Copyright @ 2013 psyChologiCal assoCiation of the philippines philippine Journal of psyChology, 2013, 46(2), 149-163 Correspondence regarding this paper may be sent to Bea Torre, Department of Psychology, Palma Hall Annex, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City 1101. Email: beatriz.torre@gmail.com Babaeng Bakla: Friendships between Women and Gay Men in the Philippines Beatriz A. Torre Eric Julian Manalastas University of the Philippines Diliman In Philippine culture, babaeng bakla refers to women who associate with and develop close friendships with gay men and participate in gay cultural activities. This paper discusses a research investigation that examines the “babaeng bakla” phenomenon in the Philippines from the perspective of personality trait psychology. Using both imported and indigenous personality measures, we tested the hypothesis that women who are “babaeng bakla” might differ from other women along certain trait dimensions. Based on our indings, we developed a tentative model which suggests that Filipino women with certain personality characteristics form a reciprocal attraction with gay men. This leads them to develop close friendships with gay men and in turn fashion a “babaeng bakla” identity within Filipino gay culture. Keywords: cross-orientation friendships, gay men’s friendships, women’s friendships, personality traits Women who form close friendships with gay men and participate in gay cultural activities — sometimes referred to in Western gay culture as “fag hags,” and in the Philippines as “babaeng bakla” — are often depicted in popular representations as having particular characteristics, or traits, that set them apart from other women. These range from stereotypes of “fag hag” women as being overly emotional, unstable, and having low self-esteem (Bartlett et al., 2009), to perceptions of Filipino celebrities who are identiied as “babaeng bakla” as having the capacity for campy humor as well as katarayan