Dalawang beses pinalakpakan ang mahaba at matalinong paliwanag ni Jake Zyrus (formerly Charice Pempengco) tungkol sa mga latest issues ng LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning] community, partikular na ang tungkol sa cry of discrimination ni transwoman Gretchen Diez na pinosasan ng isang janitress sa isang mall sa Cubao noong August 13, matapos diumano nitong ipaglaban ang karapatan niyang gumamit ng women’s comfort room.
Naging malaking isyu ito at umabot pa nga ang usapin sa senado.
Openly transman si Jake. It was in June 2017 nang isapubliko niya ang kanyang pagta-transition (into man), Earlier on, natutukan din ng lahat ang nauna niya munang pag-a-out bilang lesbian sa defunct show na The Buzz noong June 2013 naman.
(A transman, according to Wikipedia, “is a man who was assigned female at birth. Many transmen choose to undergo surgical or hormonal transition, or both to alter their appearance in a way that aligns with their gender identity or alleviates gender dysphoria.”)
Kaya naman hindi na nakakagulat kung mahingi ang opinyon niya tungkol sa mga issues ng LGBTQ+. Naganap ang paghingi ng opinyon kay Jake sa press conference ng kanyang latest album na Evolution (under Star Music) sa 9501 Restaurant sa ABS-CBN last September 4.
Aminado si Jake na noong bata-bata pa siya ay mainit din siya sa mga isyung tingin niya ay nakakatapak sa karapatan niya bilang tao, who happened to be a member of the LGBTQ+ community.
Noon daw, gaya din ni Gretchen Diez, ay ipipilit din niya ang sa tingin niya ay karapatan niya.
“I used to think that way,” panimula ni Jake. “Pipilitin ko ’yong sarili ko to go to the male’s restroom. But the more I grow older, the more I realized that not everyone thinks the same, not everyone believes in the same belief that you believe...so nagsi-CR ako kung saan ako dapat mag-CR...kung ano po ’yong naiisip n’yo, do’n ako nagsi-CR. You know, I simply follow the law.
“I respect the law and if I respect the law, hopefully the government will see it and I hope that everyone follows it, you know? Kasi madali lang naman, e. It’s just a CR.”
Kung nanghihingi daw ng pang-unawa ang mga members of the LGBTQ+ community, dapat daw ay handa rin ang mga itong magbigay ng pang-unawa sa hindi nila ka-miyembro.
“You know, it goes both ways,” emphasize ni Jake. “It’s about behavior, it’s about how we treat each other. This is not about sexuality anymore. This is not about the CR anymore. This is how we’re going to treat each other and how we’re going to understand each other. This is not just about understanding me, understanding the LGBT community, this is both ways.
“So, ’yong nga ’yong sinasabi ko na pag binato ka ng bato, batuhin mo ng tinapay. So, if someone does not understand what you’re going through, if someone doesn’t understand who you are, you simply understand them.
“Kasi we don’t have the right to push everyone to accept our beliefs...E, pa’no kung gawin sa’yo ’yon? Like for example...pinilit kita, let’s say kunwari religion-wise—which is also a big issue—‘O, maging ganito ka. Kasi ganito ako.’ Wouldn’t that be offending?
“It’s the same thing with everything. We cannot push everyone’s beliefs...so if I go to women’s restroom and they feel awkward, it’s not my fault anymore because I’m following the law because that’s what they said, right? Biologically I’m a woman, so I follow it.”
To further prove his point, ginawa niyang example ang pagka-come out niya as a transman. Aniya, ginawa niya ito para sa sarili niya—dahil ito ang magpapasaya sa kanya. Pero hindi niya ipipilit na tanggapin siya ng lahat.
“I don’t need everyone else’s validation of who I am because the reason why I came out as a transman...I transitioned to transman because it’s a fulfillment for myself. Achievement po ’to para sa akin. Nag-come out ako hindi para isampal sa lahat na, ‘E, eto ako, ha.’
“Nag-come out ako because, first of all, I’m in showbusiness, I’m in the entertainment industry...I felt like it’s a must... it was a must for everyone to know who I really am. I came out because I want everybody to know but, it was achievement for myself. I’m not pushing everybody to celebrate with me if you don’t believe in it.
“So, ang sa akin, I don’t need validation from each and everyone of you...I’m thankful if you support it, and if you’re not, I understand. But I’m here, I tell you who I am because ito ’yong magpapasaya sa akin. And I respect your happiness.”
So far, wala pa naman daw siyang nararanasang discrimination of any kind in as far as pagbabanyo is concerned.
“Actually, hindi pa naman po so far...minsan lang may nagpapa-picture, sabi ko, ‘Wag naman po tayo dito, CR po ito. Doon nalang tayo sa labas...mamaya picture tayo, may kubeta doon sa likod...actually ’yon lang,” natatawang kwento pa niya.
“Wala pa namang ano...for example I’m in a country where allowed na pumasok sa male restroom ang mga transman, then I do it. Ano kasi ako, paranoid ako. Before I go to another country, I actually do research...It will help kasi hindi naman natin [alam ang mga laws nila]...i-respect nalang natin, you know.”
Tila lumalabas na para kay Jake, peace is better than being right at this point. And that ang mga kagaya niya shouldn’t ask for too much. One day at a time, kumbaga.
“Kasi naniniwala naman ako na magbabago at magbabago yan...Let’s be contented with whatever we have right now...Kasi kung tutuusin hindi naman ito pinag-uusapan noon, e. The LGBT itself, the community? Di ba? Silent yan noon. Buti nga ngayon—not one hundred percent accepted pero nandoon ’yong nararamdaman mo that you exist.
“So for now, ako okey na ako doon because I know that someday...hindi natin alam what the future will bring...I’m comfortable with myself...CR lang yan...so if I go to women’s ano, ...if they’re not comfortable, then hindi ko na problema ’yon.
Again, it’s about behavior, it’s about humanity, it’s about how we treat each other.”
Kalaunan, natanong pa rin si Jake kung pabor ba siya sa panukalang maglagay nalang ng ikatlong CR para sa ikatatahimik ng lahat.
Aniya: “Ako po, I’ll agree lang kung ’yon ay magpapa-better sa ating bansa...sa totoo lang. If it’s going to be a good thing for our country. If everyone’s going to stop hating each other because of a restroom, nasa gubyerno na po natin yan. Whatever, if it’s going to be better our country. Kasi ’yon lang naman ang problema natin ngayon.”
Naniniwala daw siyang meron pang mas malalaking problema ang bansa kesa sa isyu nang kung saan magbabawas ang mga members of the LGBTQ+ community. Nagbiro pa siya na kung siya lang daw, wala daw problema dahil makakagawa daw siya ng ibang paraan. In fact, mas problema para sa kanya ang kawalan ng malilinis na public toliets kung tutusin.
“There are so many problems that we should face a lot more than this...I’m more concerned of that because you know, anywhere I can...kahit saan naman p’wede ako umihi...you know, may bote naman. Hahaha! Basta malinis ang CR kasi minsan kahit pambabae, panlalaki...oh my god! Di sa bote nalang...Hindi, pero ayon po pabor ako kung mababasa ko sa comments na okay na lahat.”
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:
Jake Zyrus is all for SOGIE bill if it contributes to everyone, not just one group
Angelica Panganiban supports celebration of pride month, “I Am An Ally.”
