Pride Month: Colorful stories under the rainbow

As popularly celebrated, June is Pride Month and it is the time that we honor the existing diversities of gender namely the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, Asexual and all the other members of the rainbow community.(Pexels Photo)

By Arianne Lacanilao, Philippine Canadian Inquirer

Many of today’s generation seem to familiarize themselves with the term LGBTQQIA++ and its well-known partner flag that sports the colors red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet. Unfortunately, not everyone knows precisely how important this subject matter is.

As popularly celebrated, June is Pride Month, a time to honor the existing diversity of gender, namely Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, and all the other members of the rainbow community.

While it is easy to tweet hashtags like #LoveisLove, #LoveWins, #GayPride, and share photos of colorful rainbows to support and show love for them, it’s important to dig a little deeper to fully understand why this annual celebration occurs and recognize its relevance to humanity.

Commemorating with them is one way, but truly comprehending what LGBTQQIA++ stands for can mean the world to them. The Philippine Canadian Inquirer (PCI) believes that sharing members’ stories is the best way to foster understanding.

From someone who sees being gay as a blessing that earned him money for his family, to a man who came out as a trans woman and is still happily married to her wife, four people share their delightful experiences.

#LesbianAndProud

Trouble with sexuality was never a concern for Magic Gaspar, a lesbian.

In their interview with PCI, Magic recounted their childhood playtime. The graphic artist listed trucks, swords, and guns as the toys they played with, noting that the only “girl toy” they had was Ken, Barbie’s boyfriend.

Growing up, Magic was told, ‘You must always be presentable,’ as their parents taught them to be decent at all times so that everyone would respect them and avoid judgment.

The 26-year-old frequently mentioned that the perception of others and experiences of discrimination didn’t matter to them as long as their family accepted them.

Magic hopes that individuals with LGBTQ members in their households won’t experience the same negative encounters many face.

They believe everyone has the right to receive the same love and respect they give to others.

#BornThisWay

Being gay for impersonator Vinzon Leojay Rubia Booc also recognized as ‘Lady Gagita‘ and ‘Katy Perya‘, is something that boosts his confidence.

The YouTuber describes that being gay has helped him in various ways. It helped him grow as a person, and this blessing has helped him earn money to provide for his family.

When Vinz was little, he already felt different because, as a boy, he liked boys instead of girls. He also noticed that he liked girls’ toys instead of boys’ ones.

Having moves that “were not really masculine,” people in Vinz’s circle were not surprised to find out about this, and it’s something that made him feel free. “It is a relief to come out to my family and even in my circle. There is no longer an anxiety about keeping my secret, especially since I was very active in school programs before, and everybody knows I’m gay.”

As an openly gay person, Vinz detailed that unlike in Manila, where he felt free, he felt discriminated against by non-LGBT members in some provinces. Criticized for wearing women’s attire in these areas, he received comments of being looked at as ‘inappropriate.’

“People who don’t understand us believe that being gay is a choice, which I also don’t understand because we were born gay. It is never a choice nor a sin. They must understand that we exist; we also live the same lives as them, and we need equal rights. There is nothing wrong with being gay as long as we don’t do malevolent acts. We were born this way.”

He, however, believes that it is still possible for the country to have a harmonious and progressive stance on their community. A positivity he sees if people would choose to be open-minded. As he says, “We were silenced for decades and even considered people of the third sex, but I believe it is time to have equality in this country. It is not just important but a must to end discrimination towards the LGBTQ+.”

#OutOfTheCloset

Ian King, a trans woman now named Angelina Mead King, recalls her childhood as full of curiosity and questions.

All her thoughts of “I wasn’t turning out the way I wanted to be” made her ask herself why she was born in the wrong gender.

Having a wishful feeling of waking up as a woman, she hated her puberty stage when she developed her Adam’s apple, deep voice, and body hair.

Angie shared that experiencing confusion about being in the wrong body weighed down her thoughts a lot. “Coupled with the fear of being ridiculed and disowned, and worst of all killed for being different. My mind was consumed by a revolving door of issues, and I always tried to blend in by doing the craziest manliest thing I could have done at that time to hide my true identity. In short, I became really good at being a boy so no one would know I was actually a girl inside.”

