Queer Idols: Taking Up Their Cosmic Space

By Mark Ghosn
|
June 3, 2024

Queer idols Eva Le Queen, M1ss Jade So, and Mrs. Tan come out from their mothership to assert their rights in their motherland.

Have you ever felt like an alien in your land? Like you beamed down to a planet where the customs are strange, the greetings awkward, and the air crackles with a low-level hum of misunderstanding? For many queer Filipinos, this is a daily reality. Drag superstars Eva Le Queen – one of the most beloved contestants in the first season of Drag Race Philippines for her quotable commentaries with a heart; M1ss Jade So, well-known for her unique antics in Drag Race Philippines Season 2; and Mrs. Tan, Drag Den Season 2 finalist who is not afraid to speak her mind; these queens are no strangers to this experience. They sat down with Zeen Magazine for our Pride Month special to share their art, their struggle for equality, and their quest for queer-safe spaces in their homeland.

Queer Idols: Taking Up Their Cosmic Space 1 - Zeen Magazine — Photography by Ennuh Tiu. Post Processed by Ricardow.

Tainted Galaxy

Imagine squeezing yourself into a crowded jeepney, dressed to the nines in full makeup and towering heels, a bold declaration of identity, turning the ordinary into a vibrant spectacle. The air thick with cologne and sweat, you catch a glance – a flicker of judgment, a subtle shift away. Suddenly, the familiar transforms into the foreign. This is how it can feel like to navigate everyday spaces as a queer person in the Philippines. Mrs. Tan who is still experiencing it in the big year of 2024 shares, “Kapag naka-draga ka or kahit nga hindi ka naka-drag ka eh, yung parang loud and fabulous ka, like super, wala lang gusto mo lang mag-damit ng good vibes ka, tapos paglabas mo, may dadaan na truck [sisigaw ng] Bakla! Bakla! Bakla!”. She then quips about the daring looks cis-gendered individuals mostly men give them, a gaze that can speak thousands of words but carry a connotation of deep, hurtful, cut-throat hate and disgust. Not even a look of appreciation is directed at them since most of the time, the hate is intentional. There is an intent to show dominance and make others feel inferior, establishing that they are somehow better. Miss Jade So, a transwoman who faced outrageous discriminatory remarks, shed light on the fact that these people lack empathy and compassion, “I still experience discrimination by being called Sir. Just by hearing my voice, seeing my legal name. Sa mga Grab usually. Sorry. Sa mga, taxis, I usually experience that”, she says, highlighting the daily microaggressions trans individuals endure.

Then you get down from the jeepney, with full blush-on makeup and high heels clicking down the busy streets of Manila—a getup that people will surely give a double look and a presence meant to stand out. Even as they make their presence known, their footsteps echoing through busy streets, why do they continue to feel alienated in environments that should be free from hostility?

Queer Idols: Taking Up Their Cosmic Space 2 - Zeen Magazine — Photography by Ennuh Tiu. Post Processed by Ricardow.

Equal Rights On Earth

The Philippines may be beautiful, but for the LGBTQ+ community, it often lacks the atmosphere that allows us to truly thrive. We exist in a legal and social climate that denies us equal rights, making it difficult to feel safe and accepted.

One of the many challenges the queer community faces was sorrowfully mentioned by a disheartened Eva Le Queen. Her eyes gleaming with sorrow, her presence radiating a profound sadness, she proceeds, “Yung mga basic rights na hinihingi ko, yung magkaroon ng karapatan doon sa taong minamahal ko, wala pa. [We] are seen as a lesser member of the community. It’s painful. It’s really, really painful.”.

The harsh reality, embodying the landscape of the queer community in the country, underscores the persistent struggle to feel safe and accepted. With even the bare minimum of respect and protection denied, we are further alienated. M1ss Jade So, who is often subjected to discriminatory remarks shares “Minsan nakakawala ng gana. And, minsan napapaisap ako ng gusto ko ng umalis dito”.

Queer Idols: Taking Up Their Cosmic Space 3 - Zeen Magazine — Photography by Ennuh Tiu. Post Processed by Ricardow.

Such experiences faced by the queer community have persisted for years, even decades, in the ongoing struggle for equal rights. The SOGIE Bill, also known as House Bill No. 4982, is a proposed law aimed at taking out discrimination against individuals based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Since its introduction to Congress in 2000, the bill has remained in deliberations

Mrs. Tan, who spent her pre-drag years actively pushing for the bill shares her frustration, “Let’s just be real about it. Na parang, yung twenty, twenty-four years, twenty plus years, Diyos ko, kasing tanda ko na yung bill. Yung mga mothers natin sa adbokasiya, ganun rin katagal siyang nilalaban. At one point, nakakapagod siya.”

If aliens were to long for the same alienation, society would have no choice but to accept them, recognizing that they, too, deserve to stand out and be seen, because their presence matters.

