Post #RiseUpTogether Feelings

https://www.facebook.com/mmprideorg/photos/a.929283243764935.1073741829.912158388810754/2232381303455116/?type=3&theater

I still can't believe that I was one of over 25 thousand people who participated on the most FABULOUS rally for Freedom, Love and Equality.

It was indeed the most colorful time of the year. I saw happy people, positive-vibed people, and most of all, PROUD people.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/07/01/1829634/riseuptogether-colorful-moments-metro-manila-pride-march-2018

This year's MMPRIDE #RiseUpTogether was a call for everyone that 'We need to make a move.' With all the issues that happened in the past, we really do need to do more for our community. We need to show our support to the policies that are being pushed, and also being a part of community who are deprived from legal and equality rights, we need to be more involved to have the rights and social justice that we always wanted, and needed.



It was my second time to join Metro Manila Pride. And I am so happy to spend this years march with the people who, I know, will always understand me and love me for what I am and who I want to be with. My family.





My family came with me, my sis,and her girl, and my cousin. Also, I spend the day with my other family, my school LGBTQIA+ org in PUP, PUP Kasarianlan. And my bigger family, my Community. It's great to see the colors of the rainbow proudly showing in anywhere I look. People were smiling everywhere. It warm anyone's heart to see people who had experienced tough times just because others do not understand the way he talks, dress or who he/she with, smiling and laughing and having a great time.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/artandculture/658760/pinoys-riseuptogether-at-2018-pride-march-and-festival/story/

We proudly walked with the people we love and who love us. We protest to have social justice that we wanted with the people who needs it. And we marched for the people who can't.

http://mmpride.org/archive/rainbows-and-pots-of-gold-conversations-about-funding-pride/

And it made a history, Not just to the Philippines but to the whole Southeast Asia. What really made me sooooo proud is the fact that a country dominated by Christianity, now stands as the LARGEST AND OLDEST PRIDE DEMONSTRATION IN SOUTHEAST ASIA.

http://www.thetravellingfoxes.com/author/thetravellingfoxes/

(Refer to: http://news.abs-cbn.com/life/07/08/18/metro-manila-pride-march-now-the-oldest-largest-pride-demonstration-in-sea ; https://www.rappler.com/move-ph/206751-metro-manila-pride-march-records-southeast-asia )













Now my only wish is that, for the poeple who still see the LGBTQIA+ community as a small and weak, open your eyes. Together with my Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, everything in between comunity, and our allies, we will always raise our flags, our hearts, and our Pride, until we get the love, equality, and acceptance that we fight for.


And yeah, BI the way, I love you guys! Belated Happy Pride.

Orientation about SEXUAL ORIENTATION

https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/washington-state-may-abolish-its-new-liberal-transgender-rule

When talking about LGBTQIA+, there is no way we could not mention Sexual Orientation, consciously or unconsciously.

Sexual Orientation is the best term to describe a person’s sexual, emotional, romantic attraction, as well as the gender of the people they are attracted to. It is very different from Gender Identity. Sexual Orientation is the romantic attraction to people, while latter is one’s identification with a particular gender.

There are two categories that can describe Sexual Orientation. The Monosexual and the Plurisexual. Monosexuals are people attracted to single gender-- namely heterosexual and homosexual. While plurisexual people feel attraction to multiple genders, thus includes bisexuality, pansexuality, queer, or gender fluids.

One’s sexual orientation is independent with one’s gender identity and one’s gender expression.

Sexual orientation is about who you want to be with, who are you attracted to, and who you feel drawn to emotionally, romantically, and sexually.

Here are some of the most common sexual orientations with a brief explanation on their unique features.

• Androsexuality/Androphillia – it is the attraction to male or masculinity. Heterosexual women and gay men are both Androphilic since they are sexually interested in males.

http://www.thebuffandblue.net/

·   Aromantisism- These are the people who DO NOT feel any romantic desires. Aromantics are different from Asexuality, for Asexuals does not rule out the possibility of romantic relationship. 

http://www.asexualityarchive.com

• Asexuality- Asexual, generally, does not experience sexual attraction or has little to no desire to engage in sexual activity. This is not the same as sexual dysfunction or choosing celibacy. They just simply don’t desire sex.

https://ih1.redbubble.net

•      Bisexuality- Often referred as “bi”. Bisexuals are attracted to two genders. This was commonly referred for attraction to both man and woman, hence the gender binary—the belief of having only two genders. These individuals can simple imply the attraction between two gender, one’s own and one that is not owned.

