crown

Subscribe Now

FOLLOW US

Sign in

Photos: Manila’s old and poor ‘Golden Gays’ sing for their supper

In Manila, real life dishwashers, street hawkers or scavengers, are the stars of the Golden Gays beauty pageant for elderly and poor gay men. Most of its 48 members are in their 60s and among the millions of Filipinos who survive on less than five dollars per day. Although Philippines has a reputation of openness toward homosexuality, but experts have said legal protections are lacking and the nation's weak social safety net especially fails older gay people. For these socially outcast members, some even rejected by their family, the group serves as a safe haven from the harsh reality and as family.

Updated on: Jul 25, 2018 11:49 AM IST

Share via

Copy link

1/11

Al Enriquez (3L), 82, sheds his threadbare street vendor clothes like dead skin and develops a voguish, winking air once he slips into a gauzy gown and wig of tight blond curls. He is one of the stars of a beauty pageant for elderly and poor gay men in Manila, Philippines. Not a rowdy, hooting drag show for tourists, it is part of the decades-long work of a collective of men to take care of their own. They call themselves the Golden Gays and they mean it. (Noel Celis / AFP)

Updated on Jul 25, 2018 11:49 AM

Al Enriquez (3L), 82, sheds his threadbare street vendor clothes like dead skin and develops a voguish, winking air once he slips into a gauzy gown and wig of tight blond curls. He is one of the stars of a beauty pageant for elderly and poor gay men in Manila, Philippines. Not a rowdy, hooting drag show for tourists, it is part of the decades-long work of a collective of men to take care of their own. They call themselves the Golden Gays and they mean it. (Noel Celis / AFP)

2/11

“When I’m dressed like this I feel ecstatic and I feel that I don’t have any sadness in me,” said Enriquez. He added, “I’m gay and I’m not embarrassed that I’m gay.” (Noel Celis / AFP)

Updated on Jul 25, 2018 11:49 AM

“When I’m dressed like this I feel ecstatic and I feel that I don’t have any sadness in me,” said Enriquez. He added, “I’m gay and I’m not embarrassed that I’m gay.” (Noel Celis / AFP)

3/11

Enriquez, also known as ‘Carmen Dela Rue’, pushes his wooden cart on a street in Manila. The Philippines has a reputation of openness toward homosexuality, but experts say legal protections are lacking and the nation’s weak social safety net especially fails older gay people. Most of the 48 members of Golden Gays are in their 60s and are among the millions of Filipinos who survive on less than five dollars per day. (Noel Celis / AFP)

Updated on Jul 25, 2018 11:49 AM

Enriquez, also known as ‘Carmen Dela Rue’, pushes his wooden cart on a street in Manila. The Philippines has a reputation of openness toward homosexuality, but experts say legal protections are lacking and the nation’s weak social safety net especially fails older gay people. Most of the 48 members of Golden Gays are in their 60s and are among the millions of Filipinos who survive on less than five dollars per day. (Noel Celis / AFP)

4/11

Federico Ramasamy, 60, also known as ‘Rikka’, and Gretchen walk on a street to participate in the beauty pageant. Due to nation’s weak social safety, the Golden Gays have recruited corporate and private sponsors who pay for their members to get a decent lunch and a few days’ worth of groceries after the pageants they hold at least once a month. (Noel Celis / AFP)

Updated on Jul 25, 2018 11:49 AM

Federico Ramasamy, 60, also known as ‘Rikka’, and Gretchen walk on a street to participate in the beauty pageant. Due to nation’s weak social safety, the Golden Gays have recruited corporate and private sponsors who pay for their members to get a decent lunch and a few days’ worth of groceries after the pageants they hold at least once a month. (Noel Celis / AFP)

5/11

In real life, the members of Golden Gays are dishwashers, street hawkers and scavengers. These shows have been going on for years, but the Golden Gays’ roots are even deeper. Back in the mid-1970s they got their start in Manila’s urban sprawl as the Home for the Golden Gays -- a house where homeless or poor older gay men could spend the night. (Noel Celis / AFP)

Updated on Jul 25, 2018 11:49 AM

In real life, the members of Golden Gays are dishwashers, street hawkers and scavengers. These shows have been going on for years, but the Golden Gays’ roots are even deeper. Back in the mid-1970s they got their start in Manila’s urban sprawl as the Home for the Golden Gays -- a house where homeless or poor older gay men could spend the night. (Noel Celis / AFP)

