Y-Speak: Being gay

ADOLESCENT life wasn’t easy for me having to hide who I really am. I was born a man but I have the heart of a woman. My name is Ceasar Ean John Manangkil, my mother gave birth to me in the most unnatural way in January 7, 1999, through caesarean, where my name originated.

I grew up with a happy childhood in Barangay Kitacubong, Alamada, North Cotabato. It was easy dealing with the world when you are still a kid. I didn’t really think much of being a gay until I reached high school, where my world became bigger and complicated.

I’ve learned. I’ve struggled a lot. I was confused about the idea of being a gay, and felt rather ashamed about it. All I wanted to do is what they thought was the right thing at that time, not for me but for my family. Because having a situation like this is hard for people like us.

As a gay in my community, I was not exempted from being bullied, discriminated, and degraded.

When I’ve learned “how to be gay” and understand how people see us and treat us, it was when being gay is something that I can be proud of.

When I started college, someone explained me two things why some gays are being judged for who they are. One is simply because we are gay. People would make fun of us for no reason at all.

Second, if we gays do not have respect for ourselves, it will also reflect on how people treat us.

These two points I mentioned are just some of the reasons why we are experiencing what we are experiencing right now as gays.

Therefore, it is also high time that the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity or Expression (Sogie) Equality Bill, also known as the Anti-Discrimination Bill (ADB), be implemented.

I’ve read about the Sogie Bill, which is a proposed legislation of the Congress of the Philippines. It is intended to prevent various acts of discrimination against people based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression.

The bill was first filed in Congress in 2000 by the late senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago.

Similar measures were filed by other senators in the 15th and 16th congresses which failed to see progress. In 2017, the House Bill No. 4982 was filed in 2016 by Rep. Geraldine Roman and recently passed the third reading.

I stand for what I am today and the perception that I believe in myself, my capability, my strength, and my mind telling to do the right thing, being a good citizen of my community.

As part of LGBT community, I salute those LGBTs who are now happy and now contented in their lives.

“Yes! I am gay. No, I’m not attracted to every man I see.” (Ceasar Ean John B. Manangkil, Notre Dame of Midsayap College Intern)

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