Gay Filipino in History: Geraldine Roman

 

Geraldine Roman 

First Openly Transgender Representative in the Philippine Congress

(1967 - Present) 

Geraldine Batista Roman (born April 23, 1967) is a Filipino journalist and politician who made history as the first openly transgender person elected to the Congress of the Philippines. She served as the Representative of the 1st District of Bataan from 2016 to 2025.

Early Years and Education

Born into a prominent political family in Bataan, Geraldine is the second of four children of Herminia and Antonino Roman Jr., both of whom served as representatives of the same district. Raised as a boy, Roman faced challenges with her gender identity during her youth. She completed her elementary and high school education at the Ateneo de Manila University. She later pursued collegiate studies at the University of the Philippines Diliman, where she felt a stronger sense of belonging within the LGBTQ+ community.

Seeking to further her education and personal growth, Roman moved to Spain on a scholarship. She resided there for nearly two decades, during which she earned two master’s degrees from the University of the Basque Country. It was during this time in Europe that she fully embraced her identity as a woman and established a successful career as a senior editor for a Spanish news agency. She underwent gender-affirming surgery in New York in 1996.

Entry into Politics

In 2012, following the failing health and eventual death of her father, Roman returned to the Philippines to be with her family. Inspired by her father’s legacy and his encouragement to live a life of purpose, she transitioned into public service. She began by assisting her mother, Herminia, in her congressional office.

In the 2016 national elections, Roman ran for the 1st District of Bataan seat under the Liberal Party banner. Despite facing scrutiny regarding her gender, she won by an overwhelming margin, securing approximately 62% of the vote. Her victory was celebrated as a milestone for the LGBTQ+ community in the Philippines.

Legislative Career and Advocacy

As a lawmaker, Roman has focused on a broad platform she calls "EQUALITY," an acronym representing Education, Environmental Quality, Universal Healthcare, Agriculture, Livelihood, Infrastructure, Transparency, and the Youth. Key aspects of her legislative work include:

• LGBTQ+ Rights: Roman is a leading advocate for the SOGIE (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Expression) Equality Bill, which aims to prohibit discrimination. She has also supported legislative efforts regarding civil unions.

• Healthcare: She was instrumental in the passage of the Cancer Institute bill and has been a proponent of the Mental Health Law.

• Veterans' Affairs: Serving as the chairperson for the Veteran Affairs and Welfare Committee, she has consistently championed the rights and increased pensions of Filipino war veterans.

• Other Initiatives: She has filed numerous bills concerning disaster management, tourism conservation, and the standardization of hospital facilities across the country.

While her political success was aided by her family’s established political dynasty, Roman is widely recognized for her own legislative contributions and her efforts to promote inclusivity and social justice within the Philippine government.

Footnote Sources

• "Geraldine Roman - Wikipedia." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 2026.

• "Breaking Barriers: Rep. Geraldine Roman On Public Service And Overcoming Challenges." Tatler Asia, 2026.

• "Transgender politician wins seat in Philippines parliament." The Guardian, 2016.

• "First transgender woman, Geraldine Roman, elected to Philippine Congress." LGL, 2016.

• "Geraldine Roman: Pioneering Transgender Congresswoman." Scribd, 2026.