This is part of #KaraniwangLGBTQIA, which Outrage Magazine officially launched on July 26, 2015 to offer vignettes of LGBTQIA people/living, particularly in the Philippines, to give so-called “everyday people” – in this case, the common LGBTQIA people – that chance to share their stories.
As Outrage Magazine editor Michael David C. Tan says: “All our stories are valid – not just the stories of the ‘big shots’. And it’s high time we start telling all our stories.”
Darryl Gurrobat, 28 years old from Barangay Pilar in Las Piñas City, knew he’s gay when he was 13.
“I realized there’s something different about me,” he said in Filipino, adding that he just cultivated this difference.
In a way, he was lucky. As the youngest of 10 kids, his family – particularly his father – supported him.
“They supported me all throughout (this journey),” he said, “particularly my father who shows his support like when I have needs, or when there are things I want to do in my life (as a gay man).”
And yet, even if his family supports him, Darryl said he still experienced discrimination in the community. Sadly, his chosen response has been to just ignore the hatred.
“Particularly where we live, where people think LGBTQIA+ people are up to no good,” he said. “I choose to ignore the discrimination. I believe if I gave it attention, it will just worsen. I choose to focus on the positive.”
Darryl took up bread and pastry production in a vocational school after finishing high school, so that – as expected – he now works as a cook.
He is single now, and – no – he isn’t looking for a jowa. Instead, he’s focusing on making a living to support his family. Darryl thinks that looking for a partner in Barangay Pilar in Las Piñas City is easy… as long as you have money.
“It’s actually easy to find a partner in Pilar Village,” he said, “but you need to have budget. Paying can’t be avoided.”
There are issues that LGBTQIA+ people still face, according to Darryl. And for him, these issues revolve around the community’s rejection of LGBTQIA+ people – e.g. at work, even when LGBTQIA+ people are more qualified, they are not given the attention they deserve.
To haters of LGBTQIA+ people, Darryl suggested for them to choose to learn from us.
“Try to understand us,” he said. “There are things we have, we can do that you’d appreciate more if you only know out stories, the challenges we went through and yet we still choose to be positive in life.”
And to LGBTQIA+ people, Darryl’s advice is to follow your dreams, for there is where you’d find your happiness.
“Sometimes it is in the dream you’re chasing that you’d find happiness,” Darryl ended.
