Queerstud PH: Wear Your Cause for Equality Now
People call them “weird”, “odd”, or “strange”. They can’t understand them. More often than not, they don’t understand themselves that much, either.
Who are these people being labelled and classified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersexed (LGBTQI)? Can anyone really fit into one box? From a worldly morality point of view, is being one judged as good or bad according to the standards sets by society?
Lesbians and feminist have always been judged as ‘bad’ and the right to define themselves is what they’ve been fighting so long for. To this day, in the Philippine Congress, the anti-discrimination bill that seeks to guarantee protection of the rights of LGBTQI individuals to legal recognition to same-sex marriage, civil unions or domestic partnership benefits, among other rights, has not yet been passed into law. Despite attempts to provide them with more rights in recent years; LGBTQI individuals continue to face different social attitudes, legal challenges and widespread discrimination in the predominantly Catholic Philippines — more prevalently from family members and the workplace.
Queerstud PH is an online clothing shop dedicated to achieving equal rights for lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and transgendered in the Philippines came up with an idea to spread awareness and consciousness on the issues of equality through ‘shirt for a cause’. And, I am delighted to write a review by helping promote the “Wear your Own Tee for Equality” movement, aiming to combat the violence, discrimination and unequal treatment experience, on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Selected brand ambassadors are: Leonard Kodie Macayan, Singer, Model, TV Host; Pow Chavez, Singer, Songwriter, Top 5 Philippine Idol 2006; Deanne Charlotte Barcenas, Photographer, Stylist, Creative Director; Nick Fernandez, President Pinoy FTM; and Trixie Maristela, Super Sireyna Philippines 2014.
The clarity of design elements, such as text, designs, and gradients, was very impressive, and this one reminds me of the song of “I Am Woman” written by Helen Reddy, a memorable song of the women’s lib movement in 1971 that directly and forcefully addresses issues of feminism, women’s rights, and gender equality. The song goes like this: “I’ve been down there on the floor/No one’s ever gonna keep me down again”, “I am strong/I am invincible/I am woman”, “I am woman, watch me grow/See me standing toe to toe”.
To me, a woman is everything. She is perceptive and self-assured. She is beautiful and unique. She is God’s creation, just like man is, and she should never be set apart or excluded from anything that she wants to do. As Beyonce once wrote, “We need to stop buying into the myth about gender equality. Equality will be achieved when men and women are granted equal pay and equal respect.
The F-Word, reminds us women to be fearless. Gone are the days of painfully timid and lost Pinay chicks. It’s finally the era of the fearless and fun femmes – the ones who have the audacity to dream, to do, and to be. Well-established in their respective professions, women today seek equal opportunities to progress to the uppermost and prominent positions; and transformation of outdated modes of thought regarding gender, ethnicity, and leadership.
Women today celebrate their freedom and strength in having worked through their fears to achieve greater personal, professional success and fostering a brave new generation.
Details: A Closer Look at Queerstud PH’s Tees
My Personal Take
Discrimination can end when people are made aware of everyone’s rights to equality. I look forward to the day when lesbians are no longer expected to “know their place” and to conform to the standards set by others. I look forward to a time when lesbians can find their place under terms that are fair, acceptable, and, more importantly, self-determined.
All I can say is: live your life and be who you are. People have to label everything, but I’m more than content saying I’m just me. And that’s enough. Why can’t that be enough? Not everyone has to like you, but with respect, everyone would/could be happier. But this is reality and nothing is perfect. Either way, I love women and men and I’ll never be ashamed of that. I like what I like. At the end of the day, if someone doesn’t like it, they can walk the other way.
We know that living a purposeful life is what really matters. My hope is that everyone will contribute to this worthy cause by purchasing a Wear Your Own Tee For Equality designed and exclusively available at Queerstud PH.”
So come along and join the movement. Will you be wearing your own Queerstud PH tee for equality?
Queerstud PH
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/QueeerStudPH
Email: queerstudph@gmail.com
Instagram: @queerstudph
Phone: 0917- 5072430
