
This could’ve been an empowering conversation—a Pride Month moment that uplifted, enlightened, and reflected how far we’ve come as a community. But instead, what I witnessed was an echo chamber of internalized homophobia, outdated mindsets, and the romanticization of suffering disguised as "wisdom."
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Let’s talk about it.
Ricky Reyes, you shared:
> “Naranasan kong ibitin ng patiwarik, ikulong sa hawla ng manok, apuyan sa ilalim. Pero para sa’kin, tough love ‘yun.”
Tough love? No. That was abuse. What happened to you was violence, and the fact that you still call it "necessary" doesn’t make it right—it just shows how deeply it scarred you. And now, by sharing that mindset with a smile, you’re passing that trauma onto the next generation, wrapped in a bow of supposed strength.
Then there’s this gem:
> “Pag bakla kang magmahal, todo ka. Pag kumita ka ng ₱1,000, ibigay mo ang ₱800 sa lalaki, itabi mo yung ₱200 para sa pamilya mo. Pero pag nagka-girlfriend siya, tanggapin mo na wala ka na.”
You’re seriously suggesting that we budget for heartbreak? That we invest our hard-earned love and money into men who treat us like stepping stones? You're not teaching us how to love—you’re teaching us how to settle. You’re grooming younger bakla to expect crumbs and call them a feast.
And this:
> “Pag gusto mo ng long-term na lalaki, dapat hindi ka modernong babae. Dapat submissive ka, tahimik, tanggap lang nang tanggap.”
So let me get this straight: To be loved, we must lose our voice? To keep a partner, we must sacrifice our rights?
This isn’t love. This is compliance masquerading as devotion. And honestly, even cis women should be offended by how you define womanhood—as something quiet, convenient, and always agreeable. That’s not femininity. That’s erasure.
Let’s be real: “Just take it into your heart” is not advice—it’s emotional self-harm.
And then you said this:
> “Kahit umakyat ka ng kisame at pagbagsak mo, naka-shoot ka na, go ahead.”
No context. No accountability. No care for the young queer kids listening to you. Just go. Just do. Just risk it.
That’s not brave. That’s reckless.
Renee Salud, you said:
> “Learning is continuous in beauty and fashion. We must evolve.”
Then where is the evolution?
You can’t claim to be a trailblazer while dragging your community backwards. You speak of style and trends evolving—but what about your values? What about your understanding of dignity, rights, and safe spaces? You call for progress in fabric and flair, but when it comes to identity and equality, you preach endurance instead of liberation.
Growth is not just about outward appearance. It’s about mindset. It’s about listening. And honestly? That part seems to have stayed stuck in a time capsule.
And when Ricky said:
> “Being tolerated is better than being accepted.”
Let me stop you right there.
Tolerated? That means being barely endured. That means taking up space with a silent apology.
We don’t want to be tolerated. We want to be seen. Heard. Respected.
You don’t build a proud generation by telling them to be thankful for table scraps.
And then there’s you, Toni Gonzaga.
It’s Pride Month. A time to highlight voices that are bold, authentic, and fighting for visibility and protection. But you chose to amplify two figures who openly oppose the SOGIE Bill—who promote silence over truth, and suffering over empowerment.
Ricky even boasted:
> “Ako ang nagpatigil ng SOGIE Bill.”
As if it were something to be proud of. As if stopping a bill meant to protect people from harassment, discrimination, and systemic violence was an achievement. Why? Because you’d rather be tolerated than protected?
And when asked about same-sex marriage:
> “Wag na ‘yang pakialaman. Gawa ‘yan ng Diyos.”
We’re not asking your churches to officiate our weddings. We’re asking the state to acknowledge our partnerships as equal. To allow us to share health insurance. Visit loved ones in hospitals. Raise children. Build lives.
That’s not an attack on faith. That’s a call for civil rights.
Instead of clarifying this, you all leaned into the tired narrative that LGBTQIA+ people should expect less, give more, and keep quiet. That love is something we earn by making ourselves smaller. That survival is all we deserve.
So here’s my truth:
Ricky. Renee. Toni.
You are public figures. Your words shape conversations and influence minds. And right now, you’re using your platforms to recycle trauma and dress it up as tradition. That’s not just irresponsible—it’s dangerous.
Because telling queer youth to simply endure what you endured is not guidance. It’s a warning dressed as wisdom.
You don’t speak for us.
We are not your “baklang hamburger.”
We are not martyrs-in-training.
We are not half-humans living in someone else’s world.
We are whole.
We are worthy.
And we are done shrinking ourselves to fit your version of respectability.
Pride is not nostalgia.
It’s not performance.
It’s not silence.
It’s protest. It’s evolution. It’s truth in all its loud, messy, glittering glory.
So if you truly believe in legacy, start a new one: Empower. Educate. Evolve.
If not, respectfully—step aside.
🏳️🌈
#NotYourBaklangHamburger #SOGIEEqualityNow #EvolveOrStepAside #RespectIsNotOptional #PrideWithPurpose