Breakthrough in the binary boundary: Cross-dressing in universities goes way beyond clothing

UNIVERSITIES often have a set of rules on proper attire, etiquette, to be observed and followed by students, but with the generation we have now, changes are bound to happen. 

This “change” has spoken volumes to help people discover something beautiful within themselves and awaken their power of self-expression. 

That’s the case for this Far Eastern University (FEU) Manila student. 

FEU Manila has been breaking norms and setting a good example to the advantage of the LGBTQIA+ students. Since 2018, it has sparked the necessary conversations and changes with the gender lens and everything in-between, inside the campus. 

This progress can be traced back to the university’s Gender and Development Desk. As early as 2016, cross-dressing has been allowed in the university. 

“It all started with [building] the gender-neutral bathrooms,” said Joshua Angelo Erne or “Erne,” a senior International Studies student. 

FEU decided that gender inclusivity doesn’t stop there; they moved forward and removed hair-color restrictions and promoted unisex uniforms. 

With this, students became free to express themselves through fashion. This action approved by the university led the students a step closer to self-expression through fashion. 

Erne is one of the students who is now free to wear whatever he feels like wearing inside the campus. The first time he took this opportunity was in an event he hosted.

Photo Courtesy: Joshua Angelo Erne

He felt so empowered as he sported a long black skirt paired with a black see-through blouse and blazer as the master of the ceremony in an academic research table. He wore this outfit in front of respected people like deans, professors, and alumni. The event gave him the perfect opportunity to showcase his queerness and the inclusiveness of his university.

With reports from  Katelyn Julianne Miralles