Supporting AngLadlad

During an interview with a lesbian sociology student doing her thesis, the limitations of our financial resources for a nation-wide campaign was made quite apparent by her questions. I sensed the concern in this young lesbian activist's mind, but her sensible input on tapping the Filipino youth was a point well-taken. She reminded me of the survey conducted by PDI among the youth after the COMELEC's dubious reasoning that we are "threats to the youth". Indeed, the Filipino youth is a force to contend with for their intelligence and sense of public duty and responsibility. The simple task is reaching out to these young people whose minds were fortunately un-tarnished by prejudiced Catholic educations. So where are they? Most of them are ever-present in cyberspace and whether we like or not, technology and the internet is the way to go. Here's a practical suggestion - we take our campaign to cyberspace and take advantage of the internet's social networking sites.

Another interview with a gay PhD student from Singapore, made me remember AngLadlad's roots. By asking about our simple history, I realized our foundation in the Filipino LGBT Advocacy movement. Clearly good-intentioned, his questions made me reconsider AngLadlad's platform and imagine new ways of explaining its relevance to every Filipino, LGBT or not.

I also gave an interview to a group of MassCom students from FEU doing a project on investigative journalism. They wanted to document LGBT abuse and violence especially with transgenders. Recounting the numerous "horror stories" we've encountered through the years, I realized our work is never done, but everyday we meet potential allies and supporters in the most unexpected places. I earnestly asked these students to do justice to these life stories and to be true to the cause of investigative journalism.

Speaking with these young people, both LGBTs and straight, I renewed my faith in Philippine society. Change may yet happen in this lifetime.

This piece is for you, Sanie, Wendell, and Molly, et.al. You have unknowingly supported AngLadlad's cause without you realizing how significant your contributions were.