When her father died, the realization that life is too short to not express her inner Angelina dawned on the owner of Victoria Court Hotels.

Despite all these confusions that lurked inside her, coming out for the first time, literally and figuratively, turned out to be exciting for her. Shortly after Ian decided to come out as Angie, her wife, Joey Mead King, a fashion model and international host, took her out for dinner.

“The first night I had in public was such a rush; it was around December after my birthday. Joey wanted to take me out to dinner, so we got dressed, drove to a restaurant in San Juan, hoping not to bump into anyone we knew, got to the resto, picked a corner table, and tried to blend in! The biggest fear someone has when they are coming out is being clocked or being made, or ridiculed. Lucky for me, we had such a lovely evening with no issues.”

Things have been great since the car enthusiast and racer came out of the closet, saying, “I was catapulted into the public eye as the Caitlyn Jenner of the Philippines and got a lot of love on social media. Shortly after, I started racing and had quite a success with it. Career-wise, I have opened a few more restaurants that are doing ok.”

As for Angie, she stands by the importance of treating everyone equally, as she said that it’s the right thing to do. She told PCI, “Humans are the same inside, and we all have a longing to be treated as such. You don’t gain anything from being mean to people.”

#AsQueerAsDay

If there is something as clear as day for this musician and teacher, it is that the confusion and conflict within Nilisa Marrie Barredo make her realize that individuals must act on what they feel and who they are. “People who get to learn about my weirdness usually find it funny because they can’t believe it. Most actually find it uncanny to the point that they think that I am just joking.”

She unravels that depending on her mood and whoever she is with, her gender seems to adjust in a way. “I guess I have had it since I was a kid, and I’ve been boyish ever since, so there was not a time that I ever had to hide about what I am and what I feel because I was not even aware.”

Nilisa further illustrates that sometimes she is very “kikay” (girly) and “maarte” (who feels like a chick), but on some ‘rare’ times, she is boyish to the point that the musician shows and confesses her interest in ladies. At other times, she feels like both the chick and the tomboy in one.

Uncertain of what and why she does it still baffles the 24-year-old. “Since I didn’t know what I really was, you know I really like men (above all) so I’m a girl. I like some girls (makes me feel like there’s a man in me). I like gays; it feels like a mixture of girl and boy in me, so I consider myself, still, a girl, generally.”

But the teacher revealed she had a short-term girlfriend back when she was in high school, something that she thinks would have progressed to something more if they were both on the same page. “Too young to know which type of partner to settle down with.”

Coming from a very religious family, she explains that she knows she likes boys. But ‘half-ly,’ as she said, “I have a fetish for gays. I actually courted a gay, and everyone was shocked. Well, I don’t know. I liked him. I felt like I loved him. I couldn’t even help it. The more gays act more feminine, the more I get attracted to them.”

On solving her inner puzzles, she said that there’s still a part of her “which protests and still fights for what was originally, classically, and traditionally practiced and accepted: male and female only.”

Nilisa, however, clarified that there was nothing she would change about her physical appearance. “I don’t feel like there’s something that I need to change. In fact, I’m becoming more and more feminine (physically) as I mature. I become more and more conscious and obsessed to achieve the prettiest version of myself. Though there were times just recently that I imagined myself looking like a hot guy, so I thought about being a trans. Well, I don’t think I’m gonna do it yet. The urge isn’t that strong.”

Although she admits it is kind of weird, she says that she is serious about what she feels and that she finds it a bit offensive when people show disbelief.

“You might be surprised by the people we would choose and settle with, but just like everyone else, we will try to settle for the best and choose where our happiness belongs.”

After the gray clouds fill the skies, may the rainwater wash away all this hatred and judgment, and let the hues of the rainbow shine.

When it comes to these colors that come in different shades—the LGBTQQIA++—we simply have to go back to the basics, and that is to genuinely respect, love, and accept fellow humans who choose to be who they are.