LOVE chooses no gender — it does not hinder, limit, or discriminate. Thankfully, more and more people are starting to realize that love transcends boundaries. The connection that it builds over time can eventually lead to opportunities and chances that might surprise even the most skeptical of people.
Just like Cha and Denz.
Charlene “Cha” Rivera, 28, a lesbian firefighter, and Denzel “Denz” Batocabe, 23, a gay worker in the events industry, are a couple who welcomed their firstborn last June 27, 2024.
Their love story is remarkable, not only because they defy conventional stereotypes by being a lesbian and gay couple but also because they have a beloved child.
Their love story began while Denz was hosting an event. At that same event, Cha was part of the crowd control team.
Cha caught Denz’s eye after reviewing the event photos due to her “cute” appearance. Denz then took the initiative to start a conversation with Cha, and he tried to prolong their interactions and arrange meetups.
And then it really happened.
In an interview on Toni Talks, Denz shared that during his on-the-job training, he found himself attracted to masculine lesbians, which led him to confusion about his preferences. This confusion intensified upon meeting Cha, as Denz was aware that Cha was a lesbian.
Despite this, they did not treat each other differently. They went through the usual stages of courtship and dating. Curious about who initiated the courtship?
While Cha might have made the first move, it was actually Denz who brought food, took Cha on dates, made her the “passenger princess” on their road trips, and proposed that they live together.
As Cha said in an interview at Toni Talks: “Bahala silang maguluhan, basta mahal namin ang isa’t isa.”
The art of unusuals – their kid Dior
Many people were confused and asked numerous questions upon seeing Denz’s pregnancy, but hers was just like anyone else’s. In making this decision, she already knew she’d get a lot of questions from friends and family. Fortunately, both Cha and Denz did not receive any negative comments about it, for which they are grateful.
Cha, as a pregnant lesbian, went through emotional and hormonal changes, which confused Denz a lot since he wasn’t accustomed to seeing Cha in that state.
But it all paid out upon seeing the fruit of their love and companionship.
“Na-witness ko lahat. Ang sarap sa feeling, Walang kapantay yung pakiramdam na makita ko yung anak namin.” Cha said.
Their relationship is a testament to the fact that, regardless of any circumstances that might hinder it, love prevails.
As Cha said: “Hindi ko siya minahal sa kung ano yung nasa pagitan ng binti niya, kundi kung sino siya.”
Despite the limitations they anticipated entering the relationship, Cha and Denz demonstrated that love conquers all.
They transformed the well-known saying “Hindi tayo talo” (“we’re not compatible”) into “Hindi tayo tàlo” (“we’re not losing”) by raising, protecting, and cherishing the greatest blessing they have ever had—their child.
As often stated, love wins.
With reports from Alexis Fei Caceres