6/11

Ramasamy (3R), a long-time Golden Gay, was rejected by his parents once they learned of his sexuality. And then he made his way to Manila, where the Golden Gays became his family and a refuge from the real life in which he makes about two dollars a day for a 15-hour shift as a dishwasher. The group has served as family that many of its members don’t have. (Noel Celis / AFP)

Updated on Jul 25, 2018 11:49 AM

Ramasamy (3R), a long-time Golden Gay, was rejected by his parents once they learned of his sexuality. And then he made his way to Manila, where the Golden Gays became his family and a refuge from the real life in which he makes about two dollars a day for a 15-hour shift as a dishwasher. The group has served as family that many of its members don’t have. (Noel Celis / AFP)

7/11

Ahead of the performance, the air in the room smells of perfume and the fried food that is served for lunch. The show starts with music firing at distortion volume from battered speakers as the 18 performers shimmy down the catwalk and strike poses -- or land on the laps of the dozen or so friends and supporters in the audience. For Ramon Busa, the group’s 68-year-old organiser the show is their ‘way of saying thank you.’ (Noel Celis / AFP)

Updated on Jul 25, 2018 11:49 AM

Ahead of the performance, the air in the room smells of perfume and the fried food that is served for lunch. The show starts with music firing at distortion volume from battered speakers as the 18 performers shimmy down the catwalk and strike poses -- or land on the laps of the dozen or so friends and supporters in the audience. For Ramon Busa, the group’s 68-year-old organiser the show is their ‘way of saying thank you.’ (Noel Celis / AFP)

8/11

Relatives of late Golden Gays member George Fernandez, 71, also known as ‘Gloria Manila’, attend a mass before his ashes in the urn were laid to rest at a columbarium. Due to the age and precarious lives of the Golden Gays, the group has lost more than a few members to death. The most recent loss was Fernandez, who died in June of a blood infection. (Noel Celis / AFP)

Updated on Jul 25, 2018 11:49 AM

Relatives of late Golden Gays member George Fernandez, 71, also known as ‘Gloria Manila’, attend a mass before his ashes in the urn were laid to rest at a columbarium. Due to the age and precarious lives of the Golden Gays, the group has lost more than a few members to death. The most recent loss was Fernandez, who died in June of a blood infection. (Noel Celis / AFP)

9/11

A relative of late Fernandez attends his wake at a funeral house. Anthropologist Michael Tan said life is a struggle for elderly Filipinos in general because social safety nets like pensions and health-care are quite weak compared to those in more developed nations. Not having children to turn to makes it even more difficult for gay men. (Noel Celis / AFP)

Updated on Jul 25, 2018 11:49 AM

A relative of late Fernandez attends his wake at a funeral house. Anthropologist Michael Tan said life is a struggle for elderly Filipinos in general because social safety nets like pensions and health-care are quite weak compared to those in more developed nations. Not having children to turn to makes it even more difficult for gay men. (Noel Celis / AFP)

10/11

The winners of the beauty pageant wave to the crowd after being crowned. The Catholic Church, which counts a majority of the nation’s 105 million people as believers, remains a major force in Philippine society and has resisted anti-discrimination laws. (Noel Celis / AFP)

Updated on Jul 25, 2018 11:49 AM

The winners of the beauty pageant wave to the crowd after being crowned. The Catholic Church, which counts a majority of the nation’s 105 million people as believers, remains a major force in Philippine society and has resisted anti-discrimination laws. (Noel Celis / AFP)

11/11

Enriquez walks the catwalk during the beauty pageant. Busa, the Golden Gays organiser, shrugs at the challenges of life and said what the group really needs is a permanent new home -- preferably paid for by a generous benefactor. “With or without permanent house the Golden Gays will survive,” he said. “That’s how we live -- hand to mouth. But we have to maintain our poise, our will to live,” added Busa. (Noel Celis / AFP)

Updated on Jul 25, 2018 11:49 AM

Enriquez walks the catwalk during the beauty pageant. Busa, the Golden Gays organiser, shrugs at the challenges of life and said what the group really needs is a permanent new home -- preferably paid for by a generous benefactor. “With or without permanent house the Golden Gays will survive,” he said. “That’s how we live -- hand to mouth. But we have to maintain our poise, our will to live,” added Busa. (Noel Celis / AFP)

Related Photos

Home/Photos/News/Photos: Manila’s Old And Poor ‘Golden Gays’ Sing For Their Supper

© 2026 HindustanTimes