Monika: What was the hardest thing about your coming out?
Naomi: How my family would take it. Until now, my parents continue to have a hard time with my trans status. My two older siblings love me for who I am but my parents still have some way to go before they finally and really make peace with who I am. But overall, my relationship with my parents is okay. We are past the drama and are all in a good place right now.
Monika: What do you think about transgender stories or characters which have been featured in Filipino films, newspapers, or books so far?
Naomi: They leave a lot to be desired. While there are more images of transwomen in media now, they remain stereotypical. The limited portrayals still only show us as sex workers, pageant queens, and showgirls. Worse is when transgender women are portrayed as mindless creatures who do nothing but obsess about their looks. There is actually one indie film made based on that premise. It was truly blood-curdling.
Currently, there is a dearth of images of transmen in Filipino films, newspapers, and even books. I guess it is all part of the evolution of media representations of us that are supposed to go from bad to good. I still dream of a time when Philippine cinema, for example, will genuinely celebrate being trans by not making a big deal out of it and focusing on transpeople’s ordinary lives as human beings with hopes, dreams, and desires.
Monika: The transgender cause is usually manifested together with the other LGBT communities. Being the last letter in this abbreviation, is the transgender community able to promote its own cause within the LGBT group?
Naomi: Things have vastly improved for transactivism in the Philippines. Before the millennium, there was a lot of transphobia even within LGBT circles. I still feel vestiges of that transphobia among LGBT advocates but to a lesser degree now. Just last year, for example, we took part in an HIV and AIDS awareness photographic campaign. The gay man who met our group at the reception at first insisted that we signed up our names on the sheet provided for male participants. Thankfully, his own colleague corrected him, apologized to us profusely and excused his behavior. We let it go because it was a very public event, but you can imagine that this happens until now in many other places and contexts.
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| Naomi Fontanos with volunteer members for a GANDA Filipinas New Year celebration. |
In fact, HIV and AIDS activism in the Philippines continues to use the transphobic framework of lumping transwomen with men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM). So in our own community, the LGBTQ community that is fighting for rights based on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI), there are people who still do not completely embrace transpeople’s gender identities. Fortunately, there are more trans advocates now and we have also more allies within the LGBTQ community and in other social justice movements who are one in advocating for every person’s right to self-determination.
Monika: Is there anyone in the Filipino transgender society whose actions could be compared to what Harvey Milk was doing in the USA in the 60s and 70s for the gay activism?
Naomi: I hesitate to answer this question because Harvey Milk lived in a different context and time. Harvey Milk was a pioneer advocate and his life and death moved the American LGBTQ movement forward. Here in the Philippines, I see the same thing happen to our movement because of the murder of transwoman Jennifer Laude.
While Jennifer Laude was not known as a transactivist, the path of her life made possible encounters between her and feminists working on the ground in Olongapo City. I am sure she deeply understood their fight for social justice. While Jennifer Laude’s death is truly saddening, her case has also galvanized the LGBT community here. Not surprisingly, her death has also resonated within other social justice movements including those fighting for genuine Philippine sovereignty and freedom, nationalism, democratization, economic justice, etc. Jennifer Laude’s death is turning into a historical phenomenon in itself in very much the same way as Harvey Milk’s.
Monika: Are you active in politics? Do you participate in any lobbying campaigns? Do you think transgender women can make a difference in politics?
Naomi: Right now, when our time, energy, and resources permit, we support lobbying efforts to get an anti-discrimination bill passed in Philippine Congress. We have been supporting this initiative for the last 15 years. It’s been a long and uphill struggle but we believe that victory is coming. We have also been contacted by the office of a certain senator who is interested to push for a gender recognition law in the Philippines. At this point, it is still too early to tell if something concrete will come out of our discussions. Definitely, this development is exciting to all of us here.
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| Ms Naomi Fontanos for the GANDA Filipinas Facebook launch photo campaign in 2012. |
We are also trying to reach grassroots communities through our advocacy work to make LGBTQ people in these communities aware of their human rights. This way, they themselves can agitate for the change they want to see happen in society.
Definitely, transwomen can make a difference in politics. In fact, in the last two local elections, we’ve heard of transwomen getting elected in various positions including as members of their village or city council and local village chief. They follow the earlier achievement of Ms. Ruvic Rea, who is recognized as the first transwoman politician in the Philippines.
There were also transwomen who ran for local posts and lost in the last elections. Politics in the Philippines remains highly traditional. To get elected, you need to have machinery that will ensure your victory. You just cannot run with good intentions.
Monika: Could you tell me about the importance of love in your life?
Naomi: It is very important but I am sure that at the mention of love, most people would think about romantic love. While having a deep, fulfilling, and meaningful romance with a significant other does make life better, it is not the end-all, be-all for me. This may sound clichéd, but this much I know now: truly learning to love yourself is the best gift you can give yourself. All love must start with self-love. That love inside you will then radiate outwards and open doors for you to be able to love others.
Monika: Many transgender ladies write their memoirs. Have you ever thought about writing such a book yourself?
Naomi: Strangely, I have! If it is not a biography, then perhaps I can write a work of fiction loosely based on my life. I have always dreamt of taking on a big project such as writing a book. I wish one day that the circumstances of my life will allow me to finally do that.
Monika: Are you working on any new projects now?
Naomi: I keep on writing articles that are advocacy-oriented. Thankfully some of my work has been published in a broadsheet and online portals of news outlets. What I’d really like to write is fiction, though. That will be my target next year, and hopefully, more post-graduate studies. GANDA Filipinas continues to be my personal pet project as I want it to attract more transpeople who want to join the fight for genuine social change.
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| Twitter & Facebook. |
Monika: What would you recommend to all transgender girls struggling with gender dysphoria?
Naomi: I cannot simply assure them that it will get better. That would be irresponsible. I know the workings of the world enough to say that it can be a dangerous place out there for someone who is trans. But this is no reason for you to live in fear. This only means we need to hone our life skills more in order to survive.
What I can tell you is that you don’t have to go through this alone. Surviving the hardship of our life as trans is possible when you have a support system that is strong. That means different things to different people. To some, it can mean family. To others, it can mean their friends, lovers, or even complete strangers.
The point is: choose to live, choose life, and never lose hope because if we did it, so can you.
Monika: Naomi, thank you for the interview!
Naomi: Thank you too!
All the photos: courtesy of Naomi Fontanos.
© 2014 - Monika Kowalska
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