‘Raise our flag!’ Beatrice Luigi Gomez’s MUPH win is a beacon of hope for PH LGBT+ representation
Beatrice Luigi Gomez isn't just the Miss Universe Philippines (MUPH) pride of Cebu City, she's also a proud member of the LGBT community.
Serving as one of the dark horses of the pageant, Beatrice stole the show with her sweep of the awards—Best in Evening Gown and Swimsuit during the MUPH coronation night in Bohol on Sept. 30.
Though there are still strides to go for the Filipino LGBT+ community in the country, Beatrice's crowning glory is a huge moment in breaking stereotypes for gay women and what they can achieve. With her girlfriend of six years in one hand and her Miss Universe crown on the other, it has been truly an awe-inspiring couple of hours for the community.
When called by host KC Montero for the Top 10, she was asked if the country is truly ready for an LGBT Miss Universe queen. Beatrice didn't hesitate to answer that it's high time for some representation.
"I think we are definitely ready to send a member of the LGBTQ+ community to the Universe."
With her momentous win sending shockwaves in social media, here are some reactions to Beatrice's MUPH win:
October is LGBT+ History Month! What better way to celebrate than to revel in the historic moment in last night’s #MissUniversePhilippines2021 as Cebu City's Beatrice Luigi Gomez was crowned as the first openly lesbian Miss Universe Philippines ??! Read: https://t.co/hie5zM8bE2 pic.twitter.com/Uss3mEUZcO
— Transcend by LoveYourself (@transcend_ly) September 30, 2021
Stop the homophobic and open your eyes that being gay is not a definition of who you are. You can be gay but you can be that beauty queen too and Beatrice Gomez is that woman. What's important is her advocacies & purpose. #MissUniversePhilippines2021 #BeatriceLuigiGomez https://t.co/SwN8WWi7Gi
— N.P (@nikkacchuu) September 30, 2021
Our new Miss Universe Philippines is a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ Community. She is Beatrice Luigi Gomez from Cebu City. An advocate of Gender Sensitivity and Awareness. Here's to a year reign of INCLUSIVITY and EQUALITY! Mabuhay ang Bahaghari! ?️? #MissUniversePhilippines2021 pic.twitter.com/JqfIn9854I
— ??? (@thejunlyyap) September 30, 2021
Newly crowned Binibining Cebu 2020 Beatrice Luigi Gomez is a proud member of the #LGBTQ community. She shared onstage that she has a girlfriend for 5 years. In this perfectionist world we live in where some people put on a facade, she's a beacon of beauty, honesty, & courage. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/aXpXpTOwv8
— ?️? Remus Mark Carballo ?️? (@javalavamanila) January 14, 2020
OHMYGOD BEATRICE LUIGI GOMEZ WON THE MISS UNIVERSE PH CROWN LGBT FAM IM CRYING
— amelia ✰ jimtober !? (@mydarIingkoo) September 30, 2021
RAISE our FLAG ?️? ?? ?
— @SheisAengel ?️⚧️ (@SheisAengel) September 30, 2021
Our new #MissUniversePhilippines Beatrice Luigi Gomez ? of Cebu City ❤️#Philippines#MissUniverse#MissUniversePhilippines2021#LGBT#LGBTQ pic.twitter.com/UQSK168g6i
Photo from PLDT Home and Kate Jagdon's Instagram account