The Wheel and Axle

My friends and I haven’t gone clubbing in years. At the risk of sounding ancient, yes, it’s because nowadays we’ve decided we prefer a quiet night-out over coffee or a chatty night-in watching movies while drinking. This is not to say we never went clubbing; we were practically rooted to the concrete streets of Orosa back in the glory days of the now-dead Malate scene.

(Aaah, yes, New York Cafe… and Bed… and Mint… and Piggy’s… oooh-la-la… that very dark second floor dance area… mmm…)

Where was I?

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It’s that month of the year again where we raise our lovely voices and bring out the sequins and feather boas. Or the white boxer briefs, depending on where you are in the spectrum.

Today, Metro Manila proudly cries out: “Let Love In! Kahit Kanino, Kahit Kailan!” Because love is love, no matter with who and no matter when. Everyday is love. Everyday is pride. As with IDAHOT, everyday should be a celebration of our diversity and our power.

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I am of the belief that everyone is either an ABBA fan… or a closet ABBA fan.

Come on, admit it, you love them.

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Just as I wrote recently, certain sectors have begun (and continue) to ignore the inherent hate crime slash homophobic nature of last weekend’s horrific Orland massacre. These people have chosen instead to insist that this attack was purely terroristic, motivated by religious extremism, and that choosing to target an entire club full of queers was completely and totally random and not at all deliberate.

Hey, keep that homophobia checked in, why don’t you? And instead, let’s intensify your chosen hate du jour, which in this case would be Islamophobia and xenophobia.

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Photos: http://attitude.co.uk

… and not just mere statistics.

So many lives lost, and we will remember them all.

Our hearts go to the families, friends, and loved ones that they left behind.

And because of their inspiration and sacrifice:

We will not be silenced by fear.

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Less than a week after I wrote about IDAHOT and the continued struggle of the LGBT community around the world against hatred and violence, Omar Mateen massacred fifty people and injured fifty-three others when he stormed the Pulse gay club in Orlando, Florida. It is now the worst mass shooting in the history of the United States and their deadliest terrorist attack since 9/11.

And make no mistake about it: this was a terrorist attack. Omar Mateen had pledged allegiance to ISIS during the attack itself.

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I won’t lie and say that there are no closet cases that irritate me. I’m not perfect, and there are certain types I hold in disdain. They fall into two categories:

• The closet cases who compensate for it by being homophobic and are assholes towards other gay people. These closet cases, in my opinion, deserve a lot of rightful shaming for being vile hypocrites.
• The closet cases who use unsuspecting women as beards in order to give off the illusion that they are straight. Often, this type of relationship results in major pain for the woman involved, and in some cases, can also lead to abuse. (I’m 50/50 on closet cases who date women who know the truth and are willing parties in order to help cover up for the guy; I guess that depends on the situation.)

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I never get tired of watching Anderson Cooper, who recently celebrated his 49th birthday but doesn’t look a day over thirty. Those are some mighty good genes.

Not only is he Ivy League smart, not only is he unafraid to call out the bullshit of armchair journalists or politicians, not only is he a Vanderbilt who relies on his own merits and not the family legacy (which, by the way, his mother – the Gloria Vanderbilt? just awesome!), not only is he an inspiration for the gay community…

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A few weeks ago, the world observed IDAHOT: the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia.

Early last week, a body stuffed into a trash bag wrapped in packing tape was found in Cebu, identified by media only as a “man” – supposedly a robber killed by vigilantes based on a note left behind. The victim was wearing a bra and a blouse.

Mere days later, another trans sister was brutally murdered in Metro Manila. Barbie Ann Reilly was viciously killed by her Chinese boyfriend, stuffed in a luggage, and dumped in Cavite.

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You have your heroes. I have mine.

Last February, a dream came true over thirty years in the making. Despite all the criticism she has gotten through the decades, Madonna has always been someone I looked up to. Unapologetic, driven, doesn’t give a shit: she knows she’s doing it to empower the outcasts, the marginalized, the people that society deem to be lesser.

Pretending to contain my excitement.

For many people growing up gay in the 80s and 90s, Madonna was a woman who inspired them by believing in them and treating them like human beings. Madonna was an active supporter of LGBT rights during a time when it was unpopular to do so – a time when being so vocal and norm-challenging could have ruined her career. Shits were not given as, despite opposition, she forged on and helped shine the spotlight on the rainbow community.

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