We Will Not Be Silenced Because We Sparkle Too Much

From the flamboyant world of drag to the quiet courage of coming out, the LGBTQ+ community is fighting back. Drag queens become cosmic beings, transforming themselves into beacons of self-expression, challenging societal norms, and inspiring others to embrace their truths. Their performances are war cries disguised as glitter, each one a tiny revolution on a brightly lit stage. Their audiences are a kaleidoscope of allies and fellow travelers, finding strength and acceptance in the shared experience.

A Kaleidoscope of allies, every color and every hue, those who go the extra mile to support see these Queer Icons are aware of the shimmer they bring. Eva mentions, “When they see drag queens, for [the] first time in a mainstream representation, nakakita sila of an embodiment of a powerful, unapologetic female energy”. Along the way, cis women watch with admiration, their eyes alight with wonder. These Drag Queens, vulnerable and deeply human, exude an unapologetic energy that captivates and inspires them.

Queer Idols: Taking Up Their Cosmic Space 4 - Zeen Magazine — Photography by Ennuh Tiu. Post Processed by Ricardow.

To fightback and assert their presence, Mrs. Tan opens up about the influence they hold, “Mga [supporters] na gustong makinig ng mga kwento na hindi nila naririnig before. Or mga narinig na nila gusto lang nilang i-revisit, mga ganong bagay”. This is precisely what the queens have always intended, as Drag has always been inherently political.

Despite their flamboyance, the queer community’s shine has always been dimmed, overshadowed by blame and prejudice. As Eva says, “Hindi yan gender specific. Kung ang tao ay merong intensyon na masama sa kapwa nila, kahit lalaki, babae, tomboy, bakla, meron silang masamang intensyon sa’yo. Hindi yan porket, [for example] trans ka, ‘yun na yung inclination mo to do it”.

The influence they hold over cisgender females, who largely appreciate them, stands as a testament to the power these queens wield. Their performances serve as impassioned cries to the universe, signaling a demand for acceptance.

A Universe of Acceptance

The future of drag, and the fight for equality, is one where safe spaces aren’t confined to stages and clubs. It’s about claiming our right to exist authentically in every corner of this archipelago. We envision jeepneys filled with acceptance, restrooms where everyone feels welcome, and streets that echo with the vibrant chorus of queer joy. The queens share the same optimism.

“I’m still staying because I believe na there is hope”, Eva shares. Her eyes beamed up, especially when she thought of looking at the scenario for their community in a glass, she adds, “Itong sitwasyon na ‘to is like looking at it as a glass half empty and half full. I choose to look at the half full part, na parang, meron na eh, may nagbago na. Hindi naman like totally walang- wala. It’s not always, hindi naman porket nilaban mo [at] tinodo mo in a snap magbabago na ang lahat”.

Undeniably, it is exhausting to push for the bare minimum acceptance that cisgender individuals are privileged to have, M1ss Jade recognizes that if they don’t champion the fight, no one else will. If they give in to their exhaustion and retreat into their own bubble, the struggle for acceptance will stagnate, “Yung mga taong katulad ko na mag-iisip na ayoko na dito sa Pilipinas, [kung ganon] sino ang matitira to make a change? So, I’m still here para mag-contribute to the change that we want”, she says.

But staying in a country with no equal rights is not always voluntary, as Mrs. Tan shares, “Ang pananatili ay choice o pwedeng wala kang choice, as of the moment, wala akong choice, so dahil nandito ka na rin lang, lumaban ka na. Kung hindi ako lalaban, ano yun? Yung susunod na generation ganun din yung maaasahan?”

TAKING UP THEIR COSMIC SPACE

To contribute to change is to slowly carve out a space for ourselves, a place where we can finally enjoy the acceptance and recognition they deserve. At the end of the day, none of us want to be seen as aliens but as vibrant members of this human family, adding our unique sparkle to the beauty of the world.

True enough, Eva emphasizes, “I am a universe within a universe at marami akong magagawa pa”. The queer community has a lot of influence, in the arts and beyond, and the members of the community make strong statements wherever they go. Alienating us and depriving us of basic rights won’t dim our sparkle.

We are here, we are loud, and we are demanding a universe where everyone feels safe and belongs. It’s time we let our collective light illuminate a path toward a more inclusive future. This isn’t just a dream, it’s a birthright, after all, we are all made of star.

To be more updated with Zeen and its Pride Cover Issue featuring Eva Le Queen, M1ss Jade So, and Mrs. Tan, follow our social media accounts @zeenmagazineph. You can also listen to The Zeen Zone on Spotify and YouTube for their interview.

Credits:

Wardrobe and Styling

Eva Le Queen

M1ss Jade So
Headdress & Outfit Designer | Job Dacon
Hair | Gabriel Villegas & Margaux
Assisted by Dina Abadia & Ace Tumambing
Handler | Kris Nuevo

Mrs. Tan

Location | Studio Simula

IN SUPPORT OF LOVEYOURSELFPH – a community of volunteers that aim to reach out to others to propagate ideas, attitudes, and practices that encourage loving oneself — to DARE to be oneself, to CARE for oneself, and to SHARE oneself as a way to multiply joy.