8 minute read
Living Her Beautiful Truth
When was the last time you watched a trans woman in film or TV? It is undeniable that trans characters are underrepresented in Filipino media. Their plights, victories, and journey are still far-fetched for the Filipino audience to understand. Hence, transgender people still receive inexplicable hate and experience various forms of violence in this heavily-religious society. Fitting in with the world is a stumbling block they ought to survive as they live every day. Despite this, the continuous rise of social media influencers paved the way for voices and stories to be heard—which is one of the reasons why there is still hope that perhaps one day, society will fully accept how beautiful and powerful the trans community is.
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BORN EMPOWERED
Rica Salomon, 30, is on her path to becoming one of the most influential TikTok stars, with more than 200,000 followers and 13 million likes. She uses her experiences as a proud trans woman and uses her influence on social media to spread awareness and dismiss the hate to her audience, especially among her fellow Filipinos.
Born and raised in Manila, Rica graduated with a degree in AB Interdisciplinary Studies (Psychology and Communications track) at Ateneo de Manila University. She currently works as a professional makeup artist and is also the co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Kayu Beauty, a makeup brand that was launched this year.
For Rica, she has always identified herself as a woman ever since she was a kid, she felt like “she didn't have the right words or knowledge to explain what she felt or who she was, but she has always known that she is a woman."
“I never really had a moment na hindi ako natanggap. I’ve always been supported by my relatives and my family, and I was never questioned for my gender or sexuality,” Rica answered proudly.
Her father is an active supporter of his daughter. He had been featured on GMA Network’s 24-Oras and the Philippine Daily Inquirer for raising an empowered trans daughter. When Rica joined Miss Trans Global in 2021, her family had always been beside her.
Rica has enjoyed creating content on YouTube since she was young. She never expected that the videos she does for fun would skyrocket on TikTok. Receiving negative comments from the educational videos about the trans community that she posts did not stop her from doing what will help the community. Right now that her range has reached millions, she serves as one of the voices that shines through the dark and hateful corners of social media.
THE UNFAIR REALITY
The world out there can be tough as nails for the trans community. Rica still considers herself privileged— living a sheltered life, unlike her trans siblings that might have struggled in their very own homes or even at school to fight for their right to education. In this society that can be unpleasant, and it is undeniable that the trans community can be subject to discrimination.
Rica emphasized that the LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual +) community remains unprotected here in the Philippines as there are no laws protecting them from discrimination,
hate, and threats. While spreading awareness on different social platforms may help in informing a bunch, the trans community remains to be in danger as they live in this country that provides no violations to those who oppress them.
“There are spaces that openly discriminate me. May mga times na I was asked to leave a certain place because they don’t allow trans women, they don’t allow crossdressers.”
Society’s gaze has created a stereotype of how should a person look according to their sex assigned at birth. Things that were taught to us and what we perceive were important factors in exploring ourselves and knowing who we are. Sometimes, the hardest struggles that we had to face primarily lie within ourselves. We are living in a heteronormative society—where trans people, whose gender identity does not conform to the sex assigned at birth, are still viewed differently.
Transphobia, as defined by the United Nations Free & Equal, is the irrational fear, hatred, or aversion towards transgender people and this comes in different forms including prejudice and violence to name a few. Rica herself has experienced internalized transphobia and described it as “it has always been at the back of our heads that a woman should be considered a woman if she can give birth.” Transphobia, internal or not, enables discrimination toward the trans community.
Aside from transphobia, one of the greatest battles Rica had to face was gender dysphoria. The American Psychological Association (APA) refers gender dysphoria to the psychological distress that results from an incongruence between one’s sex assigned at birth and one’s gender identity. Given the stereotype that this civilization has come through, it is one of the problems among trans people to experience this sort of crisis.
“But I think for me the greatest struggle talaga is to overcome your insecurities, overcome the things that invalidate you as a person.”
Adding the fact that external factors such as discrimination may also affect a trans person’s perception of themselves, Rica admitted having moments where she had to fight her self-doubt by self-affirming a positive mindset. It was never easy knowing that there are people who wouldn’t understand her struggle but she strives to have courage in mind regardless of how the world views her.
DISPROVING THE MYTHS
Rica stressed the importance of educating ourselves with SOGIE (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression). Sexual orientation is different from gender identity. Surgery is not a prerequisite for a person to be called transgender. It is the trans person’s decision whether to classify themselves into a certain gender or not. For example, trans women that are attracted to men are heterosexual or known as straight, they can also be bisexual and be attracted to both men and women. Trans women are women as trans men are men.
“Don’t compare yourselves to others, take time, and do things because it’s what you want and not because you’re pressured by society to do so.” Rica leaves a message to her fellow trans women and urges them to not put themselves at risk because of surgeries that are not safe.
On the topic of treatments to affirm their gender, these can be expensive. It can be dangerous to try unsafe remedies just so they could ‘look’ feminine or masculine in conforming to society’s given stereotypes. Rica warns about fake doctors who extort money from people who cannot afford to have proper surgeries, highlighting the fact that the health and financial stability of trans people are jeopardized because of these.
Every trans woman’s obstacles are not the same as others and what is important is how one identifies in terms of gender and sexuality. Whether or not you agree that trans people do not conform with their sex at birth, whether you agree or not with a person’s sexuality, one point shall be taken from this: respect one’s life as you do yours. "You don't have to come from a place of hate, you don't have to insult them or invalidate them to prove your point," Rica emphasized disapproving myths that go around the trans community.
LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL
Despite all hardships that she encountered, losing hope was not in the vocabulary of Rica Salomon. One of her most successful moments is being able to launch her beauty brand. But her most triumphant circumstance in life would be the mark she left at Ateneo. Ateneo used to require students to conform to their sex assigned at birth and have a dress code based on their biological sex in yearbook photos or graduation ceremonies.
Rica was the first trans woman that petitioned for transgender students to have the freedom to express themselves—and she won. With the support of the Jesuits and her batchmates, her petition reached thousands and eventually made her initiative to be featured on the front page of their school’s publication as well as on news sites like the Philippine Star. Right now, she is more than happy that Ateneo is more educated and aware when it comes to their LGBT students.
Despite the measures done to promote the acceptance of the LGBTQIA+ community, Rica is afraid that their communities are just being tolerated. While she does not want to dismiss the progress that has been made in our country, SOGIE Bill which has been in the queue in the Senate for decades now remains a concern. The hope ignites and will continue to light those who are in the dark corners of the country but there is still a long way to go before they can truly be acknowledged by everyone.
“What matters most is you take care of yourself, do what is best for you, and I want you to know that whether you are inside the closet or not, it’s okay. But if you do choose to come out, know that you have a community that will stand by your side,” Rica assured those who are not ready to come out yet.
The trans community and their allies must work together to eliminate the stigma that plagues the members of the community. Like the vibrant rainbow flag, which represents all LGBTQIA+ people’s hopes, dreams, and cries for equality and acceptance; hopefully, soon enough, we can finally achieve the most victorious and colorful breakthrough for them.
