AS OF 2023, it has been found that there is an average of at least 9% of adults from 30 countries who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community. In the Philippines, a large number of the population falls under this, as well.
One such member of the LGBTQ+ community, who has been loud and proud about her SOGIE since she was young, is 17-year-old Shaira Sleigh Dimaano.
“Bata palang raw ako, ‘malambot’ na ako,” shared Dimaano.
“Siguro mga four years old ako, nakikita na daw nila na iba ako gumalaw.”
She first realized her sexuality when she started crushing on her classmate, who was a boy. However, since she was still unaware of things like this at the time, she simply ignored how she was feeling.
When she reached elementary, however, she noticed that the things she liked were different, and all her friends were girls, as well.
She added: “Hindi nawala ang discrimination at bullying sa buhay ko; dati nakikipag-away pa ‘ko kapag tinatawag akong bakla o bading, until I realised na wala namang mali maging ganito, so na-accept [ko] nalang ang [self] ko.”
She was 15 when she realized that she was transgender, during the pandemic. Through this, she was able to learn more about herself – what she liked, as well as who she was.
Shortly after, she started undergoing Hormonal Replacement Therapy (HRT,) which helps to boost estrogen so the masculine features of her body won’t fully develop. Thankfully, in every step of her journey, her parents have been nothing but supportive.
People on the internet, however, have been less welcoming.
A voice for the voiceless
On May 31st, a day before Pride Month, Dimaano posted a video on her TikTok that showed her waving a pride flag at her high school graduation.
In the caption of the video, she wrote: “Speak louder LGBTQIA+, I’ll be the voice for the voiceless.”
“Ginawa ko siya para ipakita sa kanila na kahit part ako ng LGBTQIA+, na ang dami nilang hanash or kung ano-anong ganap na discrimination, I still managed to graduate,” she explained.
“Sa sobrang dami kong naranasan na discrimination sa school na yun, hindi ako sumuko.”
One such instance of discrimination that she had to go through was when her school started to re-implement its haircut policy following the return of face-to-face classes.
She was called in to get her hair cut; though she’d been given notice about this beforehand, she found that she simply couldn’t let go of her hair.
As a result, she spoke to her adviser about her difficulty in letting go of her hair as doing so would negatively affect her confidence. Following this, a hearing for all transgender students with long hair was held at her school.
Dimaano, however, was the only one to attend. By her side was her dad, who supported her in her fight.
“Akala ko wala [nang] magagawa, pero nailaban ko,” she said.
@shairasleighhhh SPEAK LOUDER LGBTQIA+, I'LL BE THE VOICE FOR VOICELESS! THANKYOU NAUJAN MUNICIPAL HIGHSCHOOL!! PS: I HAVE PERMISSION FOR DOING THIS. #MUNHI #trending #graduation #fyp #trending ♬ original sound – IG @itskimcomia – matchalatte
Dimaano explained that in raising the pride flag during her graduation, she first got permission from a teacher to do so; she messaged a teacher that she was close with, even sending a video reference to ask if she could do that.
The teacher responded by saying there was nothing wrong with doing so as it was just a means of representing her community.
She wanted those like her not to feel discouraged no matter the discrimination they would face, hoping that they would see the video as a source of strength to continue to fight – to continue to live while freely expressing who they are.
During her graduation, her teachers showed surprise, but not in a bad way. They even clapped for her as she waved the flag, alongside her school’s principal, administration, and even the mayor’s spouse, showing that they were all proud of her representation of her community.
When she posted the video, she had no idea that it would go viral, as she didn’t have that many followers when she posted. She just wanted to post the video because she was proud of it, and because Pride Month was coming up.
“Maraming natuwa at nagme-message sa’kin para mag-thank you, at hinangaan yung bravery ko dahil sa ginawa ko, pero siyempre ‘di maiiwasan ang bashers,” she shared.
Despite stating in the caption that she got permission to raise the flag, and doing nothing offensive in her video, she has since received a flurry of negative comments, with many even referring to the flag as a dirty rag or a “basahan.”
Following these comments, Dimaano started to ask herself if she did the right thing in posting the video. She quickly realized, however, that she didn’t do anything wrong.
“Proud ako at papanindigan ko ang ginawa ko,” she said. Hopefully, her video inspires many others to speak their mind and to fight for their community as she has done time and time again.
For those inspired by her video, Dimaano said: “Wag nila hayaan [na] tapakan ang karapatan nila, lumaban pag sila ang tama, [at patuloy na maniwala sa sarili kasi ang mas higit na nakakakilala sa kanila ay ang self nila.”