data:image/png;base64

•   Demisexuality - Demisexuals are the people who do not feel any sexual attraction to a person unless they feel emotionally connected to them.
• 
  

data:image/png;base64

• Gynesexuality/Gynephilia – Gynesexuals are people who are attracted to women, females, and/or femininity. They are simply drawn to feminine qualities.

https://78.media.tumblr.com

•     Heterosexuals – Commonly known as “straight”. It is the umbrella term to describe a persons that are physically, emotionally and/or romantically attracted to individuals of other than its own. For example, a man is solely attracted to women.

https://commons.wikimedia.org

• Homosexuality - These are people who are physically, romantically, and/or emotionally attracted to individuals of the same gender they identify themselves with.

https://en.wikipedia.org/

• Pansexuality - Pansexual came from the Greek prefix “Pan,” meaning all. Pansexual are attracted to others regardless of sex or gender. These includes attraction to people who are identified as male, female, transgender, intersex, genderqueer or anything in between. Pansexual are attracted to anyone falling anywhere in the gender spectrum.

https://lesbicanarias.es

• Queer - is an umbrella term for non-heterosexuals, non-cisgender identities. For those who cannot define their sexual orientation or their sexual feelings and desires or they do not fit in any category can be identified as Queer. It is seen to be more fluid. They are people who, most likely, are still trying to understand their sexuality, while others feel that a certain term suits their feelings and their sexuality.

What if I don’t want to be labelled? We all had that time when we just wanted to be ourselves. Just like Gender Identity, only you can decide about your sexual orientation. It is okay to not identify yourself, conform to a single identity or change your label. It is not confusion, it is called “fluidity.”

(References: http://www.soc.ucsb.edu/sexinfo/article/overview-sexual-orientations ;

https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/sexual-orientation-gender/sexual-orientation;

https://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/sexual-orientation;

https://www.hrc.org/resources/sexual-orientation-and-gender-identity-terminology-and-definitions) 

Identifying Gender Identity

               

Photo from: http://politicalillusionsexposed.com/you-wont-believe-the-latest-option-for-gender-identity/

  Gender is diverse. We can tell that because of the other letters outside the of M (man) and W (woman). Recently, I read an article about the addition in courtesy’s Mr (Mister, for men); Ms (Miss, for unmarried woman); and Mrs (Mistress, for married woman). Now there can be Mx or Mixed, for mixed genders. But then again, how will we identify if someone should be called a Mr., Ms., or Mx.? (https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/03/insider/mx-did-the-times-adopt-a-new-transgender-courtesy-title.html ; http://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/mx-a-new-gender-neutral-title)

Firstly, to identify our gender identity, we must first define these two words, Gender and Identity. Gender “refers to the attitudes, feelings, roles and behaviors that a given culture or society, associates with a person’s biological sex”. While Identity is “the distinguishing character or personality of an individual.”

                So basically, Gender Identity, based on definition, is the personal conception of oneself. Their own internal sense and personal experience on gender.

Photo by: http://www.undercoverinthesuburbs.com/tag

                Plainly speaking, no one can identify their gender identity except oneself. Many people identify themselves as man or woman, but some people do not. People who don’t identify themselves as man or woman may identify themselves as both genders, neither genders, between genders, or not gendered at all-- hence the LGBTQIA+ community.

                To make things easier, let’s just ask ourselves, “Who am I?”

               

                As per personal experience, it was really hard for me to identify myself. Kids nowadays are lucky because there is now an advance researches about gender and sexuality. It was just 2014 when I knew my identity (I was 16 back then). All I know before was to choose between man and woman. But I know to myself that I want to be both. I want to do what a man is doing, at the same time I want to do and experience being a woman.

                I think one factor of this is the representation of media to being a man and a woman, then there’s this show with a gay man dancing and a lesbian woman playing her guitars. I was so lost. I don’t know if I am a man who likes sports and a very strong and tough, or a woman who’s weak and always crying, or the gay man who’s super confident in everything he/she do or say, or the lesbian who loves his/her guitar and almost look like a man. That’s how I saw it on televisions.

                Now that I am a part of an LGBTQIA+ organization, PUP Kasarianlan, I learned that gender is a spectrum. I can be who I want to be, without being boxed in a certain gender. I gained confidence to spread my wings and explore what’s beyond my gender.

Photo from: http://www.thehansindia.com/

                I now identify myself as a bisexual woman. Despite what other people snide comment or the oppressions from the society and the rejection of Catholic Church, that is what I am and that’s what I want to be identified.

