What is the essence of being a woman? That is the famous question given to 1997 Miss Universe winner Sushmita Sen. She answered: “I think being a woman, by itself, the very fact that you are a woman is a gift of God which all of us must appreciate. The origin of a child is a mother and is a woman.” 

But is this still the only definition of womanhood? Well, it’s not. Why do we know that? It’s because of women like Miss Spain Angela Ponce, the first transwoman to compete in Miss Universe 2018. And here to prove the real essence of being a woman is the Quezon City-based artist called Worshipthegays.

The clear transphobia within our society came out once Angela competed this year. Planned Parenthood defined transphobia as “the fear, hatred, disbelief, or mistrust of people who are transgender, thought to be transgender, or whose gender expression doesn’t conform to traditional gender roles.” Clearly, trolls and haters of Angela fit the bill.

Worshipthegays created an online zine to combat this toxicity exhibited by homophobes and transphobic people. Through his polarizing and strong imagery, he hopes to educate readers on sexual and gender identity. He also counters some transphobic comments by offering a counter-argument on their problematic stance.

Curious about his latest zine; we talked to Worshipthegays on Angela representing the transcommunity on a global platform, our nation’s internal transphobia, and what he hopes to achieve with his zine. 

“Lumabas ‘yung totoong kulay ng mga mga taong kapag convenient sa kanila yung LGBTQIA+, saka sila nag #LoveWins at sumusuporta.”

What pushed you to create this zine about Angela Ponce and addressing transmisogyny that is prevalent in our society?
Nahihirapan na ako sa social media, kasi ang daming mga taong nag-vo-voice out ng opinion nila. Gusto ko man makipag-away sa comments, hindi ko na lang ginagawa, tumatahimik na lang ako. Hindi rin kasi ako magaling pagdating sa words. 

Dominated na ng mga opinion ang social media. Ang daming status at comments [tungkol kay Angela]. Kaya naisip kong gumawa ng zine, kasi naniniwala ako na ang zine ay malayang espasyo, malayo ang kayang abutin, at kaya ring baguhin nito ang persepsyon ng mga tao. Dito ako may boses, sa paggawa ng mga photosets o zines, tapos i-upload sa social media. Kung may pera, i-pi-print.

“Oo, naniniwala ko na kahit anong representation ng LGBTQIA+ community sa iba’t-ibang larangan ay mahalaga.”

Do you think Angela entering the pageant is a good way to open the conversation on the trans community in a huge platform?
Oo, naniniwala ko na kahit anong representation ng LGBTQIA+ community sa iba’t ibang larangan ay mahalaga. Sana hindi lang hanggang mabuksan ang usapin sa trans community sa wider platform. Sana hindi lang si Angela ang huling transwoman na sasali sa Miss Universe.

What disappointed you the most on the Filipinos negative reactions when she entered the competition?
Lumabas ‘yung totoong kulay ng mga mga taong kapag convenient sa kanila ‘yung LGBTQIA+, saka sila nag #LoveWins at sumusuporta. 

Makikita mo na totoong hindi pa talaga tanggap ng lipunang Pilipino ang LGBTQIA+ community.  Saka ang lala ng internatlized homophobia sa loob mismo ng community. 

Kaya lang nilang tanggapin kung sa Miss Gay sumasali ang mga transwomen. Hindi nila tanggap na ganap na babae ang mga transwoman. Paalala ito na kailangang-kailangan natin isulong ang SOGIE Equality Bill.

“Yes, it is the perfect time to address our nation’s transmisogyny. Tutok ang lahat sa Miss Universe. Magandang oportunidad na ma-educate ‘yung mga tao sa issue na ito.”

Is this the perfect time to address our nation’s transmisogyny? And how we often blur the lines between gays and transfolk?
Yes, it is the perfect time to address our nation’s transmisogyny. Tutok ang lahat sa Miss Universe. Magandang oportunidad na ma-educate ‘yung mga tao sa issue na ito. Lalo pa na laganap din ang misogyny, jusko. ‘Loka talaga, sis. Kailangan i-push natin ng bongga.

What do you hope the zine will accomplish in terms of educating the people who come across it?
Siguro kung ma-offend sila, okay lang. Kung mabuksan ‘man ang isipan nila, mas maganda. Ang mahalaga ay malayo ang marating nung message ng zine. Sa dami ng nang-ba-bash sa transgender community, sana ‘pag nakita nila yung zine, masasabi nilang may mga taong nagmamahal at tanggap sila.

“…babae pa sa babae si Angela dahil hindi siya takot na gawin ang sa tingin niya’y tama at wala siyang taong niyuyurakan.”

And for you, what is the essence of being a woman?
Ang esensiya ng pagiging babae ay hindi makikita sa pisikal na katangian. Ito ay ang kanyang paninindigan, marunong lumaban para sa nakararami. Tumitindig laban sa diskriminasyon at opresyon sa mga kababaihan. Kung ‘yun lang din ang usapan, babae pa sa babae si Angela dahil hindi siya takot na gawin ang sa tingin niya’y tama at wala siyang taong niyuyurakan.

View the entire zine here.

Photos from @worshipthegays