I'm sharing Jade's prom story from her Twitter thread. You can read it here and share it around. I'm putting it under a read more since it's quite long, but it's definitely worth reading every single word that she wrote. If you want to read more or get involved with LGBTQ+ rights, I have linked a few organisations that do great work in the Philippines.
LGBTQ+ Organisations in the Philippines
Bahaghari – national alliance of LGBT+ advocates, organisations, and formations. You can sign the petition for their anti discrimination bill SOGIE right here.
LoveYourself – an organisation that promotes HIV awareness, testing, and treatment. They also have resources available for those seeking help to transition.
UP Babaylan – The oldest LGBT+ student organisation in the Philippines.
LakanBini Advocates Pilipinas – A network of transgender organisations. They focus on health, psychosocial well-being, and human rights.
Rainbow Rights – A nonprofit NGO that focuses on legal literacy and empowerment with respect to SOGIE laws and policies.
Proud Campaign Philippines – Not only do they raise awareness of SOGIE, but they also help Filipinos in need with food, clothes, toiletries, and other necessities.
🩶 State Of The Dollification Address 🩶
I have 3 prom stories that I’ve experienced and here to tell all of y’all! I am now using my voice and platform to raise awareness, for humanity’s maturity and for the betterment of inclusive schools. ‼️
I want to say to ALL schools out there! No matter what Sexual Orientation, Gender Indentity & Expression. Students has the right to have equal knowledge and experience with schools and campus. As long as oppression and discrimination is still happening in today’s world, this is a sign that we are not yet treated as equal.
#PassSOGIEBillNow #TransYouthAreValid #TransWomenAreWomen #TransLivesMatter
#DollShenanigans #DollDomination #Dollification #SuSos #TeamM1ssJadeSo
My first ever Prom that I’ve attended way back Feb 13, 2016. I got invited by a guy from an all boys school. He sponsored everything from the gown, ticket and transportation. Everything went well, I attended their prom as the WOMAN THAT I AM. It was magical, fun and romantic. I greeted some people in the event, ate, had a romantic dance with the guy and also partied a little bit, we went home safe (take note: our driver is his Dad). So happy with this experience I got to live just by being me.
I met some Queer people and some of them are now Trans Women from that school, last year 2022. They told me that I was so iconic, that the administrators, teachers, pastors are triggered by my presence that night. They had to call every Queer people in their school just to have a prayer/mass session to pray the gay away. It was so sad, they couldn’t fight, they just told me that they love and look up to me for my bravery and courage from that night. I hope they are now healed from that trauma.
Going back to March 2016, for our Moving-Up Ball in my school. Everyone is excited as we are about to enter Senior High School (the first batch of SHS) and Junior High School is about to end. I’m very excited about it because it’s going to be our last Ball/Party of our whole batch. I am thinking to myself that this is going to be my coming out moment as a Trans Woman. I immediately thought of wearing a dress and wearing a wig because my hair is too short for the vision of my full bloom woman.
Days before the Ball, I asked my adviser politely if I can go to the event wearing a dress as the woman that I am. She said “No, naiintindihan naman namin ang gusto mo, “Girl” na nga ang tawag ko sayo (as tinatawag niya kong “bakla” before) pero sa college mo na yan gawin, masyado ka pang bata. Malay mo mag-iba pa panananaw mo at maging lalake ka talaga (she laughed)”. I cried it out going home that day. Translation: “No, we understand what you want, I’m already calling you “Girl” (as she calls me “Gay” before). Do it in college instead, you are too young. Maybe you might change your perspective and become a man one day (she laughed).
The day of the event started… I did my friend’s makeup, as I am a makeup artist before. I started doing their makeup during lunch time and ended really well. My sister and mom helped by putting their dresses and curling their hair. 5 girl friends of mine are very happy with the results. I have a lot of memories with them I cherish and miss them now. Hi Aira, Ela, Elriva, Kirstine & Lubna.
I was so tired and had to glam myself up too. I wore a 30 inch black silky straight wig, white cocktail dress from my sister and black thigh high boots.
We went to the moving-up ball with my friend’s driver. My mom joined us because she wanted to explain something. As we got into the event, they immediately stopped me from entering. A teacher told me that I cannot enter, and they let me talk to my adviser and some of my teachers, they said “Jade, sinabihan ka na namin… You can’t wear this here. Magpalit ka ng suit na panglalake, para papasukin ka pa namin, maaga pa naman may time ka pa magpalit, Go na.” Translation: “Jade, we told you about this… You can’t wear this here. Change it to a Men’s suit, so that we can let you enter, it’s still early, you have time to change, Go for it.”
