BLNC Facets: Jan Paul Martinez

blncmag
Jul 9
3 min read

BLNC Facets : Pride in Everyday

Jan Paul Martinez

BAGUIO

What is everyday life like as a queer person on your side of the country?

JPM: I was born and raised in a UNESCO Creative City for Crafts and Folk Arts.

Growing up surrounded by chalk art, murals, textiles, and local fashion deeply influenced how I express myself, not just creatively, but also in terms of identity. The city I call home gave me the freedom and space to explore my queerness in meaningful and creative ways.

Now that I live in Metro Manila as a fashion designer and educator, my everyday life as a queer person is honestly just “fashion design and fashion education”, and of course, a bit of fun here and there HAHA. Honestly, I love doing it. I love my work. Especially because I’m also surrounded by queerness: some artisans I work with, some of my clients, some co-teachers and co-workers, and some of my students. Especially the students. I have students who are starting out as drag queens, and it always makes me smile whenever they show me clips of their performances, the looks they created themselves, and especially when they ask me and consult with me about their drag outfit designs. These instances in my everyday life as a queer person make me feel the joy of being part of the community.

But while I’ve been fortunate to find support and belonging in both my career and personal life, I know that’s not the reality for everyone. There are still people, especially outside these creative spaces, who are deprived of the freedom to express their gender identity and expression because of discrimination and hate.

I’ve been lucky to have a loving family and a circle of queer friends who’ve given me strength, courage, and motivation to aim high and achieve my dreams. But we can’t just rely on these, because not everyone has the same support system I do. This is why I believe the government needs to act urgently and pass the SOGIE Equality Bill. This is about human dignity and equal protection for all Filipinos, wherever they are in the country. Support systems should be institutionalized so they can be accessible to all queer people, of any walks in life.

What would you like Filipinos to know about the LGBTQIA+ community where you are?

JPM: Queer folks are not strangers to Filipino society. In fact, we’ve always been here the whole time. We’re your friends, classmates, co-workers, artists, teachers, and students. We have dreams, we have families, we have struggles, just like everyone else.

The LGBTQIA+ community here in the north is full of life and creative fire. Especially in the fashion world, where queer people are really dominating the industry: we’re telling stories, starting trends, and creating space for others. And honestly, that sends such a powerful message to younger queer kids who are dreaming of their place in the world. It shows them that there’s room for them, that they belong.

But despite this, the reality is that many LGBTQIA+ Filipinos still live in fear. Fear of being judged, harassed, harmed, and even killed just for being who they are. That’s the part that hurts. Visibility is NOT "safety". And while we’re proud to be seen, we also want to be protected.

That’s why the government needs to act NOW. The SOGIE Equality Bill has been delayed for far too long. This is about making sure all Filipinos, queer or not, can live with dignity, safety, and freedom. No one should have to hide who they are or fear for their life just because of their identity.