The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has recently approved an ambitious Road Map for Advancing the Inclusion of Sexual and Gender Minorities in ADB Operations, 2025-2030, which was given the green light in December 2024. This initiative is stirring up lively discussions among advocacy groups throughout the Asia-Pacific. For the LGBT+ community in the Philippines, this could be a crucial moment or perhaps just a partial step that leaves us yearning for more progress.

A Blueprint Shaped by Demand Amidst Resistance

This roadmap is the result of ongoing advocacy from governments, civil society, and marginalized groups who have emphasized the economic impact of excluding individuals based on SOGIESC criteria. It outlines a two-stage approach: initially, it will focus on enhancing ADB’s internal structures and staff expertise; subsequently, it will introduce pilot programs in country-specific strategies and projects. This includes initiatives such as awareness training, collaborations with LGBTQI+ organizations, and the integration of SOGIESC considerations in job training, entrepreneurship, and access to services. During APCOM’s 3rd ADB Learning Week in 2025, this roadmap was praised as key to achieving a “prosperous, inclusive Asia-Pacific,” aligning with ADB’s Strategy 2030 and new safeguard measures.

But what’s the playful reality? It operates on a “demand-driven” basis and takes a gradual approach, respecting the varied legal environments, from more open-minded areas like the Philippines to those that are less accepting. Intersex Asia highlights the ADB’s appeal for a SOGIESC Inclusion Reference Group at their recent meeting, indicating a commitment to genuine collaboration. However, in the face of increasing anti-LGBTQI+ sentiments in the region, the question arises: is this incremental approach sufficient?

Building on GESI Progress with a Focus on Intersectionality

This roadmap is part of the ADB’s larger GESI initiative, such as the South Asia Department’s framework that acknowledges SOGIESC along with factors like caste, ethnicity, and disability. It builds on the GESI integration guide, advocating for evidence-based action plans in projects to empower women, nonbinary individuals, and diverse identities. The disability roadmaps from 2021-2025, detailed here, illustrate ADB’s earlier successes in inclusive education and loans, now being expanded to encompass SOGI.

Filipino bakla, trans sisters, and queer allies are keen observers of these developments. APCOM’s appeal during the 2nd Learning Week for continuous inclusion of LGBTQI+ voices is crucial: we need to amplify, collaborate, and ensure ADB remains accountable. This roadmap ignites debate because it highlights our community, but what matters is the follow-through. Will pilot programs make a significant impact on the ground in the Philippines, enhancing resilience amid our local Pride movements? Or will they be stifled by bureaucracy?

One thing is for sure: ADB is charting a path towards inclusive growth, but it is the passionate drive of the community that keeps them transparent. Stay bold, family, our stories are the heart of this journey.