June is Pride Month for lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgenders, and queer people. And a great way to celebrate is by commemorating some of the prominent members of the local LGBTQ community. While often associated with the showbiz industry, there are many prominent LGBTQ personalities from different fields. Let’s take a look at some of these people giving us pride.
No. 1: Kevin Balot
Members of the local gay community have always been big fans of beauty pageants, cheering on the many Filipina candidates competing. This is why it isn’t a surprise that the entire community rejoiced when Kevin Balot became the first Filipina transgender to win the prestigious Miss International Queen Pageant in 2012.
Balot was actually the second choice to represent the country for the pageant. In an interview with Preview Magazine, she recalled that many doubted her chances. She said that one of the criticisms thrown against her was that she was short. But she eventually proved the doubters wrong by beating 21 other candidates for the crown.
After winning the pageant, Kevin would go on to become a prominent speaker for Filipina transgenders. She was part of Pantene’s Stronger Now campaign in 2018, becoming the first Filipina transgender to represent the brand. Balot has also continuously spoken against the discrimination.
No. 2: Rajo Laurel
Beyond being fans, many LGBTQ personalities have actively supported the Philippines’ bets to international pageants. One of the most prominent of these backers is fashion designer Rajo Laurel.
The 49-year old designer has contributed gowns worn by candidates and titleholders in the last few decades. His most recent work was the gown worn by Miss Universe 2017 Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters for the Front Row Universe Gala Show in that year.
Outside of his work for the different pageants, Laurel has established himself as a major figure in the local fashion scene. His company has expanded from designer dresses to company uniforms and retail clothing. Laurel also lent a hand during the COVID-19 pandemic, turning his factory into a production facility for PPE suits. He oversaw the design of these suits, ensuring that they conform to medical standards.
No. 3: Jim Ryan Ros
A good amount of glam and training is also essential for the success of any aspiring beauty queen. This is where Jim Ryan Ros and the people of Aces And Queens come into play. The organization serves as a training camp to prepare future pageant candidates for international tilts.
Ros serves as one of the organization’s senior stylists. He and his glam team have helped train some of the biggest winners in recent Pinoy pageant history. These include 201t Miss Universe winner Pia Wurtzback and Miss World 2013 winner Megan Young. Other notable candidates that they have helped include Janine Tugonon (1st runner up, Miss Universe 2012) and Shamcey Supsup (3rd runner, Miss Universe 2011).
The makeup stylist also runs his own salon, Culture Salon MNL in BGC. In 2019, the Miss World Pageant chose it to be their official hair and make up provider. This has helped increase its recognition among Pinoy pageant fans.
No. 4: Jeffrey Jeturian
Jeffrey Jeturian is one of the eminent directors that have come out from the local film industry during the 90’s. His list of films include several critically-acclaimed titles like Pila Balde and Kubrador. The latter has been in several film festivals locally and internationally and even gave him The Best Director Award in the 2007 Gawad Urian.
On TV, Jeturian has directed several teleseryes for both ABS CBN and GMA7. This include the widely popular romance series Be Careful With My Heart (2012) and the ongoing Love Thy Women, both for ABS CBN. The two shows are notable for the different dramatic styles he employs.
Outside of his film and TV directorial work, Jeturian serves as the managing director for Aces And Queens. He was also the one who discovered Maxine Medina, who would go on to become the Philippines’ bet for the 2016 Miss Universe Pageant. Medina would go on to be part of the Top 6 for the tilt.
No. 5: Cristina del Rosario
Many members of the community have made their contributions to local technology development. One of these is Cristina del Rosario, a user experience researcher and designer.
Del Rosario’s notable contributions include a device that makes it easier to administer vaccines. She developed this during her college years at Georgia Tech University to provide a more efficient vaccine delivery system for those in rural areas. Additionally, she would also develop a system of delivering health equipment to far-flung villages.
After graduating from college, Del Rosario returned to the Philippines. Here, she started developing a mobile app to help teach financial literacy to sari-sari store owners. During the testing of the app, she recalled how several store owners thanked her, as the app helped them learn how to use smartphones. Del Rosario said that such moments bring fulfillment for her goal of empowering people through technology.
Del Rosario is also a vocal advocate of LGBTQ rights and inclusivity in the workplace. She argues that by being more inclusive, companies can widen their talent base. The researcher also called on the Philippines to allow same-sex civil unions. This will provide security for LGBTQ scientists and encourage them to stay, she argued.
No. 6: Shakira Sison
The literary arts is another field that many Filipino LGBTQ personalities found success in. One of the most notable here is writer and columnist Shakira Sison. The two-time Palanca Awardee has written insightful essays on a variety of topics like immigration, gender issue, and culture. Sison has also won recognition from other award-giving bodies like the La Salle Scholarum Awards and St. Scholastica College’s Hildegarde Awards.
Sison received the latter award for her Rappler articles that focus on gay rights. Some of these explore the discrimination that Filipino gay couples still encounter. In an interview with Rappler, the writer noted that the award from the said school is a testament to the fact that love, tolerance, and acceptance for gay people is still present in the country.
Sison is currently based in New York with her wife but still maintains a strong presence in the local online community. She is well known for her approachable personality on Twitter, as well as her biting commentary on local issues.
No. 7: Monique Wilson
Long before she came out as a lesbian, Monique Wilson has already established herself as one of the country’s top theater actresses. She started acting on stage at a young age of 14. At 19, she would bag the role of Kim in the critically-acclaimed play Miss Saigon. This is the same role that has catapulted Lea Salonga to International success.
Wilson would establish her theater group, New Voice Company, in 1994. The group has performed around Asia and presented several thought-provoking plays. One of these is a local adaptation of Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues. The play tackled a variety of women’s issues and is considered as a strong indictment against misogyny and sexism.
Wilson continues her campaign for women’s and LGBTQ rights outside of her heater work. She is one of the convenors of One Billion Rising, an organization dedicated to advancing the fight for these. The organization has also been a vocal critic of right-wing politics.
No. 8: Geraldine Roman
With their push for greater rights, members of the LGBTQ community will inevitably enter politics. Basilan 1st District Representative Geraldine Roman is the first transgender member of Congress. She first assumed office in 2016 and successfully got reelected in 2019,
Roman has been a staunch supporter of the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Expression (SOGIE) Bill. She also filed a bill seeking to recognize civil unions for same-sex couples. The bill is currently being deliberated in Congress.
Outside of her push for more LGBTQ legislation, Roman has actively campaigned for increased social services. She is currently the Chairperson for the House Committee on Veteran Affairs and Welfare. In that capacity, the representative is pushing for increased veteran pensions. Additionally, she pushed for the creation of the National Cancer Institute.
Take pride on these LGBTQ personalities
The people listed above show that LGBTQ personalities aren’t limited to just comedy bars and show business. And the contributions they have made are not just for the community but also the larger Philippine society. Be proud of their work and celebrate their life during this Pride Month.