                Gender, also is fluid.  It could change and goes on overtime, or it could be anything you want to be. If the time comes that you don’t want to conform to any gender, it’s fine.

Photo by: https://www.tcsnetwork.co.uk/

                Amidst of the society where identifying gender is a sensitive issue, I want us to start to identifying ourselves, whether your straight or a part of the LGBTQIA+ community.

               

 This is not a pressure in you guys to out yourselves. There’s a time for coming out. What I want is to start identifying yourselves because believe me when I say that not knowing what you are and who you want to be is very disheartening. It’s like not knowing a part of you.

Look within you and you’ll know. If you feel confused, look for someone to talk to, ad enlighten you. It was hard, but all of us can make it, because you and only you can decide for your gender identity.

               

My Closet

“Personality changes along with clothes.”

This line had been bothering my thoughts for some time now. Ever since I’ve heard of these words, I started to think, “Does my personality really changes along with my clothes or my clothes changes with my personality?”

Personality, or “the complex of characteristics that distinguishes an individual,” is indeed a complex idea. It could be mistaken as the behavior, attitude, emotional characteristics, or even distinct traits, when in fact it is the totality of those things. Personality is what makes us a person, rooting from the word’ PERSON’.

“Don’t mistake my attitude with my personality. My personality is what I am, my attitude depends on who you are.”

My personality had always been described by other people as funny, simple and typical (these are the things that my family and friends usually thinks), and because of that I started to think, “Yeah, that’s probably me, “or “Perhaps, it was the entirety of being me.”

Depending on how I dress on normal days, I don’t wear that ‘girly’ look. I love my pants, my t-shirts and my rubber shoes. There were days that I wore blouses paired with my pants and chucks. I lose my long curly hair because I want to. I just love those clothes, and that style, it’s very comfy for me. And on those days that I wore my normal clothing’s, I’m still me-- the clumsy, funny and carefree me.

I, also, dress well on occasions. Of course, I wore dresses when I need to, I sometimes wear my pumps, and again, if it’s the right thing to wear on that certain occasion, and yet, I am still the same, I still talk the same way when I wore my pants, the same way when I wore my dress, well, maybe a lil’ bit reserved, but not totally. You ask why? Because it would be easier to act like your normal self than pretending to be someone else for other people to like you. Also, being reserved is a good thing, especially for the first time meetings because they would anticipate for something from you. Another thing is,what if the time comes when I hang-out, again, with the same people I’ve hanged-out with before and they saw my normal self, they might think that I changed, when it was the real me, that what they saw the first time was a sham, an act to being someone I’m not.

Because other people see me as a funny, sweet, and simple girl, because of the way I dress, which are also some of the characteristics of a heterosexual female (straight girls), others always see me as a straight girl, which was kind of a burden to me, especially when they start to ask things like boyfriends, daily girly routines, boyfriends, skin care, boyfriends, jewelries, boyfriends, hot male superstars, boyfriends, hair spa and salons, and lastly, boyfriends.

And that felt like the most perfect time to the drop the bomb like, “Excuse me! I’m a bisexual!” And they’re all gonna be like, “Woah really!? But you look straight to me.”

See? The problem starts there. And because of that, those people keep pressuring me to be straight because I look like one. I mean, can’t bisexual females wear pants and blouses, doll shoes, shirts and skirts, and chucks. If not, then what should I wear? What should be worn?

Like what I stated at the beginning, a personality is the totality of being a person. Then, if I believed in the statement, “Personality changes along with clothes, “it means that if I changed my clothing, I will be a different person.

Our expressions, or the way we act, speak, or even how we dress can be different from our gender identity. As for me, I am a bisexual woman, I like guys and girls. I can be attracted to my same and opposite sex. I have the desires of both heterosexual and homosexual, yet I express myself as a carefree, funny, simple girl. I dress how straight girls because that’s how I want to present myself.

Same for you, you don’t have to change your clothes or the way you express yourself just because other people don’t understand that gay people can wear pants, too. You don’t need to make your hair short because you are a lesbian. Bisexuals can also wear skirts, you know, and it’s perfectly fine. Queer people can be whoever they want, and it’s okay.

Our sexuality, gender identity and our expressions are parts of us being a person. We don’t need to change our clothing and the way we express ourselves, just to satisfy the gender comments.

As for me, it is simply because I am proud of being me. I’m proud being myself. Most especially, I’m proud being bisexual.

(Photo credits to google.com)