Us to ours: Digital queer communities are creating safe spaces online and beyond | ABS-CBN
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Us to ours: Digital queer communities are creating safe spaces online and beyond
Us to ours: Digital queer communities are creating safe spaces online and beyond
ABS-CBN News Intern,
Danica Espedillon
Published Jun 29, 2024 05:17 PM PHT
Queer Spaces PH founders Roanne Carreon and Tina Boado appear in ABS-CBN's 2023 Christmas ID "Pasko ang Pinakamagandang Kuwento", the first LGBTQIA+ couple to be represented in the annual tradition. Courtesy: ABS-CBN
Queer Spaces PH founders Roanne Carreon and Tina Boado appear in ABS-CBN's 2023 Christmas ID "Pasko ang Pinakamagandang Kuwento", the first LGBTQIA+ couple to be represented in the annual tradition. Courtesy: ABS-CBN MANILA — From wanting a safe space of their own to making a home for a lot more members of the community.
MANILA — From wanting a safe space of their own to making a home for a lot more members of the community.
As a closeted queer couple, content creators Roanne Carreon and Tina Boado struggled to come out as there were few to no LGBTQIA+ representations and resources available to them.
As a closeted queer couple, content creators Roanne Carreon and Tina Boado struggled to come out as there were few to no LGBTQIA+ representations and resources available to them.
Out of this experience, they created Queer Safe Spaces PH in 2019.
Out of this experience, they created Queer Safe Spaces PH in 2019.
To its members, the two have become the role models and representations of queer couples the two had been looking for before.
To its members, the two have become the role models and representations of queer couples the two had been looking for before.
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“Who would've thought that, seven years later, two then-closeted queers would openly champion a safe space for Filipino queer people?” Carreon said in an online interview.
“Who would've thought that, seven years later, two then-closeted queers would openly champion a safe space for Filipino queer people?” Carreon said in an online interview.
Driven by an online article that pointed out the limited spaces for queer women, Jewel Enrile realized there was a need for more lesbians/sapphics communities in the country.
Driven by an online article that pointed out the limited spaces for queer women, Jewel Enrile realized there was a need for more lesbians/sapphics communities in the country.
Enrile, along with her friends Yana Romero and Cal Tolentino, started an online community called The Sunny Side Club PH in 2023.
Enrile, along with her friends Yana Romero and Cal Tolentino, started an online community called The Sunny Side Club PH in 2023.
Organizing it first in a Discord server, they believed that starting organized chat rooms or forums would be great for many queer people who need that safe space but can't have it yet physically.
Organizing it first in a Discord server, they believed that starting organized chat rooms or forums would be great for many queer people who need that safe space but can't have it yet physically.
“The comment section is a scary place, really. Like, when you read through it, it does affect you. But even if you say all of these things, it doesn't change the fact that we exist and that we're still doing something so important for a lot of people. Just because it's not for you, doesn't mean it's not for everybody else, you know?” Romero, Sunny’s social media marketing head, told ABS-CBN News in a chat.
“The comment section is a scary place, really. Like, when you read through it, it does affect you. But even if you say all of these things, it doesn't change the fact that we exist and that we're still doing something so important for a lot of people. Just because it's not for you, doesn't mean it's not for everybody else, you know?” Romero, Sunny’s social media marketing head, told ABS-CBN News in a chat.
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Instagram accounts of Queer Safe Spaces PH and Sunny Side Club PH founded by queer Filipinas.
Instagram accounts of Queer Safe Spaces PH and Sunny Side Club PH founded by queer Filipinas. Filipino queers are building their own spaces to cater to their need to feel welcome and safe in a country where they have not always seen sunshine–spaces which have transcended digital to face-to-face.
Filipino queers are building their own spaces to cater to their need to feel welcome and safe in a country where they have not always seen sunshine–spaces which have transcended digital to face-to-face.
Queer Safe Spaces grew significantly during the COVID-19 lockdown, when people were stuck in at times unsafe domestic spaces. For the couple, this only proved how important queer safe spaces are, even if online.
Queer Safe Spaces grew significantly during the COVID-19 lockdown, when people were stuck in at times unsafe domestic spaces. For the couple, this only proved how important queer safe spaces are, even if online.
“These digital communities provide a secure place where people can explore their identities and share experiences without fear of discrimination. By linking individuals from diverse locations, online queer spaces help build a sense of belonging and community,” Carreon said.
“These digital communities provide a secure place where people can explore their identities and share experiences without fear of discrimination. By linking individuals from diverse locations, online queer spaces help build a sense of belonging and community,” Carreon said.
In 2024, the community Carreon and Boado formed was selected as one of the 127 emerging Global Leaders to represent the Filipino LGBTQIA+ community at the Community Engagement Exchange Program in the United States.
In 2024, the community Carreon and Boado formed was selected as one of the 127 emerging Global Leaders to represent the Filipino LGBTQIA+ community at the Community Engagement Exchange Program in the United States.
FROM SCREEN TO GROUND
Sunny Side Club PH snaps from their night event at the Pink Pony Club featuring some drag artists last June 11, and day event at Maiora Bistro, a queer-owned cafe and restaurant, last May 25.Courtesy: thesunnyclubph/IG
Sunny Side Club PH snaps from their night event at the Pink Pony Club featuring some drag artists last June 11, and day event at Maiora Bistro, a queer-owned cafe and restaurant, last May 25.Courtesy: thesunnyclubph/IG
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Both initiatives have now grown from online communities to on-site events for queer people.
