — were forced into bodies and lifestyles far removed from their lived realities. In the Philippines, as LGBTQIA+ people fight to assert themselves in the various spheres of culture and society, their visibility is still met with invalidation. Hoping to spare themselves of discomfort, some conformists dismiss queerness as a “phase” that will resolve into cis-gendered, heterosexual normalcy — a sentiment that bisexual, trans, and non-binary people, in particular, have borne the brunt of.
For Pride 2025, Rolling Stone Philippines confronts the enduring pressure to conform by spotlighting the unapologetic indivdiuals who refuse to back down on who they truly are. “This Is Not A Phase” highlights stories that challenge what’s considered acceptable in Filipino LGBTQIA+ culture. “This Is Not A Phase” is about not giving a fuck, and never letting respectability overshadow truth.
Stay tuned to Rolling Stone Philippines for more stories that don’t ask permission.
