Marina Summers, Sassa Gurl on being a good queer ally and staying strong amidst discrimination
The month of June is all about highlighting and supporting the queer community, but that shouldn't stop even if Pride Month ends.
No matter what, it's important that LGBTQ+ members remain proud of their sexuality and never stop expressing their true, beautiful selves. This is what drag queen Marina Summers and queer content creator Sassa Gurl shed a light on as they graced Spotify's GLOW Brunch event on June 27.
The event is the music platform's global equity program designed to showcase the diversity of voices in the LGBTQ+ community.
Marina, who recently reached new heights in her musical career after she made it to Spotify's billboard in Times Square, New York City, took the time to reflect on her drag journey and gushed about how happy she is in being able to marry the craft with creating original music.
"Kahit noong bata pa lang ako, I feel like drag and music have been embedded to my soul. I've been dancing to music ever since and I've always had this dream of being a pop star, [l]ooking like Beyonce, looking like Lady Gaga, wearing shining costumes and performing my own song," Marina shared.
Growing up in a very small town in the north, the Drag Race Philippines runner-up said that she wasn't aware that this avenue existed for her to fulfill those dreams until she moved to Manila.
"Now that I get this platform, sabi ko, 'Okay, na-reach ko na 'yung pangarap ko mag-drag on national TV. Just keep moving forward and getting bigger," she said.
With queer artists such as Marina bravely making the art form of drag become more mainstream in a conservative country as the Philippines, it's important that LGBTQ+ allies continue to support the community and their many colorful ways of self-expression.
"Support your queer artists. We finally get queer artists telling their stories through their art forms. Listen to their music, watch their videos, share their posts, show up to their events," Marine emphasized.
"I think if you really want to be a real ally, don't put too much pressure on yourself to learn everything on the first day or first week. Take it easy, take your time, give a listening ear. Because when you listen you understand and when you understand you get to tell our stories as well as how we would have done it," Marina advised.
For Sassa Gurl, Pride Month is not only a colorful event, but it also serves as a "reminder that everyone is equal."
However, regardless of what month it is, the social media personality believes that the queer community must never stop using their voice to fight against the discrimination that is still prevalent in society.
"As cliché as it sounds, we should educate, especially sa mga discrimination, mga SOGIE (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Expression Equality) Bill. Mahalaga na collectively, ginagawa natin ito kasi kailangan nating ipagpatuloy ang discussion sa mga problema na kinakaharap ng mga LGBTQ ngayon," Sassa Gurl told reporters.
Most of all, she wants to highlight the importance of creating spaces for the community where they can feel safe and loved.
"Dito natin nase-celebrate at mas nagiging liberated ang mga miyembro ng ating community. At dito natin nalalabas 'yung [totoo nating pagkatao], kung ano 'yung gusto nating mangyari. Even in that space, it's a perfect world for us, so we should continue creating safe spaces for everyone," she emphasized.