Ladlad and Me

I thought I was the last to know about that article in the Philippine Daily Inquirer featuring my interview about Ladlad. Besides Libay and Bemz who posted it in multiply and facebook, respectively, a male friend from a regional human rights training institute posted it in our egroups as well. I was a little surprised, but was genuinely pleased to have done my bit for Ladlad in Baguio, even after all the politicking involved. After a week or so, my Mom confronted me about it last weekend. Apparently, one morning, a churchmate asked her if she had a child by my name. She said yes, that's my lawyer daughter..and this co-parishioner then preceeded to tell her about the "gays in congress" newsbit. She rushed home and asked the maids to look for the Monday issue of PDI. I am not sure how she reacted in front of her fellow parishioner, whether she was embarrassed or proud. But she cut out the news article and set it aside to show me when I visited.I guess my own family did not realize the extent of my LGBT advocacy work until now. They have known me to be a member of numerous organizations even while in college. But they never knew exactly what I do and who I really am among my peers and colleagues in the LGBT Community. That was until my own niece who is studying in Australia spoke of a fellow Filipino graduate student who allegedly knew me. She was speaking of Patrick of Ladlad and who hails from faraway Cebu. My niece told her Mom and the next day my older sister asked me if I was indeed Ladlad's national treasurer. Oh well...There is still much work to be done for Ladlad and my family might get the occasional surprise again soon. And wait till we get to Congress...heheheh :)