I go to Pride each year here in London; I have done for the last couple of years. It’s one of my favourite events of the summer, along with the Barrio Fiesta (Filipino Festival). I caught the tail end of the Parade when I was in New York one year and would love to see it properly, and I very much want to go to Pride in San Francisco. However, amongst those Pride Parades that I would love to see is the one in Manila. What I love most about Pride is the diversity of it all. Unlike some would have you believe, gay people come in all shapes, shoe sizes, and colours. Trust me; coming from a Filipino background, that realisation can be quite a shock. I have to admit though; I do love it when the Asian boys come out.

 

 

I was a little shocked the first time I found out that Manila had its own Pride Parade, although I’m not entirely sure why. No matter how you choose to identify yourself, most Filipinos will take any given opportunity to declare how proud they are of who they are. So of course they would have their own Pride.

 

I’m happy that they do, I think it’s an important part of breaking down the stereotypes that a lot of Filipinos grow up with of gay people. I think it’s even more important because the Philippines is one of the few countries in Asia where being openly gay is accepted.

 

 

 

In March of this year the ban was lifted on allowing openly gay and bisexual men and women from enlisting and serving in the Philippine Armed Services. Homosexual acts are not a crime between consenting adults like it is in over 70 countries in the world. I think this needs to be recognised, even more so given that 80% of the country is baptised Catholic. As yet there is no legal recognition of same-sex marriages, civil unions, or domestic partnership, but remember this is a country where it is still illegal to get a divorce.

 

 

 

I’ve always grown up with very clear ideas of what masculinity and femininity were in the Philippines. If you were a guy then you needed to be able to stand your own ground and at least be willing to drink a beer if offered, and it would always be offered. If you were a girl then you were expected to act demurely and be sufficiently domestic. So, no surprise to me that homosexuals in the Philippines were always clearly defined. Gay men (baklas) being more camp than a row of tents and lesbians (tomboys) coming only in one type – butch.

 

I’ve had these stereotypes in my every day. My cousins would mock and call my Tito (Uncle) Larry, ‘Laura’ and he didn’t seem to care too much. He was a hairdresser, wore heavy makeup, grew his hair long, and of course – didn’t drink San Miguel. One of the girls that hung round with my cousins (all boys) always had her hair cut short, was very androgynous, smoked Winstons, and, of course, drank San Miguel.

 

I’ve always loved the fact that in a culture of hyper-masculinity my Tito Larry was happy to walk along the street, dressed as he chose to be, without (much) fear. It’s not as though my family comes from a small town or a major metropolis, it was simply accepted that was how he was. It’s not just his example, wherever I’ve gone in the Philippines if a person was identified as being ‘bakla’ or a ‘tomboy’ then that’s simply how it was. No big deal. Even if teasing was involved, there was never anything malicious behind it.

 

In Filipino films and television shows it’s almost a staple to have the “gay best friend” and no one thinks anything of it. The presence of a gay character is not something used to shock or gain ratings, as it is in so many Western shows. Everyone has someone like the characters on the screen in their life so why not include them in the portrayal?

 
Aiza Seguerra is a perfect example of how being gay in the Philippines is not a big deal. I grew up watching her on ‘Eat Bulaga’ – one of the Philippines’ most popular entertainment shows. Being openly gay doesn’t appear to have hurt her career at all. She’s still acting and recording albums, and even has the entertainment channels covering stories about her desire to have children. Okay, perhaps her hair is short and she doesn’t wear dresses but to have someone this comfortable with being out in the public arena, and so matter-of-factly, is so important.

 

I think that part of the reason I’m so open about a lot of things in life is because of the way I was brought up. There are parts of Filipino culture that I don’t agree with, there are some ugly traits that seem to be very prevalent amongst the Filipinos I know – as with all people, but their acceptance of that which they cannot change is one of the things I love the most about Filipinos. Yes, in some situations that can be a negative thing, but when it comes to people, and accepting who they are, I think that can only be a good thing.

 

In a time when countries as forward thinking as the USA are voting into law propositions that ban same-sex marriage celebrating diversity becomes even more important. That’s what Pride and being Filipino share for me, on that day – and every other day, it’s about being who you are and declaring to the world that no matter what that is, it’s nothing to be ashamed of.

Posted on 10 July 2009 by Gemma in Culture, Events, Lifestyle, Politics

Tagged acceptance, aiza seguerra, homosexuality, london, manila, pride