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Updated May 3rd 2017, 12:04:10 am
A transgender student succeeds in building a legacy for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBTQIA+) students of Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU).
MANILA, Philippines - She is not a staunch supporter like other famous LGBT rights advocates, but her willingness resulted in a visible representation of the gender minority in one of the universities in Intramuros, Manila.
Dencio Arcadio is a graduating tourism student who founded LPU Kasarian, which made news lately after the university approved its proposal to assign gender-neutral comfort rooms in the campus on March 6.
Prior to the establishment of the organization, Arcadio confided that it was only when she entered college that she became knowledgeable about the advocacies of the LGBT movement.
"Actually hindi naman talaga ako gender advocate kung talagang dati pa. Kailan na lang nung college ako na-realize ko [na] parang walang organization [for] LGBT," she said. "Kailan ko lang talaga din na-realize na dapat talaga [ipaglaban ang gender equality]."
Arcadio added that back when she was a freshman, she had already thought of creating an organization for the LGBT community but she did not have enough courage to do so. "Kasi alam ko meron [y]atang mga nagta-try na mag-establish ng ganung organization pero hindi pinapayagan."
Supported by administration
LPU Kasarian was officially recognized last year under the tutelage of Paolo Laurel.
He is the son of LPU Batangas president Peter Laurel, and is working as the Executive Assistant of Atty. Roberto P. Laurel, president of LPU Manila.
It was the first officially recognized gender equality organization who garnered solid support from the administration and the student body.
When asked how she thinks Paolo Laurel became an "ally," a term used for cisgender supporters of the LGBT movement, Arcadio said, "Sa lahat ng [miyembro] ng admin, siya yung pinaka mas ka-age natin. Mas naiintindihan niya tayo unlike dun sa may mga oldies na sa administration na talagang ayaw. Na parang conservative pa sila."
She also mentioned fashion designer Rajo Laurel, who is Paolo's cousin. "Naku-kwento niya sakin na may mga kaibigan siyang gays. And he believes that wala namang mali ron. There's nothing wrong with that."
The allotment of gender-neutral lavatories was approved on March 6.
"Nakatulong yung binabang memorandum nung Commission on Higher Education (CHED) about gender equality. Naging isa rin siyang factor and I believe that LPU is starting to be embracive or starting to be progressive na," said Arcadio.
CHED's Memorandum Order No. 1 series of 2015 establishes policies and guidelines on Gender and Development. The document for the gender-neutral restrooms posted on Arcadio's Facebook account states, "The first step is establishing and alloting Gender-Neutral Comfort Rooms to diminish and eradicate discrimination in the LGBT community.
Gender-Neutral Restroom
Arcadio recounted her experience that led her to understanding the need for gender-neutral lavatories.
"Nung short hair pa ako, I really don't care kung dun ako sa lalake nagc-cr," she said.
It was only when she decided to identify herself as a woman and started her transformation that she found it awkward to share a comfort room with men.
"[Biglang] malalaman mo na hindi ka pwede talaga mag-cr sa babae kasi mavi-violation ka. Tapos pag magc-cr ka sa lalaki, ang awkward na. [Mararamdaman] mo na yung awkwardness. Tapos, dun na magti-trigger yung bullying. Nung time na humahaba na yung buhok ko, naging parang babae na talaga ako, yun talaga yung pinaka naging parang eye opener for me na dapat magkaroon talaga ng gender-neutral restroom," she said.
Expanding Horizon
Back when Arcadio was young, she simply identified herself as gay.
"Actually, I didn't define myself [as transgender, but] as a gay muna first when I was young. Then nagkaroon siyempre ng knowledge. Ngayong college lang nalaman ko yung difference ng gay [at] lesbian sa bisexual [at] sa transgender. Dun ko lang na-classify yung sarili ko as a transgender," she said.
She learned much of those terms by reading and following gender equality advocacy Pages in social media. "Like, yung UP Babaylan tapos meron silang mga pinopost dun about difference... kung ano yung kaibahan ng ganito sa ganyan."
To fill in the gaps and expand the depth of her knowledge on the LGBT movement, Arcadio researched and attended Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) seminars like the one held in Dela Salle - College of Saint Benilde.
"Naka-attend ako sa Benilde ng seminar [about SOGIE]. Siyempre kung bubuo ako ng org[anization], dapat alam mo yung pinaglalaban mo. So dapat, educated ako. Informed ako sa mga anong nangyayari ba talaga."
She added, "[Yun] yung first step. Nag research ako. Tapos in-invite ko yung sarili ko sa mga ganung activities. Like yung sa may social media. Yung mga campaigns ng mga universities na merong LGBT organization. Tapos I [came] up with my own constitution and by-laws. Yung as a requirement of the Student Affairs Office."
Future of the Organization
Arcadio once proposed free HIV testing inside the university. "I proposed it to [the] Students Affairs Office but they are not in favor."
She explained that there are Senior High School (SHS) students and minors and other people who might misinterpret it. Kasarian, she said, has many active Senior High School members.
"Sinabihan nila ako na kung pwede, encourage na lang na [magpa-HIV test]."
She added, "Di naman kasi lahat as open minded as us. Siyempre may mga tao talagang hindi nakakaintindi sa mga yan so ano lang yan, pana-panahon. Darating din yung time na magiging open din sila sa may ganun."
Finally, Arcadio said that time will come when the LGBT community will be wholly accepted in the country. It won't be easy and it shouldn't be fast tracked, she said.
(photo courtesy of the LPU Independent Sentinel)