Editing Homosexuality and religion (section)

=== Pre-colonial religions of the Philippines ===
{{Main|Filipino shamans|Indigenous Philippine folk religions|LGBT rights in the Philippines}}
Filipino shamans, often known as ''babaylan'' held positions of authority as religious leaders or healers in some precolonial Philippine societies''.<ref>{{cite book |last=Lewis |first=Nantawan B |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VLnHBQAAQBAJ |title=Remembering Conquest: Feminist/Womanist Perspectives on Religion, Colonization, and Sexual Violence |publisher=Taylor & Francis |year=2014 |isbn=978-1-317-78946-8 |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=VLnHBQAAQBAJ&dq=babaylan&pg=PT69 698]}}</ref>'' Cross-dressing or gender nonconforming males sometimes took on the role of the female babaylan.<ref>{{cite book |last=Garcia |first=J. Neil C. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=93lag7tXriIC |title=Philippine Gay Culture: Binabae to Bakla, Silahis to MSM |publisher=UP Press |year=2008 |isbn=978-971-542-577-3 |pages=[https://books.google.com/books?id=93lag7tXriIC&dq=babaylan+%22cross-dressers%22+transvestites&pg=PA162 162–163]}}</ref> Early historical accounts record the existence of male ''babaylans'' who wore female clothes and took the demeanor of a woman.<ref name="Alcina 195–209">{{Cite book |last=Alcina |first=Francisco |title=Historia de las Islas e Indios de Bisayas |pages=195–209}}</ref><ref name="Ribadeneira 1947 50">{{Cite book |last=Ribadeneira |first=Marcelo de |title=History of the Islands of the Philippine Archipelago and the Kingdoms of Great China, Tartary, Cochinchina, Malaca, Siam, Cambodge and Japan |publisher=La Editorial Catolica |year=1947 |location=Barcelona |pages=50}}</ref> Anatomy was not the only basis for gender. Being male or female was based primarily on occupation, appearance, actions and sexuality. A male ''babaylan'' could partake in romantic and sexual relations with other men without being judged by society.<ref name=":022">{{Cite book |last=Garcia |first=J. Neil |title=Philippine gay culture : the last thirty years : binabae to bakla, silahis to MSM |publisher=Hong Kong University Press, 2009, c2008. |year=2009 |isbn=9789622099852 |location=Hong Kong |pages=162–163, 166, 170–173, 191, 404}}</ref> A small number of Filipinos practice local indigenous religions today.<ref>{{Citation |title=Philippines |date=2021-11-16 |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/philippines/#people-and-society |work=The World Factbook |access-date=2021-11-24 |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency |language=en}}</ref>