Just last Saturday, February 19, singer Jake Zyrus posted a photo on social media and shared his progress as a transgender male.
“Pinag-isipan kong maigi kung ipo-post ko ba ‘to. Kasi lagi kong iniisip kung anong sasabihin ng ibang tao. Sa ilang taon na nag-transition ako, masaya ako sa naging takbo ng buhay ko, pero lagi parin akong nai-insecure sa katawan ko. Siguro dahil na rin sa standard ng karamihan,” his post read.
Jake, formerly known as Charice Pempengco, initially came out as a gay woman in 2013. By 2017, he came out as a transgender male after having a male chest reconstruction done and beginning testosterone treatment to complete his transition.
In the photo, Jake is seen topless, showing how far he’s come since the surgery and treatment for his gender reassignment.
“Pagtawanan mo o hindi, hindi mo alam ang sakit, iyak at mga dugo na pinagdaanan ko bago ako nagkaroon ng confidence na buong buo ko i-post ito,” he continued.
The musician ended his post by saying he’s finally comfortable with what he sees in himself. He added that he posted the photo to inspire his fellow transgenders, not ask for opinions.
“Kung naghahanap kayo ng sign o confidence para ipakita at maging proud sa kung sino ka, tara sasabayan kita. Para sayo ‘to,” Jake said.
Such a message of hope and self-acceptance warrants a warm welcome and congratulations from the public because it promotes body positivity and support for transgenders struggling with their transitioning. Jake’s friends and supporters, along with members of the LGBTQ+ community, happily commented on the post about how the musician inspired them and that they’re proud of the man he’s become.
Unfortunately, not everyone shares the same sentiments. Many netizens who shared and reposted the photo left malicious or degrading comments about Jake’s appearance and gender identity. It’s saddening to see that these people don’t have the decency to treat others, especially those from marginalized communities, with the respect they deserve.
Homophobia remains rampant in the Philippines today. Although some consider it a joke, the dangers of spreading prejudice about a certain group of people don’t make society more accepting of them.
There are several reasons for people’s repulsive behavior against the LGBQT+ community. The most common one is the years of prejudice ingrained among individuals that being anything other than a male or female is a sin or an illness. Even though the medical field stopped the inhumane treatments for “curing” sexuality issues, people continue to carry prejudice and violence toward members of the LGBTQ+ community due to a vicious cycle of misinformation, abuse, and close-mindedness.
On the other hand, while some people consider themselves allies of the LGBTQ+ community, they limit themselves to understanding only gays and lesbians because these are the most common gender identities they know of.
A true ally of the LGBTQ+ community doesn’t select which genders they support. Instead, they take the extra step of understanding the nuances of the other members of the LGBTQ+, including transgenders, queers, pansexuals, asexuals, and more.
The Philippines still has a long way to go before it becomes a gender-inclusive country. Yet aside from laws, events, and other ways to show support to the LGBTQ+ community, the most significant change must come from Filipinos themselves. It’s time to stop homophobic jokes and the violence against LGBTQ+ members to create a safe space where everybody is welcome.