Vice Ganda Is the Filipino LGBTQIA+ Movement’s Trojan Horse

Meme Vice is neither just a funny face on our screens nor another trending topic on social media—she is the queer movement’s not-so-secret weapon in winning the fight for equality and visibility.
PHOTO: Facebook/Quezon City Government

Rainclouds began to gather above the Quezon Memorial Circle as Vice Ganda was introduced as the Pride Thanksgiving Day‘s finale performer. The comedienne’s blonde hair peeked out of a silver cloak as Radiohead‘s Creep began playing.

Facebook/Quezon City Government

Two lines into the song, Vice retreated back under the cloak and exclaimed into her mic, “Cut! Mali yung music! Mga bakla kayo!” The wrong version of the track was played. She, along with her dancers, retreated down the stage as the technical lapse was addressed.

After about 15 minutes of anticipation, the rain began to pour. Umbrellas were quickly hoisted up by attendees sprawled throughout the venue. A little later, while the rain was still heavily dousing the audience, the performance finally resumed. Come rain or come shine, Vice Ganda has arrived at her very first Pride.

Facebook/Quezon City Government

Thousands of people looked forward to this moment last June 22 at the #LoveLaban2Everyone Pride Festival. Ultimately, due to the weather and logistical constraints, it had to be pushed back to this Sunday, June 30. In an interview held days after the initial event, Vice expressed that there was no other way for her to pull off the production than to do it at Pride. And thankfully, she was able to make it happen. Regine Velasquez joining as a surprise guest was the cherry on top.

Facebook/Quezon City Government

WATCH: Vice Ganda’s Solidarity Speech at the Quezon City Pride Thanksgiving Day

Vice concluded her performance with a powerful solidarity speech in front of the 30,000 attendees and thousands of livestream viewers. “To my LGBT community, listen to this! We are a community of normal, valid, able, and capable human beings. And do not let anyone or any group tell us otherwise,” she began her statement.

The superstar emphasized how members of the community have a right to live their lives as authentically and freely as possible, saying:”Huwag tayong pumayag na basta nabubuhay lang. Yung nabubuhay ng wala lang. At para tayong nilalang na ni-la-‘lang’. Dapat tayong mabuhay nang may karapatan, may kalayaan at may dignidad na maging tunay na sarili.”

“Ang ating totoong sarili o pagkatao ay parang West Philippine Sea, hindi nila pwedeng angkinin at baguhin.”

Towards the end, Vice implored everyone listening to be vigilant in fighting for and upholding their rights as citizens. In finality, she bravely declared: “Ako si Vice Ganda at makakaasa kayo na kasama nyo ako na lalaban, aasa, at sisigaw na ipasa ang SOGIE Anti-Discrimination Bill!”

Why Vice Ganda Is a Crucial Member of the Filipino LGBTQIA+ Movement

Unquestionably, Vice is the face of mainstream queer representation in the Philippines. With her days as a jester far behind her, she’s evolved into a staple of local cinema and is credited for uplifting the genre of comedy. Every time the Christmas season comes along, thousands flock to theaters to catch her Metro Manila Film Festival entries. On the small screen, she’s a familiar face for the “madlang pipol” with her daily hosting stints on It’s Showtime.

Facebook/Quezon City Government

Her success is not credited to her knack for making people laugh alone, mind you. There’s something to be said about how an outwardly queer person is one of the most celebrated personalities in a predominantly Catholic country. The demographics Vice reaches are those who make up the majority of the Philippines. They’re the ones whose for-you pages are rife with clips of her antics on It’s Showtime, and they’re the ones who have her movies downloaded and ready whenever they need a good chuckle.

And Vice, to her credit, uses this platform of hers to uplift the very community she comes from. While she’s just expected to entertain viewers, she doesn’t pass up on the opportunity to educate the common person on matters surrounding one’s SOGIE-SC (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics). She also doesn’t bite her tongue when she calls out the discrepancies in how the country is being run by those in power.

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Through these, meme Vice has made it apparent that her platform is not hers alone. She’s set the stage for her fellow queer folk to finally have a voice in the mainstream. In a society driven by what we see in the media, visibility is of the utmost power.

Facebook/Quezon City Government

In this regard, Vice proves to be the LGBTQIA+ movement’s not-so-secret weapon. Someone of her stature is able to reach those communities in the margins, which, in turn, will ideally gain us more allies. As our numbers grow, we are able to show that the community is, in fact, not a minority, and therefore, begets to be represented and heard in national conventions. If we are able to show our leaders that there are several of us fighting for the same cause, it should be their basic duty to grant us the rights that we have been yearning for since time immemorial. These rights, after all, are just human rights.

Meme is our Trojan Horse in this fight. The masses know her and they love her, and hopefully, they are also inclined to join her in this revolution. The way she incorporates our message of love and equality into her career slowly but surely indoctrinates those who idolize her to join the movement as well.

Facebook/Quezon City Government

We’re playing the long game when it comes to achieving a society that genuinely cares for the community. While we still don’t see the end of this tunnel just yet, there are glimmers that give us hope. Vice is only one of those rays of light. And when they all come together, the community will shine so bright that we cannot be ignored anymore.