Both initiatives have now grown from online communities to on-site events for queer people.
The Sunny Side Club PH organizes occasional meet-ups for sapphics with the goal of creating more places where participants feel seen and valued for who they are.
The Sunny Side Club PH organizes occasional meet-ups for sapphics with the goal of creating more places where participants feel seen and valued for who they are.
However, getting together for mere fun is not their sole purpose, co-founder Enrile said.
However, getting together for mere fun is not their sole purpose, co-founder Enrile said.
“I think us having this collective and us doing events, doing physical face-to-face on-ground work, basically, is important. Because there are so many roadblocks [to] passing the SOGIE (sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression equality) Bill. Awareness is one of them,” she said.
“I think us having this collective and us doing events, doing physical face-to-face on-ground work, basically, is important. Because there are so many roadblocks [to] passing the SOGIE (sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression equality) Bill. Awareness is one of them,” she said.
“We want all of those blockages that come with being queer to be gone. And us being on the ground, that means meeting people. And that means them getting to know that we are doing this because we need the community, we need to see each other.”
“We want all of those blockages that come with being queer to be gone. And us being on the ground, that means meeting people. And that means them getting to know that we are doing this because we need the community, we need to see each other.”
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A 2023 Social Weather Stations survey found that 79% of Filipino adults agree that gays and lesbians are just as trustworthy as any other Filipino.
A 2023 Social Weather Stations survey found that 79% of Filipino adults agree that gays and lesbians are just as trustworthy as any other Filipino.
However, there is still no law that specifically protects LGBTQIA+ people in the country.
However, there is still no law that specifically protects LGBTQIA+ people in the country.
Only 21 of the 1,634 cities and municipalities and six out of the 81 provinces in the Philippines have anti-discrimination ordinances (ADOs). This means that for 8 out of 10 Filipinos, there are no protections against SOGIE-based discrimination.
Only 21 of the 1,634 cities and municipalities and six out of the 81 provinces in the Philippines have anti-discrimination ordinances (ADOs). This means that for 8 out of 10 Filipinos, there are no protections against SOGIE-based discrimination.
Photos from the first-ever Queer Prom 2023, attended by over 350. In attendance were queer personalities from different fields; musicians Nica Del Rosario, Pat and Agnes from Ben&Ben, director Samantha Lee, and performer Justine Pena. Courtesy: queersafespaces/ IG
Photos from the first-ever Queer Prom 2023, attended by over 350. In attendance were queer personalities from different fields; musicians Nica Del Rosario, Pat and Agnes from Ben&Ben, director Samantha Lee, and performer Justine Pena. Courtesy: queersafespaces/ IGYet the communities also give way to more intimate moments, such as when Carreon and Boado organized a community meet-up of over 100 queers in Iloilo City in January 2020, just before the pandemic lockdown.
Yet the communities also give way to more intimate moments, such as when Carreon and Boado organized a community meet-up of over 100 queers in Iloilo City in January 2020, just before the pandemic lockdown.
“It was during this event that an unexpected and powerful moment unfolded—the spontaneous ‘slow dance’. The absence of such opportunities in the past had left us longing for the freedom to choose our dance partners.” Carreon said.
“It was during this event that an unexpected and powerful moment unfolded—the spontaneous ‘slow dance’. The absence of such opportunities in the past had left us longing for the freedom to choose our dance partners.” Carreon said.
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From it, Queer Spaces PH birthed the Queer Prom last year–the most recent one to be held this June 29–with the goal of reliving a queer individual’s prom experience with the freedom of expressing themselves and celebrating their true colors.
From it, Queer Spaces PH birthed the Queer Prom last year–the most recent one to be held this June 29–with the goal of reliving a queer individual’s prom experience with the freedom of expressing themselves and celebrating their true colors.
“Promoting safe spaces is more important than ever. These spaces provide crucial support for those who are vulnerable in the absence of legal protections,” Carreon added.
“Promoting safe spaces is more important than ever. These spaces provide crucial support for those who are vulnerable in the absence of legal protections,” Carreon added.
For these groups, the fight for legislative changes–while already having made substantial progress–goes on.
For these groups, the fight for legislative changes–while already having made substantial progress–goes on.
But for now, the spaces they have created remain vital to offering immediate safety and a sense of community for LGBTQIA+ Filipinos, both virtual and for real.
But for now, the spaces they have created remain vital to offering immediate safety and a sense of community for LGBTQIA+ Filipinos, both virtual and for real.
And in the process, it helps them raise their flag for everyone else, ally or not.
And in the process, it helps them raise their flag for everyone else, ally or not.
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“It's important that collectives like us exist because the more we do these things, the more we serve the community, the more we are seen, the more we are understood, and the more people learn from us, and the more they learn about the SOGIE Bill,” Romero said.
“It's important that collectives like us exist because the more we do these things, the more we serve the community, the more we are seen, the more we are understood, and the more people learn from us, and the more they learn about the SOGIE Bill,” Romero said.
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