"Psst! Kuya, wampipti!"
Above is a common slur used to generalize the gay community as desperate enough to pay in exchange for sexual relations. It is a concept that puts them in a box controlling how to present themselves to the public.
It is no secret that the PH LGBTQ+ culture still stereotypes gay people to look feminine with the classic putok na lipstick and ATM of cismen. Somehow these representations are believed to be "right" about the LGBTQ+ community, which trapped many people in an identity expected of them by the prying eyes around them. This has placed the community in a discriminative environment towards their identity for a long time.
However, discrimination among the gay community is more rampant in the marginalized sector. It is evident that figures like Tito Boy receive more respect than the typical gays in low-income places like salons and karinderyas. Our community, which long forced the gay community to be treated as someone who will only be accepted if they can offer something of use to the heteronormative society, made gays of the low-income community live to be ATMs of cismen.
Despite having figures in the mainstream media representing the LGBTQ+ community, it is evident that they are still underrepresented in the Filipino media. Division among the upper-class and lower-class gays creates a discrepancy in acceptance and tolerance of queer culture. Misrepresentation of what and how gays of different classes should portray affects the perception and opinion of the masses towards the community. Without better programs and figures to promote self-representation, many are still confused about their identity, and acceptance from families is too impossible for some.
This toxic culture is merely a symptom of an underlying issue in society. The lack of SOGIE education among the Filipino community tolerates the misrepresentation of the gay community. Hindering the society from learning the complex ideas of self-representation and gender identity pushes the narrative towards harmful misrepresentation about the LGBTQ+. Street harassment, preying, pedophilia, and other forms of violence are common reactions of miseducated people towards queer self-expression.
The concept of 150 is mere classist discrimination against the economically disadvantaged members of the LGBTQ+ community. The gays in the street are treated without respect and are raised in a toxic culture. Abuse against their identity is commonplace in an environment of confusion that chooses not to accept them.
At this point in time, can we even win the fight for everyone's freedom if we blindside dangerous stereotypes?
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Written by: Julia Torres
Layout and Design by: Jantzen Eros
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