I told them I wanna talk to the principal. They let me talk with the principal and I explained the definition of Transgender and explaining that I am a Trans Woman. She refused, my mom talked to the principal and explained that I am a Trans Woman and I wanted to make this last moment of my JHS as the woman that I am. My mom said “Payagan niyo po sana yung anak ko na makapasok, kasi po babae po siya and yan po ang gusto niyang damit. Pangarap niya po yan”. Translation: “I hope you allow my daughter to get in, She is a woman and that’s how she wanted to dress up. That’s her dream.”
They still said no and change my outfit to a suit or anything na “panglalake” or “Men’s wear”. I lost hope at that moment, I saw my mom crying because how heart broken she is. I immediately cried too and said “Mama, umuwi kana ako na lang mag stay dito and ilalaban ko to. Ayoko na makita ka umiiyak”. Translation: “Mom, Please go home, I’m going to stay here and I will fight for this.”
She invited me to go home too but I said I needed to stay, this is something I think that is right. She went home and I started bursting out of tears, I was sobbing and fully destroyed. As a protest, I’m going to stay here until they let me in. There were feedbacks that they can hear me sobbing inside the event. My classmates comforted me, they took turns to accompany me outside. As the event is going through my classmates are slowly getting inside, they brought me food, talk to me nicely, my whole class went to me outside and took a class picture. Teachers that are close to my heart went outside to accompany too. And there’s this one teacher stayed with me the whole night outside and she said; “Malayo pa tayo sa pinapaglaban natin, pero gusto kong malaman mo na tama ka Jade, tama ang pinaglalaban mo, ikaw yan eh. Balang araw matatanggap ng lipunan natin ang isang katulad mo. Salamat sa pag-laban kung sino ka.” Translation: “We are far from what we are fighting for, but I want you to know that you are in the right track, that’s the real you! The time will come that our society will accept the people like you, thank you for fighting for being who you are”.
She said so many inspiring words that uplifted me. Take note: she’s an Araling Panlipunan teacher. Hi M1ss Meann Salimbangon, you deserve the love from this world. I love you so much, I will never forget you! You’re a treasure for me. She told me she won’t leave me outside until I get home safe. My friend’s driver offered a ride to get me home safe. I went home when that after party started. I was so tired and cried myself to sleep.
April 2016, our Moving-up Ceremony. Advisers are announcing that “No “proper” haircut for boys are not allowed get the diploma on stage. But instead, they will give the diploma a week after (together with our report card). I informed my adviser that I can’t cut my hair because I identify as a Trans Woman and I would like to get my diploma as how my hair is growing now. She refused, so i decided to not to go through. I did the Moving-up ceremony rehearsal for nothing. I informed my Mom that I can’t go to the stage because of my haircut. She was sad that she won’t see me receiving my diploma. I attend our moving-up ceremony with the parents of my friends, I was sitting in the parents section wearing a BLONDE FUCCING HAIR, full leather look with my y2k hidden wedge sneakers lol.
My head was heated seeing these boys in our school DIDN’T GOT THE PROPER HAIRCUT and got their diploma on stage. I immediately thought that the advise and requirement is just targeted for me or for the Queer people in my school ONLY. They were just oppressing us.
When it’s my time to get the diploma they called my name on stage flashed my photo to the screen. I stood up with my head up high, from the parent’s section. Everyone was looking at me, my friend cheered and screamed for me, the parents were clapping. It was a fuccing moment (just like a Pose episode) 🤣
Finally the nightmare era from that school was over, there is much more stories to tell. But it’s to long to share, so many bullying and oppressing issues that I experienced. I know it’s a Catholic school, but is it a requirement for Catholics to hate and oppress Trans Individuals like me? And the LGBTQIA+ community, if there are more issues (I knew it’s not just me 😌).
Moving forward, I searched for the right school to enroll for my Senior High School and that is iAcademy! I really really love this school so much, they accepted, acknowledged, and loved me. This is the first time I felt seen, heard & valued by a school. They let me wear what I want, let me my hair grew, it is so long that it touches my butt. I was openly proud Trans Individual, I even got a romantic relationship with a classmate (part of my growing process).
Fast forward for our Grad Ball and Graduation Ceremony. The MOMENT I’ve been waiting my whole life was to attend our Graduation Ball. I wore the MOST HUGE ROYAL BLUE CINDERELLA-LIKE BALL GOWN WITH FEATHERS AROUND, LEAVING SOME FEATHER TRACKS WHEREVER I GO, WITH A FUCCING CROWN, because I already knew I am a fuccing QUEEN. I won best dressed of the night from the female category. They gave me a 10-min moment to share my JHS Prom experience and I am thankful for this inclusive school and being an LGBTQIA+ ally. I was so happy I could die. This moment will last forever and to the herstory of iAcademy.
For our Graduation ceremony I wore the highest heels that I owned and a red cunty dress to my Graduation. I got my diploma on stage, strutting myself like the sexiest, cuntiest & baddest student on Earth.